While we’re struggling to see large scale policy action on either issue at present, the case for action has never been better.

The sobering report on water that's unlikely to spark action Scientists worry that the often-long time lags between cause and effect when it comes to polluting our lakes and rivers will give politicians the excuse not to do anything about it

As a scientist who works on how land plays into both freshwater and climate change issues, I was pleased to be part of today’s episode of The Detail. lnkd.in/eVQ5k_Bw
www.rnz.co.nz/news/environ...

NZ's science reforms all shell, no substance

Comment from Victoria University: The Govt’s science overhaul prioritises commercial outcomes, but risks narrowing the very research pipeline that fuels long-term innovation.

We left the Green Paper Submission on line. It, along with our call for renewal before it, has stood up better than the reforms and their reports, don't you think? (3/3) scientists.org.nz/GreenPaperSu...

From PRO reform that still lacks underlying strategy, to our concerns about the Prioritisation Report scientists.org.nz/news/13616237, to the recent webinar, it looks like our nightmare scenario of managerialism meets the machinery of government along with the worst of politics. (2/3)

What worries me most about the directions of NZ's science reform is that it now matches closely what our extensive 2022 Te Ara Paerangi submission highlighted as 'what to avoid'. (1/3)

FWIW, I think Australia and Netherlands were there for comparison but not in SAE ave… but …noticeably missing from figure 1

You can't have successful missions like the government wants science to be organised into without sufficient social science research.

The government has adamantly cut social science research. It claims we should be more like small advanced economies (SAEs) - even those not dependent on primary/bioeconomy exports. But SAEs fund much more social science research than we do. scientists.org.nz/news/13616237

We'll keep updating our concerns about the Prioritisation Report released last week, cutting 22% of the funding that currently looks after the future competitiveness of 60% or more of our exports, and cuts other important areas too. Today, I want to focus on something @lcsnz.bsky.social spotted.

Our initial reaction to the Prioritisation Report, that would cut existing science areas by up to 22% to pay new Tech development, expresses deep concerns.

Do you think the report has strayed into policy-based evidence making?

scientists.org.nz/news/13616237

Our initial reaction to the Prioritisation Report, that would cut existing science areas by up to 22% to pay new Tech development, expresses deep concerns.

Do you think the report has strayed into policy-based evidence making?

scientists.org.nz/news/13616237

The report is dire all around but particularly bleak for Ag and Bioeconomy if its signals are followed. NZAS comments are on our releases page. scientists.org.nz/press-releas...

PS... once again promoting the work of @scotscientist.bsky.social ... why does no one run the numbers here??

Onslow is back and it is not a joke, or is it? It feels a somewhat fitting that The Detail Podcast covers the resurrection of Lake Onslow today (April 1), but it isn’t a joke.

It's not a joke. Or is it? (Happy April 1)

open.substack.com/pub/troybais...

There were grapefruit sized examples in the market in Welly! 😋

We're filling the gap that was once a pillar of the previous science reform. What happened to it?

Need for Workforce Strategy as Job Losses Escalate

scientists.org.nz/news/13605014

Possibly caused by it being so hard to hear G vs J over the cicadas this week?

Heathrow’s third runway is turning into another infrastructure fiasco The government must step in

(Paywall) Heathrow’s third runway is turning into another infrastructure fiasco
economist.com/leaders/2026...
from The Economist

Heavens! All that confusing noise about AirNZ’s dire financial results, and then I see in the Economist that the dire state of British planning has Heathrow’s expansion in exponential cost overruns when it is already the second most expensive airport in the world.

AUCKLAND IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE!

Alas, I get that but it seems that if we believe Skilling (which I mostly do) our problem is as much as twice as bad as you normally point out. We need to build the connectivity and strategy to actually drive ODI if we ever expect to succeed as a small advanced nation rather than fall from the club.

Skilling did cover the problem of the current account deficit, aka “relying on the kindness of strangers,” at 20:45 in the kākā minihoon. It connects well to @bernardchickey.bsky.social’s ‘what is the North Star’ discussion and also the idea we need outward direct investment if we hope to scale?

FFS. Another year, another round of cuts to our public education and research system. This hurts everyone over time.

Remember friends, never repeat the propaganda. It is not 'savings' it is cuts.

And shame on ODT for repeating the 💩. They should know better. 🤡

#NZPOL

Nice - general enthusiasm for wind plus solar plus geothermal!

Thoughts on the government's LNG analysis #2: (documents here: https://lnkd.in/ec3vVs7C ) This one will make Mike Casey weep. Rooftop solar was eliminated as an LNG alternative because it doesn... Thoughts on the government's LNG analysis #2: (documents here: https://lnkd.in/ec3vVs7C ) This one will make Mike Casey weep. Rooftop solar was eliminated as an LNG alternative because it doesn't (...

Where is @scotscientist.bsky.social when we been more venom on the range of pumped hydro options? www.linkedin.com/posts/christ...

How did we get into having Veolia on this contract?

Perplexity Perplexity is a free AI-powered answer engine that provides accurate, trusted, and real-time answers to any question.

Is it just me and a few encounters and anecdotes, but ummm… isn’t this untreated sewage mess in Welly seem a a bit to like par for course with Veolia? www.perplexity.ai/search/6bbcc...

And, does it matter that the reform is failing?

Yes, failure to maintain capacity in the public research system is one of the main reasons our economy continues to fall below expectations and peer developed nations, as we see with unemployment continuing to grow in yesterday's news.

(5/5)

That's especially true when the ministry examined options for a truely independent board, but opted for quasi-independence. The arrangement allows claims of independence, but the RFNZ Board won't be independent when it matters and the ministry or minister want control or to silence science. (4/5)

scientists.org.nz/news/13593197

Appointing a high-level board to 'simplify' the system won't help. (3/5)