New Zealand announces move to a single research funding agency

The Government of New Zealand has announced a major reform of its research and innovation system, including plans to create a single national research funding agency. The new body – Research Funding New Zealand – will consolidate decision-making currently dispersed across three public funders, with the aim of reducing bureaucracy and increasing focus on impact.

Announcing the change, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Dr Shane Reti said the current system was “too complex, too bureaucratic, and takes time and energy away from actual research.” He added that the reform aims to ensure “less paperwork and more time on discovery, innovation, and results that will grow our economy and benefit New Zealanders.”

The reform responds to the final report of the Science System Advisory Group (SSAG) chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, which called for a more coherent, strategic and outcomes-focused funding system.

The report argues that a unified expert agency can better balance different forms of research funding, reduce duplication across schemes, and maintain long-term investment in both blue-sky and mission-driven research.

It also recommends that New Zealand connect with international initiatives experimenting with new funding approaches, citing RoRI as one avenue for collaboration and shared learning.

RoRI has been in early discussions with colleagues in New Zealand about contributing evidence, comparative insight and international perspectives as the reform process develops. These conversations will continue in the context of RoRI’s broader work on research systems reform and metascience collaboration.