Te Ara Paerangi Future Pathways White Paper

Minister of Research, Science and Innovation Dr Ayesha Verrall

Kia ora koutou. A vibrant research, science and innovation system is crucial for building a better future for New Zealand. Science can address the complex social and health challenges that impair our wellbeing. Research and innovation is necessary to transition to a high-wage, low-emissions economy. And science is needed to protect our unique environment and biodiversity. Last year, we published a Green Paper to guide consultation on the future science system. You told us what needed to change to realise a better future for New Zealand. To make meaningful impact, we will need to shift from a system with multiple small entities and strategies to one in which we focus our efforts on nationally significant priorities. Our investment needs to move from areas of traditional strength to the things that really matter to our future wellbeing and prosperity. We must release our talented people from unproductive competition for grants and give them the time to develop the skills and relationships to convert their great ideas into impact. Our system also needs to embed Te Tiriti and be more responsive to Māori and Pacific Peoples to improve the wealth and resilience of those communities. After much discussion with the sector, I'm excited to release the White Paper for the Te Ara Paerangi – Future Pathways programme. The White Paper sets out four key areas for reform. The first is to create new futures through focusing on the most important challenges and opportunities for our wellbeing. This will mean setting national research priorities. Priorities will be vehicles for building new capabilities and enable research work across disciplines. We will create impact by setting ambitious missions and strong connections between researchers and the people who will ultimately implement their innovation, be they government, industry, iwi, end users or communities. Second is to embed Te Tiriti and Māori aspirations into the design of the research, science and innovation system. This means appropriate representation of Māori at all levels of our system and creating opportunities for Māori to pursue their own priorities, and mātauranga Māori. Thirdly, we will build a system that truly supports an excellent and diverse workforce. This will require a greater emphasis on fellowships, as well as changing the incentives in our funding system to reduce contract churn and promote capability development. Pathways from science training to a broad range of careers needs to be supported by qualifications like applied PhDs, and closer collaboration between different parts of the sector. And fourth is working to create a sustainable, resilient and cohesive system. We will ensure our public research organisations have the scope and scale to adapt to emerging priorities. We will consider reforming the company model of Crown Research Institutes to foster science for the public good. We will develop an infrastructure roadmap to co-ordinate investment and co-locate buildings where that offers synergies. We will establish long-term funding envelopes for those essential services that government needs like infectious diseases surveillance, or natural hazard monitoring, for example. I encourage you to read the White Paper and be involved in Te Ara Paerangi – Future Pathways. It is important that we get these changes right, so we're committed to working with all parts of the research, science and innovation sector and in partnership with Māori and Pacific Peoples as we bring these reforms to life. I look forward to working with you. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.