Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the new Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, Dr John Roche.
Members of the newly established Prime Minister’s Science and Technology Advisory Council have also been revealed, with a mandate to advise the government on science and innovation funding priorities, focusing on economic benefits.
The SMC asked experts to comment.
Dr Lucy Stewart, Co-President, New Zealand Association of Scientists, comments:
“I congratulate Dr John Roche and the new members of the Prime Minister’s Science and Technology Advisory Council. Dr Roche is an unexceptionable choice for the position of Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor with extensive experience in government and as part of the existing network of Chief Science Advisors. The rest of the Council are all accomplished individuals, and Sir Peter Gluckman is of course a former Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor.
“However, taken as a group they indicate the Government is committed to its focus on science and research solely as boosters for the economy – and not only that, but the economy as it presently exists. The original Terms of Reference for the Council included the importance of expertise in Mātauranga Māori, which is mentioned nowhere in the biographies of the appointees.
“There is a very significant focus on the dairy industry, with half the committee having backgrounds in this area. While important to the country’s economy it is fair to say it does not, nor should it, make up half of our science and research capability and focus.
“I remain extremely concerned about the Government’s commitment to true public good and stewardship science, as described in the first Science System Advisory Group report – or even fundamental ‘blue sky’ research which we know ultimately supports all other areas of research.
“It is also very concerning that it took nearly a year for Dr Roche to be appointed, when Professor Dame Juliet Gerrard’s five-year term was set from the outset. The delay speaks to a lack of interest by this Government in science and it remains to be seen how much advice they actually choose to take.”
Conflict of interest statement: “Also a spokesperson for the Save Science Coalition”.
Professors Melinda Webber, Tahu Kukutai and Linda Waimarie Nikora, Pou Matarua / Co-Directors, Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Centre of Research Excellence, comment;
“Ngā Pae o Te Māramatanga extends a warm mihi to Dr John Roche in his new role as the Prime Minster’s Chief Science Adviser – and to the rest of the team appointed to the Prime Minister’s Science and Technology Advisory Council.
“It is clear that the council has been assembled to drive the government’s focus on increasing the economic benefits of research and commercialisation. As Pou Matarua of Ngā Pae o Te Māramatanga, we note the absence of mātauranga Māori expertise on the Council, which is disappointing given that the original Terms of Reference explicitly stated a commitment to including it. We also see major missed opportunities to involve Māori expertise across key sectors including health and wellbeing, technology, agribusiness, environmental protection and the wider Māori Economy. Our view is that a well-functioning science system should lift the quality of life of all New Zealanders. Designing such a system requires a broad range of expertise, knowledges and experience.
“To that end, Ngā Pae o Te Māramatanga, in the spirit of manaakitanga and mahitahi, invites Dr Roche and his Council to meet with us to share insights from our research, discuss areas of alignment with government priorities, and explore how we might contribute to their programme of work.”
Conflict of interest Tahu Kukutai is a former member of the Chief Science Advisor Forum.
Professor Cilla Wehi (Co-Director, Te Pūnaha Matatini; Centre for Sustainabilty, University of Otago) and Professor Markus Luczak-Roesch (Co-Director, Te Pūnaha Matatini; Chair in Complexity Science, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington) comment:
“It is encouraging to see a new Prime Minister’s Science and Technology Advisory Council and Chief Science Advisor appointed. After a period of uncertainty that has already led to the loss of key talent in New Zealand’s research, science and innovation system, this marks an important step toward rebuilding confidence and momentum.
“The Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor provides independent scientific advice to the government, and plays a crucial role in evidence-informed policymaking. The new council has a mandate to provide advice on long-term priorities for government-funded science and innovation.
“The council is strongly connected to industry, and in particular to New Zealand’s farming roots. Beyond these connections to New Zealand’s historical success, we applaud the inclusion of science innovators such as Dr Merryn Tawhai on the council.
“Becoming a globally respected leader in advanced science and innovation doesn’t happen overnight. It requires a sustained, long-term effort to foster a progressive and inclusive vision of New Zealand’s future — one where people are inspired to pursue careers in science, and where trust in evidence is shared across society.
“Science and innovation are inherently collaborative, and their success depends on mutual trust and responsiveness. We look forward to the council providing leadership on ethical frameworks for science and technology, to ensure research supports societal good and a flourishing society. And we look forward to their support for the transdisciplinary research that is crucial for the challenges that our society and economy face in the 21st century.”
Conflicts of interest: None.
Professor Boyd Swinburn, Professor of Population Nutrition and Global Health, University of Auckland; Co-chair, Health Coalition Aotearoa, comments:
“This government has already sent strong signals about the value of science and Prime Minister’s announcement of his Chief Science Advisor and the members of the Science and Technology Council reinforces those messages.
