Advancing New Zealand's Public Science Through Strategic Partnership
New Zealand's research landscape is undergoing a transformative shift, with Science New Zealand and Universities New Zealand leading the charge to maximize the impact of public investment in science. This collaboration, formalized in August 2025 and recently updated in April 2026, brings together the nation's eight universities and three Public Research Organisations (PROs) to foster deeper connections, share resources, and deliver tangible benefits for the economy, environment, society, and culture. By working as a cohesive system rather than isolated entities, these peak bodies aim to unlock greater value from the approximately $1.7 billion annually invested in public research.
The partnership responds to ongoing science system reforms, including the establishment of PROs in July 2025 from the merger of former Crown Research Institutes (CRIs). This move mandates closer ties between PROs, universities, industry, and government, creating a fertile ground for system-wide collaboration. For higher education, this means enhanced opportunities for students, researchers, and faculty to engage in world-class, applied research that addresses national priorities like climate resilience, food security, and public health.
Background: Reforming New Zealand's Science System
New Zealand's science sector has evolved significantly. Prior to 2025, seven CRIs handled mission-led research in areas like agriculture, environment, and health. Reforms consolidated these into three PROs: the Bioeconomy Science Institute (focusing on food, fibre, and bio-based products), PHF Science (Public Health and Forensic Science), and Earth Sciences New Zealand (covering geoscience and oceanography). Science New Zealand serves as the collective voice for these PROs, advocating for their role in delivering public good science.
Universities New Zealand, or Te Pōkai Tara, represents the eight public universities: University of Auckland (Waipapa Taumata Rau), University of Otago, Victoria University of Wellington (Te Herenga Waka), University of Waikato, Massey University (Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa), Lincoln University (Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki), Auckland University of Technology, and University of Canterbury (Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha). These institutions are hubs for fundamental research, education, and innovation, producing over 164,000 scientific publications between 2015 and 2024 alone.
The reforms emphasize collaboration to avoid fragmentation, especially amid funding pressures. Universities face shortfalls, with unfunded equivalent full-time students (EFTS) exceeding 4,000 in 2025, prompting calls for better alignment between teaching, research, and public science delivery.
The Statement of Collaboration: Core Principles and Commitments
Signed on August 15, 2025, by all university vice-chancellors and PRO chief executives, the Statement of Collaboration outlines a visionary framework. Guided by five principles—impact, efficiency, agility, capability, and transparency—it commits partners to deepen ties, share infrastructure, and align with Te Tiriti o Waitangi by incorporating mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge).
Governance involves a group of vice-chancellors and CEOs meeting biannually, supported by joint secretariats from Science New Zealand and Universities New Zealand. Sub-groups tackle specific areas, with government observers from MBIE and Education Ministry ensuring alignment. The joint work programme, a living document updated annually, targets workforce growth, shared resources, streamlined stakeholder engagement, and rapid emergency responses.
- Workforce Development: Strategies to build a diverse, agile research talent pool through co-supervision and mobility.
- Infrastructure Sharing: Access to labs, collections, and equipment across sectors.
- Engagement: Unified voice to government and industry for better policy and funding outcomes.
- Emergencies: Faster deployment of expertise, as seen in cyclone recovery.
Key Progress in the April 2026 Update
The April 2, 2026, update via newsletter highlights momentum. Amid a new Tertiary Education Strategy and PMSITAC priorities, focus areas sharpened on infrastructure and workforce. A March 4 workshop launched plans for an Early Career Researcher (ECR) fellowship, enabling seamless mobility between universities, PROs, industry, and government—without precarity. Minister Hon Dr Shane Reti attended, endorsing the initiative for talent retention and innovation.
Historical data underscores potential: 14 co-locations, 14 joint graduate schools supporting 248 PhDs and 114 master's students (many in PRO facilities), and 19 joint appointments. From 2015-2024, 49% of PRO publications (nearly 9,000) involved university co-authors, amplifying impact.
Read the full collaboration update and newsletter for details.
Spotlight on Workforce Development and ECR Mobility
A cornerstone is nurturing New Zealand's research talent. Joint graduate schools, like those at University of Auckland with PROs, have trained over 200 postgrads since 2010. The new ECR fellowship addresses silos, offering centralized mentoring to groom future leaders. Participants at the workshop emphasized benefits: diverse experiences foster creativity, leading to breakthroughs in health, environment, and economy.
For universities, this means more co-supervised PhDs, integrating students into real-world PRO projects. Lincoln University's long co-location with Bioeconomy Science Institute exemplifies success, with shared PhD supervision enhancing employability and relevance.
Sharing Infrastructure: From Labs to Data Models
Pilot projects are testing shared access to costly facilities, like farm resources and genomic databases. This reduces duplication, vital given funding constraints—universities derive 30% of revenue from research but face rising costs. Transdisciplinary needs, such as climate-agriculture modeling, demand pooled expertise.
Real-World Case Studies: Collaboration in Action
Examples abound. The 'Sleeper Pests' project teams Bioeconomy Science Institute entomologist Jo Jensen (PhD with University of Waikato) to model threats like tropical armyworm, urging preemptive strategies for food security. Jensen notes: “Partnering with Waikato academics shares the latest thinking in data modeling and plant physiology.”
Other highlights:
- Massey University and Bioeconomy Science Institute on cyclone recovery sampling.
- University of Canterbury and Bioeconomy on AI-powered wildfire forecasting.
- University of Auckland and PHF Science on forensic postgraduate programs.
- Earth Sciences New Zealand with multiple unis on flood hazard mapping and lake ecosystems post-cyclones.
- Food Transitions 2050 Joint Postgraduate School (Lincoln, Canterbury, Bioeconomy)—first cohort graduating soon.
- University of Otago-led kākāpō disease research with PROs and DoC.
These span biosecurity, disasters, and conservation, delivering actionable insights.
Benefits for New Zealand Higher Education
Universities gain from PRO partnerships: enhanced research relevance boosts rankings and funding via Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF). Students access applied projects, improving job prospects in a competitive market. Faculty benefit from joint appointments and networks, while Māori-led initiatives honor Te Tiriti.
Amid enrollment surges and funding gaps, collaboration eases pressures, positioning unis as innovation hubs.
Photo by Zulfugar Karimov on Unsplash
Challenges, Stakeholder Views, and Future Outlook
Challenges include uptake inconsistencies and costs, but long-term gains in retention and innovation prevail. Professor Sir Ashley Bloomfield highlights scaling from one-to-one to system-level value. Professor Grant Edwards praises historical wins at Lincoln, advocating extension nationwide.
Minister Reti welcomes the 'joined-up' system. Future: expanded pilots, ECR rollout, response to priorities like advanced tech. This partnership promises a resilient science ecosystem, benefiting all Kiwis.
For more on opportunities, explore university research roles.
