Science Media Centre

New Zealand’s first orbital launch site has been opened on the Mahia Peninsula on the North Island’s east coast. Los Angeles company Rocket Lab plans to start launching from Mahia later this year, with commercial payloads added from next year. Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce hoped Rocket Lab would be the catalyst for other space-related […]

The Government’s announcement of the National Science Challenges, including an extra $73.5 million funding boost to the initiative, has been widely reported in national media. According to the government, Challenges provide an opportunity to align and focus New Zealand’s research on large and complex issues by drawing scientists together from different institutions and across disciplines […]

UPDATED 11.00 AM, MAY 3: The Government this week announced the ten areas that have been selected for special focus and additional funding as New Zealand’s National Science Challenges. The National Science Challenges are a new initiative to tackle the most important science-based issues and opportunities facing New Zealand by targeting a series of goals […]

“Be clear and direct” was the core advice from Hon Steven Joyce, Minister of Science and Innovation, to the delegates at the joint PCST / Science Communicators Association of New Zealand conference in Christchurch. Mr Joyce gave the minister’s address at the conference yesterday, reflecting on the importance of science communication. You can listen to […]

The Government has announced it will kick off a publicity campaign to seek ideas on how to tackle the country’s biggest science-related challenges as part of a $60 million research programme. Here’s the official announcement from Science and Innovation Minister, Steven Joyce. Media coverage: Stuff: Science funding up for grabs 3News: Govt launches science ‘challenges’ […]

A new ministry, announced today, will absorb the functions of the Ministry of Economic Development, the Department of Labour, the Ministry of Science and Innovation, and the Department of Building and Housing. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment was officially announced by Prime Minister John Key at speech for the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, […]

The Hon Steven Joyce, the first politician to hold the economic development, science and innovation and tertiary education portfolios simultaneously, talked to Radio New Zealand’s political reporter Brent Edwards about his varied plans. Listen to the audio here.    

Communications minister Steven Joyce yesterday annouced a $285 million deal has been finalised to contract Telecom and Vodafone to extend broadband to rural areas. The main points of the deal allow for: – 86 percent of rural houses and businesses access to peak speeds of at least 5Mbps – 154 new cell phone towers and […]

If the Government’s multibillion dollar plan to deliver high-speed internet access 75 per cent of the population has been a little thin on detail to date, some revelations today point to how the scheme will work in general. Communications minister Steven Joyce has called for submissions on his plan, which allows for a state-owned Crown […]

There were more than a few surprises in John Key’s cabinet line-up announced yesterday. Dr Wayne Mapp’s appointment to the research, science and technology portfolio was largely unexpected but gels reasonably well with his other associate portfolios of associate economic development and associate tertiary education though Dr Mapp’s key portfolio of defence is likely to […]