“The first message is that science is not of much value in public policy making. It has taken almost a year to fill these important roles. Compare this to the large amount of legislation pushed through under urgency against the evidence-informed advice of scientists and officials. The repeal of the SmokeFree Environments Act provisions to reach SmokeFree 2025 was a classic case in point.
“Following on from abolishing social science and humanities research funding, the second clear message is that the main purpose of science (in their view) is to increase economic growth. The focus on ‘commercialisation’, ‘global investment’, ‘lifting productivity’ belittles the scientific endeavour and excludes blue skies and most public good research.
“Increasing gross domestic product is not the purpose of science (nor should it be the purpose of society). Smart countries that thrive on their science capacity and innovation, invest more than New Zealand does per capita and take a wide view of science, embracing all its contributions to understanding and improving our world.”
Conflict of interest: None declared
Professor Frederique Vanholsbeeck, director of Te Whai Ao Dodd-Walls Centre for Photonic and Quantum Technologies, comments:
“It is positive to have a new Chief Science Advisor appointed, as well as a Science and Technology Advisory Council with a strong mix of innovation and business experience. Given the Government wishes to amend the science system’s outdated settings, it is disappointing that membership of the Advisory Council is weighted towards the agricultural sector. If New Zealand really is to maintain its global competitiveness, advanced and quantum technologies must be represented and prioritised at the highest level. Australian, UK and other governments already consider them mission-critical and invest accordingly.”
Conflicts of interest: None.
Professor Travis Glare, CEO, Lincoln Agritech Ltd., comments:
“It is pleasing to see these new appointments and the establishment of the Science and Technology Advisory Council, as part of the revamp of the New Zealand science system. There is a strong need for strategic direction for research investment in this country and it is hoped that the committee are able to provide a balanced portfolio approach. The appointment of Dr Roche as the Chief Science Advisor is an excellent choice, given his experience in public funding of research and alignment with policy needs. It is hoped that this advisory council is able to help promote the need for increased investment in research, as a mechanism to increase the wealth and wellbeing of all New Zealanders.”
Conflict of interest statement: I am CEO of Lincoln Agritech, Professor at Lincoln university, CSO of Biosouth Ltd, and Managing Director of Agroceutical products NZ Ltd.
Dr Troy Baisden, Co-President New Zealand Association of Scientists, comments:
“The 310 days New Zealand has been without a Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor (PMCSA) have finally come to an end with the appointment of Dr John Roche, who has topped off a top notch science career enhancing animal productivity with over six years as a highly effective Chief Science Advisor for the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI).
“He’s an obvious and excellent choice given the Government’s focus on growth and reforms to achieve efficiency. While often being a team player who is effective behind the scenes and accessible to people from science, policy and industry, he’s played intimate roles in a ministry with both significant internal science capability and funding of external science and innovation. Just as importantly, his role has been at the centre of major logistical achievements such as the first-ever nation elimination of Mycoplasma Bovis from our cattle herds.
“Like anyone with a strong history, there are also questions – particularly about his effectiveness on environmental issues. He took on his MPI role just as a report from the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment and a followup report from an MPI advisory group raised deep concerns about the need for improved transparency or replacement of Overseer, the model most used to link farming practice to environmental outcomes. The Overseer controversy has been effectively buried rather than solved. Similarly, there were questions about whether MPI had been a bit too effective behind the scenes promoting its side of the production versus environment tradeoff in the development the 2020 National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management, resulting in policy that perhaps provides for more regulation than protection, to the frustration of councils, farmers and environmentalists alike.
“As he steps into this more visible role, it will be interesting to see if he can use his excellent communication skills and talent for engaging in discussion to overcome the concern that it is difficult to tell if he’s better at evidence-based policy making or policy-based evidence making. Building trust is a key asset in the role that both previous PMCSAs have excelled in, yet in different ways.
“Regardless, Dr John Roche is among the best qualified to move the science reforms forward from our most unique and successful industry, and that is deeply needed. As expected, he joins a Prime Minister’s Science Council, which is richer in industry and innovation experience than scientific expertise. We could hope that it has the right expertise to recognise this problem and recommend ways to deal with it, maintaining the support of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in doing so. That will be important if we are to avoid doubling down on our international reputation as a nation that continues to lose its ability to maintain growth, productivity and evaluate risks as a result of the demotion and under-investment in a foundation of research, science and technology to support the nation.”
Conflict of interest statement: No conflict of interest. Troy is responding as co-President of the New Zealand Association of Scientists. He is also affiliated with Motu Research, Auckland and Victoria Universities, and is a Principal Investigator in Te Pūnaha Matatini CoRE.