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Dear John --
I hope this final Collins’ Comments for 2024 finds you feeling
optimistic about Christmas and the holidays and also about the future
and what 2025 will look like for your families and communities.
I am excited about the recent announcements I have made in regard
to funding and supporting all who work or own businesses in the
Science Innovation and Technology areas, because these are the
businesses that offer hope for a richer future for all New
Zealanders.
You will recall that the Prime Minister and I made an announcement,
that following public consultation, this Government wants to end the
30 year ban on Genetic Engineering and Genetic Modification. Overseas
research and experience have shown that this is going to help our
primary industry sectors compete in foreign markets, provide solutions
for climate change as well as enhancing research into more effective
treatments and therapies for the health sector.
New Zealand's
biotech sector, of which gene technology is a part, generated $2.7
billion in revenue in 2020. Supporting this sector will drive improved
export returns and increased productivity and this is largely where
our future success as a country lies.
Overseas experience shows that it is possible for individual
producers and growers to opt in or out of using GM and GE technology.
Already in New Zealand the use of GM organisms like imported enzymes
for cheeses and animal feed have been approved by the current
Environmental Authority during the last ten years.
The new
legislation to be called The Gene Technology Bill had its first
reading in Parliament this week. It is based on Australia's Gene
Technology Act 2000 but following many months of concentrated scrutiny
and writing, it has been modified to work in New Zealand. It will
include a regulator to enable the science and also manage any
potential risks to human health and the environment.
After a full select committee process lasting six months, with
input from the public as well as the scientific and business
communities, the legislation will be read again and the new regime is
expected to be fully operational by the end of 2025.
Catalyst Fund and Marsden Funds updated for global impact
Recently, I announced an updated plan for research and development
funds like the Catalyst Fund and the Marsden Fund. We need them to
become laser-focused on clear scientific outcomes and priority
research areas as part of our Coalition Government’s strategic
approach to science funding. Our intention is to deliver greater
economic impact for New Zealand and the real benefits that publicly
funded research can deliver when it is focussed on backing science
with a purpose.
These purposes will focus on the specific growth areas of quantum
technology, health, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, space, and
Antarctic research.
I want all proposals requesting support from these two funds to
demonstrate high-impact research of relevance and importance to New
Zealand’s economic growth and technological progress. This will, in
turn, guide our investment in emerging international science
opportunities and collaborations that will create pathways for
commercialisation of innovative technologies, enable New Zealand to
contribute to global science challenges, and support the domestic
development of robust and sustainable research ecosystems in priority
areas.
Details of the Catalyst Fund Investment Plan can be found on the MBIE
website.
The refocussing of the Marsden Fund will result in concentration on
core scientific research that will lift our economic growth and
contribute to science with the purpose enabling greater economic and
or environmental and or health benefits for New Zealand.
The Marsden Fund is a contestable fund of approximately $82million,
with proposals judged by independent panels based on criteria set out
in the Fund’s Terms of Reference and Investment Plan.
Real impact on our economy will come from greater research in
physics, chemistry, maths, engineering and biomedical sciences. That
is why I am directing that funding of humanities and social sciences
has to stop at this time. They are expensive to fund and unfortunately
do not lead to an increase in productivity or income for this
country
About 50 per cent of the Marsden Fund will support research that
advances new ideas and encourages innovation and creativity and in
some cases the benefit may not be immediately apparent. But in the
long term we need to support new ideas which lead to developing new
technologies and products, boosting economic growth, and enhancing New
Zealander’s quality of life.
The Marsden Fund Investment Plan and Terms of Reference will apply
to projects funded from the 2025 round of the Fund. As Minister I am
permitted to provide direction to the Marsden Fund Council through the
Terms of Reference.
For more information see https://www.royalsociety.org.nz/what-we-do/funds-and-opportunities/marsden/
Papakura Rotary Christmas Parade 2024
It was wonderful to see a really large crowd of families, friends
and neighbours at the Papakura Rotary Christmas Parade which was held
in Bruce Pulman Park for the first time this year.
I want to say a very big thank you to the Papakura Rotary Club
volunteers who undertook the massive organisation needed for this day.
As well as thousands of people, there were many stalls selling all
sorts of Christmas goodies as well as the amazing floats representing
community organisations from early learning centres to sports clubs
cubs, scouts, girl guides, theatre, music and dance groups and many
more.
There were a number of worthy winners of the prizes that I was
proud to present and I hope their presence and success encourages
many more people to take advantage of this great way to advertise the
fun of belonging to a group or a club, for an even bigger parade next
year.
We must all be very thankful for the generosity of Bruce Pulman.
Bruce and his family have invested a lot of effort in this huge sports
ground with so many different sports facilities. It is a wonderful
place for the community to gather to celebrate and to experience a
wonderful Christmas Festival and Parade.
May you all enjoy a very Merry Christmas, a wonderful New Year and
safe happy holidays,
Judith
Hon Judith Collins KC
MP for Papakura |
