Crown Research Institute

New Zealand scientific research body

In New Zealand, Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) are corporatised Crown entities charged with conducting scientific research.[1][2] In January 2025, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced plans to merge the existing crown research institutes into three new Public Research Organisations (PROs).[3]

## History

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Crown Research Institutes date from 1992, with most formed out of parts of the former Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) and of elements of various government departments.[4] The dissolution of the DSIR, along with the government-imposed requirement that the CRIs become "financially viable" and operate on commercial lines, created a certain amount of resentment among some scientists.[citation needed]

On 23 January 2025, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced that the seven existing CRIs would be merged into three new Public Research Organisations (PRO):

* New Zealand Institute for Earth Science (NZIES): the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), MetService (which would be merged into NIWA), and GNS Science;
* New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science (NZIBS): AgResearch, Landcare Research, New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research and Scion
* New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science (NZIPHFS): Institute of Environmental Science and Research will be reorganised
* A fourth PRO focusing on advanced technology
* Callaghan Innovation would be dissolved and its functions moved to other organisations.[3]

The Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins described these reforms as the "largest reset of New Zealand's science system in more than 30 years."[3] The names of the new institutions were announced in May 2025, alongside the announcement of Barry Harris as Chair of the NZIBS, and David Smol as chair of NZIES.[5]

## Mandate and functions

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The Crown Research Institutes Act 1992 states the purpose of a CRI as carrying out research, and that each CRI must do this for the benefit of New Zealand, pursuing excellence in all that it does, abiding by ethical standards and recognising social responsibility; and operating as a good employer.[6] A CRI must do these things whilst remaining financially viable. The technical definition of financial viability changes from time to time, but as of 2007[update] focused on return on equity. The State does not expect CRIs to maximise profit, but simply to cover the costs of capital. This formula aims to ensure appropriate commercial disciplines whilst fulfilling scientific purposes.[citation needed]

The State charges CRIs with promoting the transfer and dissemination of research, science and technology. In other words, they have the role of "making a difference"[original research?] with the research they produce. They do this via strategic, long-term relationships with sectors (the CRI Act set up most of the CRIs with a sector-orientation), to support, sustain, challenge and develop existing sectors and also to lead development of new sectors.

## Governance and administration

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CRIs were originally governed under a standalone Act, the Crown Research Institutes Act 1992. In 2004, as part of a wider reform of government entities, they were brought under the Crown Entities Act 2004 as a type of crown-entity company.[7]

The New Zealand Government — via two Cabinet Ministers (the Minister of Research, Science and Technology and the Minister of Finance) — holds all shares in each CRI. Cabinet appoints a Board for each CRI. Each Board — intended to comprise business, "professional" and science expertise — operates according to the Companies Act as well as the CRI Act (1992) and other relevant Acts. Each Board produces an annual report and reports to the Crown Company Monitoring Advisory Unit (CCMAU), (part of The Treasury), which represents the shareholders. Parliament also scrutinises each CRI on an annual basis.

Day-to-day, however, CRIs operate as any commercial company would, acting within their strategic statement of intent (agreed with the shareholding Ministers) that aligns with the CRI Act purpose and principles.[citation needed]

The CRIs, along with Callaghan Innovation, cooperate as Science New Zealand.[8][9] The Cawthron Institute is privately owned and operates independently but engages in partnerships with relevant CRIs, particularly in the aquaculture and seafood research.[10] The Malaghan Institute of Medical Research is a registered charity which operates independently to the government but like CRIs relied on industry partnerships and government research grants.

## Funding

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This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2008)

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The Non-Specific Output Fund (NSOF) provided CRIs with some independent public-good research-funding streams from 1992 to 2005. The CRI Capability Fund (CF) replaced NSOF as from 1 July 2005. It provided public funding to maintain, enhance, and foster current or new capabilities. In 2010, the Government provided each CRI with core funding to deliver outcomes for the benefit of New Zealand. Core funding gives CRIs greater financial certainty and comprises a significant proportion of total funding available to CRIs.[11]

## List of CRIs

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As of July 2024, there are seven active Crown Research Institutes.[12] Callaghan Innovation is also included in some circumstances and they attend some joint meetings.

Crown Research Institutes of New Zealand  Official Name | Common Name (English) | Ingoa (Te Reo Māori) | Founded in Year | Homepage | Note | From July 2025

