Dr Paul Hutchison National Science Spokesman

1 September 2004

No employment guarantees for Wallaceville scientists

AgResearch has refused to give any employment guarantees to Wallaceville's world famous animal reproduction scientific team despite plans to split it up, says National's Science spokesman Dr Paul Hutchison.

In the Science & Education Select Committee today, AgResearch's CEO Dr Andy West said there were no employment guarantees for the scientists. AgResearch is proposing to move virtually all its scientific teams from Wallaceville to Massey and Otago.

Dr Hutchison says despite attempts to gag the scientists, many have spoken out, saying the relocation will force them to go overseas or leave science permanently.

"The badly handled process has caused huge dismay to Dr Ken McNatty's reproductive team.

"We can't afford to wave some of our best scientists offshore.

"The Government says they want to focus on biotechnology as a driver of growth, but they are constantly making it harder for scientists to thrive."

A few months ago Pfizer withdrew $65 million of research funding and, only last week, Auckland medical researchers had to contract their Huntington's disease research to Australia because it would cost too much and take too long to get consents in New Zealand.

Dr Hutchison says it is vital for agriculture that the Government review AgResearch's proposals, ensuring that scientists get help, not hindrance, to do their work in New Zealand.

Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce today called for an independent review of AgResearch's redevelopment plans.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>