Michael Reddell • Dec 08, 2016 •
Bill English is reported to have the numbers to become leader of the National Party and, thus, our next Prime Minister. And if does succeed in that quest he has indicated that Steven Joyce will become the Minister of Finance. That news had me digging out a couple of posts I’d written this year on Mr Joyce’s comments and claims. … Read More
Siouxsie Wiles • Aug 28, 2015 •
NZ’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) has accused the NZ Association of Scientists (NZAS) of casting doubt on the integrity of NZ’s scientists, and says it will no longer pay membership fees for its staff. This morning, news broke on Radio NZ National of an internal email within the Crown Research Institute (CRI) NIWA sent … Read More
Siouxsie Wiles • Jun 03, 2014 •
Last week saw Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce release the National Statement on Scientific Investment, a lengthy document outlining how funding should be spent on science in NZ over the next decade. You can download the draft statement from here. The government have asked for feedback and we have until the 22nd August … Read More
Siouxsie Wiles • May 16, 2014 •
This week has seen budget announcements from both Australia and New Zealand and it is a story of opposites when it comes to science funding. The fabulous Keith Ng (@keith_ng) has produced a great dynamic infographic if you want to see where New Zealand is going to be spending it’s money and how this … Read More
Gareth Renowden • Apr 16, 2014 •
As expected, the New Zealand government’s response to the IPCC’s Working Group 3 report on mitigating climate change pays lip service to the science, while maintaining that NZ is doing all that can be expected. Climate change minister Tim Groser’s press release said that the IPCC report’s call for intentional cooperation meant that NZ is […] … Read More
Michael Edmonds • Oct 06, 2013 •
Steven Joyce’s plans to change the constitution of University Councils has provoked some reaction from the Tertiary Education Union (TEU) but otherwise there does not seem to have been much of a reaction from the overall university academic community. Mr Joyce has claimed that the main reason for these changes is to reduce the size of councils, something that in … Read More
Siouxsie Wiles • Aug 22, 2013 •
Next week over 1000 scientists are descending on Queenstown, New Zealand, for the annual Queenstown Research Week and Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings. This year there are 12 meetings on topics ranging from enzyme engineering and epigenetics to neuroscience and personalised medicine. This year, Dr Deborah Williamson, Prof Greg Cook and I have organised … Read More
Siouxsie Wiles • May 01, 2013 •
NZ’s National Science Challenges announced alongside a massive funding boost In the beautiful blue Ocean gallery at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, the Prime Minister John Key, the Honourable Minister for Science and Innovation Steven Joyce and the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor Sir Peter Gluckman, today announced the 10 National Science Challenges. The PEAK panel*, chaired … Read More
Gareth Renowden • Mar 20, 2013 •
In this week’s column at The Daily Blog, I argue that the government is living in a bubble of unreality by refusing to take climate change seriously. …the government — in the shape of deputy PM Bill English and minister of everything and Novapay Steven Joyce — has done its best to avoid acknowledging [the] [...] … Read More
Mr February • Dec 19, 2012 •
Gerry Brownlee, formerly a minister of energy and fossil fuel, and currently the Minister for Transport and for bulldozing democracy, heritage and social order in Christchurch, today announced that petrol duty will be increasing by 3 cents a litre annually for the next 3 years to fund new roads. Specifically mentioned are the Rangiriri and […] … Read More