Reforms newsletters and webinars
The Government is making changes to New Zealand’s science, innovation and technology system. These changes will clarify priorities, lift economic outcomes and harness advanced technology for a more prosperous future.
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Science, Innovation & Technology Reforms newsletters
To keep you informed on the system reforms, we’re publishing monthly programme-level newsletters that provide updates on progress across the workstreams, outline the changes implemented so far, and highlight upcoming activities and key priorities for the reform. These newsletters will also feature contributions from sector partners and celebrate achievements across the science, innovation, and technology system.
Latest newsletter:
3 March 2026 newsletter(external link)
Previous newsletters:
18 December newsletter(external link)
13 November newsletter(external link)
14 October newsletter(external link)
3 September newsletter(external link)
24 July newsletter(external link)
27 June newsletter(external link)
27 May newsletter(external link)
7 May newsletter(external link)
4 February 2026 newsletter(external link)
Subscribe to future newsletters:
Science, Innovation & Technology Reforms webinars
We will be holding webinars to provide programme-level updates on the reforms. These sessions will offer an opportunity to share key developments, discuss progress across the workstreams, and outline upcoming priorities. They will also offer a chance to ask questions and hear directly from those leading the reform efforts.
16 April 2026 webinar
Join our upcoming webinar to learn more about the Prime Minister’s Science, Innovation and Technology Advisory Council’s priorities report, and how these priorities will shape future investment in the science, innovation and technology system.
Date: Thursday, 16 April
Time: 9:15 am
You will hear from:
- John Roche, Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, who will provide further insight into the council’s recommendations and its work programme.
- Danette Olsen, Programme Director, Science System Reforms at MBIE, who will outline how the council’s priorities will inform future science investment, including how investment will be centred around the four pillars.
- A Q&A session that will give you the opportunity to ask questions, share your views, and get clarity directly from those leading the changes.
Join the webinar(external link)
Previous webinar recordings
March 2026 webinar recording available
This webinar provided a programme‑wide update on the Science, Innovation and Technology system reforms, including the establishment of Research Funding New Zealand (RFNZ).
Danette Olsen, MBIE, shared progress across the reforms programme, highlighting key milestones and the shift to a strategy‑led, outcomes‑focused funding framework. Dr Emma Blott, Chair of RFNZ, discussed the governance and independence of the new funding body and how it will work with the sector.
The session concluded with a Q&A hosted by Dr Gill Jolly, covering a range of questions from participants.
March 2026 Science, Innovation & Technology Reforms webinar recording(external link) — YouTube
October 2025 webinar recording available
A webinar was held on 15 October to provide details on the funding system changes announced by the government.
In this session, we heard from Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Dr Shane Reti on his vision for the system. This was followed by presentations from MBIE Programme Director Science System Reforms Iain Cossar and MBIE General Manager Science System Investment and Performance Danette Olsen, and a Q&A session at the end.
May 2025 webinar recording available
Our first programme-level webinar took place on 14 May 2025. In this session, we expanded on the announced changes, provided an overview of the science reforms, and discussed recent government announcements.
Speakers included:
- Iain Cossar – Programme Director, Science System Reforms, MBIE
- Sue Bidrose – Chief Executive, AgResearch
- Chelydra Percy – Chief Executive, GNS Science
May 2025 Science Innovation and Technology Reform webinar meeting recording(external link) — YouTube