Robbing Research Cuts New Zealand’s Future Wealth
Robbing Research Cuts New Zealand’s Future Wealth
Cutting research money is robbing New Zealand of its future wealth, says New Zealand First.
“How are we going to grow the economy if the government cuts research in areas where we are world leaders?” says Spokesperson for Research, Science and Technology Darroch Ball.
“For example, the government has cut $2.7 million from biological industries research into productivity growth and sustainability of our world-beating primary industries.
“Seventy per cent of our multi-billion dollar merchandise exports are generated by the primary sector but only $92 million is being put towards research. Business and industry research is being cut by $6 million.
“After a large funding drop for Crown Research Institutes in 2013 their core funding has been frozen for the second year in a row, sealing the fate of AgResearch Invermay. This government does not believe in government-led research.
“This mentality extends to slashing Hazards and Infrastructure Research by almost $3 million, despite GNS confirming megathrust earthquake risk to the East Coast, the Auckland volcanic field and a new fault line discovered under Hamilton.
“So where’s the money gone? Vision Mātauranga gets an increase of $1.3 million and there’s an extra million for the Māori Innovation Fund. We did not know that science is now done on the basis of race.
“New Zealand First understands that to make a dollar you need to invest a dollar, which the government is yet to learn,” says Mr Ball.
ENDS