Green Paper and consultation

The Green Paper was the first step in Te Ara Paerangi - Future Pathways programme. It signalled the start of the multi-year reform process to build Aotearoa New Zealand a future-focused research, science, and innovation system.

Te Ara Paerangi – Future Pathways Green Paper

Te Ara Paerangi – Future Pathways Green Paper focused on the future of New Zealand’s research, science and innovation system, highlighting the range of issues faced by the sector. At this stage in the process, there were no predetermined ideas or solutions as MBIE sought input through consultation to better understand the opportunities for improvement.

Download a PDF of the Green Paper, the summary and a fact sheet.

Te Aa Paerangi – Future Pathways Green Paper [PDF, 3.6 MB]

Green Paper summary [PDF, 1.1 MB]

Consultation details and themes

Consultation on Te Ara Paerangi - Future Pathways Green Paper ran from October 2021 to March 2022. Around 2,500 participants took part in webinars and workshops between February and March 2022 and MBIE received 885 written submissions in total.

MBIE took an inclusive, deliberative and open approach to gather a broad base of views, drawing on the collective wisdom, experience and inspiration of researchers and research users. MBIE carefully considered all feedback and ideas, investigated international research, science, and innovation systems, held workshops with focus groups and met regularly with sector peak bodies, other agencies and the Minister of Research, Science and Innovation.

Key themes

  • Broad support for greater prominence of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in research, science and innovation policies and structures.
  • Interest in moving to research priorities that focus on national challenges and opportunities.
  • Concern around the nature, availability and longevity of funding.
  • Interest in workforce issues such as equity, career development, and precarity and mobility.
  • Support for greater connections and collaboration in the system rather than competition across the whole of the research, science and innovation system.

Summary of submissions

The summary report is provided in 3 parts: an introduction, a summary of all submissions and engagements, and a summary of Māori submissions and engagements.

Introduction [PDF, 646 KB]

Part I - a general report summarising all submissions and engagements [PDF, 2.9 MB]

Part II - a report summarising Māori submissions and engagements [PDF, 4.2 MB]

Additional consultation with Pacific researchers and research users

The views and feedback of Pacific researchers and research users are key to the success of Te Ara Paerangi – Future Pathways Programme. There are many different Pacific peoples in Aotearoa and across Te Moana Nui a Kiwa (the Pacific Ocean) who all have varied relationships with New Zealand and our research, science and innovation system.

Engagement with Pacific peoples on the Green Paper consultation was relatively low. In response, we intentionally sought input from Pacific researchers and Pacific research users.

Key insights

We held 2 online talanoa with 20 Pacific researchers and research users to discuss Te Ara Paerangi – Future Pathways and its relevance to Pacific Peoples. We separately met with members from Komiti Pasifika and a group of early career researchers to discuss their submissions on the Green Paper.

These talanoa identified what key shifts for Te Ara Paerangi – Future Pathways could ensure the research, science and innovation system lifts the wellbeing of our Pacific communities. Learn more about the suggested key shifts in this report.

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Last updated: 13 September 2022