One of New Zealand’s leading ecologists is calling on the Government to stop what he describes as the “final hollowing out” of the South Island’s public science leadership.
Dr Colin Meurk ONZM, a well-respected academic and environmental consultant, has written to MPs, iwi leaders, academics, and councillors urging them to fight to retain the last remaining Government science head offices in the South Island.
“Time is running out,” Dr Meurk said, referring to the planned amalgamation of four Crown Research Institutes into three new Public Research Organisations (PROs).
The restructuring officially begins on 1 July, with full implementation expected by October.
The merger includes Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, Plant & Food, Scion and AgResearch into what is being called the Bioeconomy PRO. While Manaaki Whenua and AgResearch are currently headquartered in Lincoln, near Christchurch, there is growing concern the new centralised head office will be based in the upper North Island.
“There is lobbying under way to move the head office into the so-called ‘golden triangle’ of Auckland, Tauranga, and Hamilton,” Dr Meurk said. “An evasive answer during Parliament’s Scrutiny Week suggests that decision may already be made.”
He said the CEOs of key science organisations and senior Government science advisers already live in the North Island, including the CEO of Landcare Research, the interim head of the new PRO, and the Prime Minister’s chief science advisor Sir Peter Gluckman.
“Removing our last head offices is just not on and would be a symbolic kick in the guts for the South Island,” said Dr Meurk.
He warned that Lincoln, a national hub for bioscience and agriculture, was at risk of being overlooked despite its vital contribution to the economy and New Zealand’s international research reputation.
“Not having a head office here will damage our status, career pathways, and voice in the science sector,” he said. “The administrative funding that flows into our region would be shredded.”
Dr Meurk challenged Science and Innovation Minister Dr Shane Reti’s claim that the restructure would “maximise the value of Government funding and drive economic growth.”
“Business as usual will not serve us in the coming era of climate disruption and global instability,” he said. “We need outside-the-square thinking and regionally distributed infrastructure. Putting all our governance eggs in one basket up north is foolish given the climate and seismic risks.”
He also questioned the logic of removing science leadership from the very heart of the country’s agricultural sector.
“Our Prime Minister is in China right now promoting New Zealand as a destination for agricultural study,” he said. “How does it make sense to cut the head office away from where most of that learning and research actually happens?”
Dr Meurk said it was time for South Island leaders to show more urgency.
“I’m surprised more of our leaders haven’t spoken out,” he said. “If they don’t act now, the Government will quietly strip the South of yet another vital piece of infrastructure and influence.”
He is standing in the 2025 local body elections for Environment Canterbury in the Ōpuna, Christchurch West constituency.
Dr Meurk said the signs are clear. “The cards are stacked to further hollow out the South unless there is joint pressure from Southern councils and iwi.”
