Submission on Te Ara Paerangi Future Pathways Green Paper

^{NZ Landcare Trust, Flickr} 

In this submission to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, the Commissioner focuses on why the environment should be recognised as a key science and mātauranga priority for Aotearoa New Zealand. In any research strategy, funding and appropriate governance should be provided toward environmental science.

The environment both provides life-supporting capacity and is a critical enabler of New Zealand’s economy.

Research that can help us understand and protect the natural environment is therefore a fundamental element of New Zealand’s public research system and must constitute a core element of at least one overarching priority area envisioned in Te Ara Paerangi Future Pathways Green Paper.

The Commissioner recommends that a national environmental research strategy be developed. It must be informed by a governance group that brings together researchers, government officials, Māori and key stakeholders.

This environmental research strategy needs dedicated funding over a time horizon that matches the long-term nature of much environmental research. A significant proportion of that funding should be non-contestable, secured for a term of 10 to 15 years.

The establishment of an independent funding agency, such as an Environmental Research Council should be tasked to deliver on the environmental research strategy.

In the second half of 2022, the Commissioner will publish a synthesis report outlining how the connections between environmental reporting, environmental research and budget setting can be strengthened.

It will be of direct relevance to any reorganisation of the science system envisaged downstream of the Green Paper. 

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment website – Te Ara Paerangi Future Pathways