Research Funding New Zealand
Research Funding New Zealand is an independent board that has been established to consolidate funding decision makers across the science, innovation and technology system.
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Established in the first quarter of 2026, Research Funding New Zealand (RFNZ) will replace most existing decision makers across the system, including the Marsden Fund Council, the Science Board, the Health Research Council (HRC) and some of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) decision-making functions.
The decision to move to a single funding body was not a reflection of the existing funders in the system. It was to simplify processes and improve transparency, and to ensure funding is aligned with the:
- Science Investment Plan, which will set out strategic research priorities, and the
- 2026 SI&T reform’s funding system’s thematic pillars of national importance.
RFNZ will also be required to monitor and evaluate the performance and impact of investments. This will ensure public investment is delivering value for New Zealanders.
Read more about the strategic approach to the science system:
A new funding strategy for the science system
RFNZ was established under the existing Research, Science and Technology Act 2010 to ensure that they operate independently, fairly and transparently. Separate from that, a Ministerial Advisory Group consisting of the same RFNZ members will provide advice to the Minister on the Pillar Investment Plans. Schedule 1 of the Act outlines the key components you would expect to see in a Terms of Reference.
Research, Science, and Technology Act 2010(external link) — New Zealand Legislation
When the new Science, Innovation and Technology legislation comes into effect, RFNZ’s full scope and purpose will be defined under that law. The board will be independent and not embedded in a government department. MBIE’s involvement is through providing secretariat support and the administration of the funding.
Research Funding New Zealand Board members
Appointed by and reporting to the Science, Innovation and Technology Minister, the RFNZ Board comprises leaders in science, health, technology, industry and public service. It includes members with experience on the Marsden Fund Council, MBIE Science Board, Health Research Council as well as international funding bodies in Australia, Singapore and Europe.
Biographical Information RFNZ Board members
Pillar Advisory Groups
The Research Funding New Zealand Ministerial Advisory Group has established four Pillar Advisory Groups to support it in developing advice to the Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology on the thematic pillars of the new SI&T funding system. The Pillar Advisory Groups will provide RFNZ with input from industry and other research users, as well as specific scientific and technical expertise relevant to each pillar. RFNZ expects the Pillar Advisory Groups will be in operation until Pillar Investment Plans are published.
Pillar Advisory group members
Health Research Council is being disestablished
The Health Research Council (HRC) will be disestablished and its functions will be transferred to either RFNZ, MBIE, or the Ministry of Health (MoH).
The HRC operates under the Health Research Council Act 1990, and the transition of functions will be phased over time. The HRC will continue to run funding rounds until the new system is fully operational. Detailed planning is underway to ensure contracts, ethics processes, and advisory functions continue seamlessly. Researchers can be confident their work will not be interrupted.
Where functions will move to
- Funding decision making will move to RFNZ and administration will move to MBIE.
- Ethics review will move to the National Advisory Committee on Health and Disability Support Services Ethics (NEAC). NEAC will develop a new National Standard on Ethical Conduct in Human Research.
- Scientific review for clinical trials will move to Medsafe.
The HRC performs some work which research institutions, government agencies and other parts of the sector perform too. These will combine with those parts, including:
- Workforce development to MBIE, MoH and Health NZ.
- National health research policy and advice to the MoH (with MBIE support).
The current advisory committees (for example, the Public Health Research, Biomedical Research and Māori Health Research committees) were set up under the Health Research Council Act 1990 following strict guidelines. Under the new system, RFNZ will draw on assessors, panels and experts in New Zealand and overseas to inform funding decisions and advice to Minsters on science investments and strategy that includes Māori and Pacific health research.