A group of New Zealand scientists is urging the Government to urgently reverse recent funding cuts, warning the country risks losing talent and innovation as researchers head overseas for work.
New figures from the Save Science Coalition show around 700 publicly funded science roles have been cut since 2023, raising concerns about the long-term impact on the economy and research sector.
At a laboratory at Victoria University in Wellington, young scientists are working across a wide range of projects, from plant research to protecting honeybees. Professor of biology Phil Lester says the work being done locally has a real-world impact.
“Our work on honeybees has been in terms of developing a new biopesticide. That's been really effective in controlling parasites of honeybees, without harming the bees themselves.”
He says it’s just one example of globally significant research happening in New Zealand.
“Work here in Wellington at the Ferrier Institute and Malaghan Institute of Medical Research has developed a new vaccine for malaria that has the potential to save hundreds of thousands of lives every year.”
But Lester says recent funding changes are putting future breakthroughs at risk.
“We’ve had National Science Challenges cut. The Marsden Fund has effectively been reduced and redirected, as well as MBIE funding being reprioritised. These are influential funds that support long-term research in New Zealand.”
Save Science Coalition spokesperson Ben Wylie-Van Eerd says the sector has already been stretched, but the latest cuts are different.
“We’ve found ways to do more with less, but this time there have been substantial cuts in real dollar terms. About $80 million a year has been taken out of the science budget.”
Coalition data shows 571 science-related roles were lost between 2023 and early 2025. In February, it was also revealed 134 staff roles would go at the new Bioeconomy Science Institute.
Wylie-Van Eerd says many affected scientists are struggling to find work locally.
“From the people I know personally who’ve lost their jobs in the recent cuts, I’d say about a third have found new jobs in New Zealand.”
There are also concerns about the impact on critical public services.
The team responsible for monitoring live earthquake data has shrunk from 20 to 15 scientists over the past year.
Former Earth Sciences NZ geohazard analyst Caleb Rapson Nuñez del Prado says maintaining round-the-clock monitoring could become harder.
“We still have that 24/7 system day to day, but over time, people get sick and challenges arise, and we may have to move to an on-call system.”
He warns that could have serious consequences in an emergency.
“Tsunami travel times can be tens of minutes up to an hour, and in that scenario, 10 minutes makes a lot of difference.”
Science Minister Penny Simmonds told 1News total research and development spending is at its highest level on record.
A Statistics New Zealand survey shows the sector grew by 2400 roles between 2022 and 2024, with most of that increase coming from the private sector.
But the Save Science Coalition says public investment remains critical.
“If you starve the public science sector, you’re also starving the commercial sector of discoveries, people and equipment they rely on.”
The group is calling on the Government to reinvest in science jobs, warning the consequences of inaction could be felt across the economy and beyond.
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