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New Zealand Pastoral Agriculture Research Institute | AgResearch |  | 25 February 1992 | https://www.agresearch.co.nz/ |  | NZIBS
Institute of Environmental Science and Research | ESR |  | 1 July 1992 | https://www.esr.cri.nz/ | Formerly known as the Institute of Environmental Health and Forensic Science. Renamed in 1993. | NZIPHFS
Institute of Geological and Nuclear Science | GNS Science | Te Pū Ao | 1 July 1992 | https://www.gns.cri.nz/ |  | NZIES
Landcare Research | Landcare Research | Manaaki Whenua | 1 July 1992 | https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/ | Known as "Landcare Research--Manaaki Whenua" since 2018 | NZIBS
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research | NIWA | Taihoro Nukurangi | 24 February 1992 | https://niwa.co.nz/ |  | NZIES
New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research | Plant and Food Research | Rangahau Ahumāra Kai | 1 December 2008 | https://www.plantandfood.com/ | Formerly Crop & Food Research and HortResearch.[13] | NZIBS
New Zealand Forest Research Institute Limited | Scion |  | April 1947 | https://www.scionresearch.com/ | Formerly known as Forest Experiment Station, part of the New Zealand Forest Service and then Ministry of Forestry. Operating independently as a CRI since 1992. Known as "Scion" since 2005. | NZIBS  |
Advanced Technology Institute | Callaghan Innovation | Te Pokapū Auaha | 1 February 2013 | https://www.callaghaninnovation.govt.nz/ | Industrial Research Limited (IRL) established as a CRI on 1 April 1992 was merged into Callaghan Innovation on 1 February 2013.[14] Formerly known as Advanced Technology Institute.[15] | –

The Institute for Social Research and Development (known as NZISRD or SR&D or "Te Kura Kōkiri, Rangahau-ā-Iwi o Aotearoa") was disestablished in 1995 after failing to achieve financial viability.[16][17] (Not be confused with the UN agency of similar name.)

## See also

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* Kiwi Advanced Research and Education Network, now REANNZ
* ARENA

## References

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1. ^ "Crown Research Institutes | Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment". www.mbie.govt.nz. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
2. ^ "Appendix 1: About Crown research institutes". Office of the Auditor-General New Zealand. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
3. ^ a b c Argue, Mary (23 January 2025). "Crown Research Institutes to merge into three mega science groups". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 23 January 2025. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
4. ^ Jane Kelsey (1995). The New Zealand Experiment. Auckland: Auckland University Press. p. 121\. ISBN 1-86940-130-1.
5. ^ Reti, Shane (14 May 2025). "Bold science reforms to fuel economic growth". Beehive.govt.nz (Press release). New Zealand Government. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
6. ^ Crown Research Institutes Act 1992, section 5
7. ^ Crown Entities Act 2004, Schedule 2
8. ^ "About". sciencenewzealand.org. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
9. ^ "Purpose". sciencenewzealand.org. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
10. ^ "Cawthron Institute: Research Seafood Safety Research Programme". cawthron.org.nz. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
11. ^ "How we invest". Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
12. ^ "Crown Research Institutes". The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). Retrieved 30 July 2024.
13. ^ "Crop and Food and Hortresearch to merge". The New Zealand Herald. 24 September 2008.
14. ^ Eskow, Simon (1 February 2013). "Callaghan Innovation touted as business enabler". Business Day.
15. ^ Joyce, Steven. "ATI to be named Callaghan Innovation". The official website of the New Zealand Government. New Zealand Government. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
16. ^ "NZ Institute for Social Research & Development". natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
17. ^ "NZ Institute for Social Research & Development". National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 5 September 2024.

## External links

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* Science New Zealand

* v
* t
* e

Crown entity companies of New Zealand

Part of the public sector organisations in New Zealand

* Antarctica New Zealand
* Aotearoa New Zealand Public Media (proposed)
* Callaghan Innovation
* New Zealand Fast Forward Fund
* New Zealand Venture Investment Fund
* Radio New Zealand
* Television New Zealand

Crown Research Institutes (CRIs)|

* AgResearch
* ESR
* GNS Science
* HortResearch (former)
* Industrial Research Limited (former)
* Crop & Food Research (former)
* Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research
* NIWA
* Plant & Food Research
* Scion

* v
* t
* e

Science and research in New Zealand

Organisations|

| Government departments|

* Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
* Ministry for Primary Industries
* Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (former)
* Ministry of Research, Science and Technology (former)
* Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (former)
* Ministry of Science and Innovation (former)

|

Crown entities|

| Public Research Organisations|

* Earth Sciences New Zealand
* New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science
* New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science

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Crown Research Institutes (CRIs)|

* AgResearch
* ESR (former)
* GNS
* HortResearch (former)
* Industrial Research Limited (former)
* Crop & Food Research (former)
* Landcare Research
* NIWA
* Plant & Food Research
* Scion
* Institute for Social Research and Development (former)

Research universities|

* AUT
* Lincoln
* Massey
* Auckland
* Canterbury
* Otago
* Waikato
* Victoria

Tertiary education institutions (TEIs)|

* Te Pūkenga (16 subsidiary institutions)

Other|

* AsureQuality
* Antarctica New Zealand
* Callaghan Innovation
* Tertiary Education Commission

Private and commercial|

* B+LNZ Genetics
* Bragato Research Institute
* Cawthron Institute
* Fonterra Research and Development Centre
* Hill Labs
* Kiwifruit Breeding Centre
* Livestock Improvement Corporation
* Malaghan Institute of Medical Research

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