new zealand's 47-page govt report on science, out today, uses the terms "basic science", "discovery science", and "fundamental science" zero times

"curiosity-driven research" appears only in regard to cutting it

a foolish report released on April Fool's Day

www.mbie.govt.nz/assets/report-to-the-prime-minister-prioritisation-in-new-zealands-science-innovation-and-technology-system.pdf

April 01, 2026 - 06:06 UTC

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Here's Claude's plain English summary.

Hmmmm, what could they possibly mean by cuttting "environmental research with limited practical national benefit"???

#ClimateChangeDenial
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Also... it sounds like this terrible govt has 'given up publicly pretending' that we can create new science solutions to reduce dairy industry methane (amongst other things). So they're committing to not meeting existing internationally agreed methane and CO2 reduction targets. #nzpol #TooManyCows
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Do you know who wrote this nonsense?
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The council? The one with no actual basic science people on it?
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As it’s for the PM, let’s get his favourite word in there; this is a Science Hustling Innovation Technology report
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THIS ⬆️🚩⬆️🚩⬆️🚩⬆️🚩⬆️
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A number of my younger colleagues are certainly questioning their future in NZ. I'm 'lucky' to be working in the climate change/natural hazards/adaptation space - one of the few where social scientists still have a foothold
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But with ESNZ reducing visibility of social science and my university cutting jobs due to TEC signals its just going to get worse. Not hearing anything from opposition parties either which is pretty depressing.
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it's difficult to overstate how dramatically the scientific climate has changed in new zealand in the last 3-4 years

I've previously referred publicly to our science policy as 'batshit' and to our prime minister as 'an idiot' for overseeing it

this report is solid evidence for that word choice
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In some disciplines it feels like we’re close to burning the books and deporting the experts. Thank goodness we still have someone with the skills to identify Aedes mosquitoes.
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the recommendations outlined in this report, if adopted by government (which they will be, evidently), will decimate new zealand's formerly high position of respect in the international scientific community. honestly it's that simple #nzpol
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I'd welcome a chat if you wouldn't mind.
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The stupid is everywhere: the new 'domino effect':
www.lemonde.fr/sciences/article/2026/03/31/la-protection-de-la-liberte-academique-ne-peut-etre-garantie-dans-aucun-pays_6675669_1650684.html
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It's been baffling as someone who began training in science in 2020 just before COVID was on the radar. So many of my cohort are in limbo now because of how quickly everything is changing
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