Friday 30 July 2004
Rt Hon Helen Clark
Prime Minister
Address at
Opening of National Research for Growth and Development
Park Avenue, Grafton
Auckland
1.30 pm
Friday 30 July 2004
Thank you for the invitation to open formally the National Research Centre for Growth and Development. It is a pleasure
to do so because this Centre represents so much of what we in New Zealand are trying to achieve with research, and, more
specifically, with university research, in New Zealand.
This Centre of Research Excellence, one of only seven in New Zealand, and one of four at this university has brought
together some of the best minds in the country in their respective fields, from some of the best research institutions,
to tackle issues of both national and international importance. Research in the Centre will have an impact on issues
ranging from perinatal brain damage, to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, the origins of heart disease and
diabetes, and increased agricultural production.
The Centre is founded on biotechnology, one of three leading edge sectors in the economy which were identified in the
government’s Growth and Innovation Framework as deserving of special attention. We chose biotech because of the way the
basic science can be applied across so many areas of the economy. One of New Zealand’s key strengths in the future will
surely be our ability to apply our longstanding expertise in the sciences and research from which biotechnology stems in
an innovative way. This Centre is evidence of that: it doesn’t see boundaries between agri-biotech and medical biotech:
it sees opportunities for synergies. It doesn’t see differences between disciplines: it sees complementarity.
The government is working hard to strengthen the foundations of biotechnology in New Zealand and of research across the
board. This Centre is exciting because it shows that some of the investments we have been making are bearing fruit.
Our government is committed to effecting a transformation of New Zealand’s economy and society into one that is
prosperous, sustainable, socially inclusive, knowledge-based, and innovative. As a consequence, research, science, and
technology are exerting increasing influence, assuming greater importance and receiving growing attention – both within
and outside of government. This year’s Budget resulted in the largest ever single increase to Vote Research, Science and
Technology: $212 million over four years. It now sits at well over $600 million per annum – a 45 per cent increase since
we were elected. Many of the researchers involved in the NRCGD benefit from that funding, especially that distributed by
the Health Research Council.
The significance of universities as research institutions is also increasing. The tertiary sector now accounts for a
large proportion of the R undertaken in New Zealand, and new initiatives like the PBRF, the Centres for Research Excellence, and the Growth and
Innovation Pilots will only make that more so. And let’s remember that the university has a vitally important role in
training the next generation of Peter Gluckmans and Jane Hardings.
It’s easy to forget that research wasn’t always a top priority for New Zealand’s universities. John Gould, one time
member and chronicler of the University Grants Committee, reports that a chairman of one of the college councils once
said “if a professor has time for research, it shows that he is not doing his job properly”.
A lot has changed since then. For many years now research has been seen as a key mission of New Zealand universities,
but now the focus is on it as never before.
Our government recognises that universities, along with Crown Research Institutes, are the leaders of basic and
strategic research in New Zealand. They are key players in the generation, transfer and commercialisation of knowledge.
The calibre of people who research and teach in New Zealand’s universities is very high. The list of those involved in
this Centre is a scientific and research who’s who. That’s why the Centre, and Auckland University in general, can and
will play a key role in the transformation of New Zealand.
Our minister responsible for tertiary education, Steve Maharey, has said “that it is essential that we now reposition
universities as the institutions to influence the direction and quality of our research and ensure that they become the
elite institutions they were intended to be”. I couldn’t agree more, and I know that we are on track.
The Tertiary Education Strategy plays a key role in our vision. It promotes the building of research capabilities and
the strengthening of the quality of research, as well as more effective linkages with business and other external
stakeholders. It promotes a greater alignment between research goals, and New Zealand’s national goals. That alignment
can be seen clearly in the work of the NRCGD.
Complementing the Tertiary Education Strategy are many other initiatives directed towards supporting excellent and
relevant research. Centres of Research Excellence are one such initiative, and the NRCGD is the worthy recipient of some
of the $123 million that our government allocated for the CoREs.
The role of the CoRE is to support leading edge, world-class, innovative research, which fosters excellence and
contributes both to New Zealand’s national goals and to knowledge transfer. CoREs will provide stability and ongoing
support to some of the country’s top university research teams, and to their colleagues in CRIs and elsewhere. They are
primarily, but not exclusively, inter-institutional research networks, with the researchers working together on a
commonly agreed work programme. This strong focus on collaborative links between research organisations will help avoid
the duplication of effort that might otherwise occur. All this seems to describe the NRCGD to a T.
I am pleased to see first hand that the CoRE funding has made such a notable difference to the NRCGD team, through the
purchasing of valuable equipment and the bringing together of like minds spread throughout the country. I am especially
pleased that AgResearch is part of the team. In a small country with limited resources like New Zealand, we need the
different types of research providers, especially the universities and CRIs, to work closely together. The NRCGD is well
ahead of that trend.
Conclusion
In conclusion, our government fully appreciates the role of the scientific and research community in taking New Zealand
ahead. That is why I’m pleased to be at the official opening of this Centre of Research Excellence, and pleased that the
government has been able to support the wonderful work being undertaken here.
Congratulations to Peter Gluckman and the team. I understand there are around 120 of you, after your first year in
existence. I look forward to hearing more about the excellent research which I know will come out of this Centre in the
future.
Thank you.
ENDS