$140 million for science research: safer, better prepared New Zealand
The Minister of Civil Defence, John Carter, said that $140 million of science funding announced today will help make New
Zealand safer, and better prepared for natural hazards.
The Minister of Research, Science and Technology, Wayne Mapp, announced the 10-year
$140 million “Natural Hazards Research Platform” this afternoon.
The funding is for New Zealand-specific research for all natural hazards - including volcanoes, earthquakes, weather,
oceans and others - and is also for research into social impacts and engineering.
“This next 10 years of funding is to further advance our knowledge of our hazards, what they mean for our people, our
towns and our infrastructure, and how we can make ourselves more resilient,” Mr Carter said.
“I strongly support the way the research platform has been set up.”
The Natural Hazards Research Platform provides for long-term, complex research projects, involves different research
organisations working closely together, supports strengthened connections across different science disciplines, and
focuses on linking research teams with the people and organisations who will use the results.
The Platform research is expected to be applied by local and regional government, engineering and design consultancies,
emergency services, the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management and many other central government agencies such as the Earthquake Commission.
“Kiwis have already produced world-leading products and ideas that are used in many countries,” Mr Carter said. “Base
isolators, forecasting systems, risk modelling and building codes are examples of New Zealand research being applied
around the world.
“The Natural Hazards Research platform will allow our scientists and researchers to build on the excellent work they
have already done to make our country safer.”
Background information
Desired outcome
The desired outcome of research supported by the Platform will be to directly contribute to improved economic,
infrastructural and social resilience to natural hazards in New Zealand.
Scope
Research will focus on:
avoidance or mitigation of natural hazard risks that are likely to result in a civil defence state of emergency (either
local or national)
avoidance or mitigation of natural hazard risks that could potentially cause catastrophic impacts on New Zealand’s
economy, environment or social well being, but may not result in the declaration of a national state of emergency
community, organisational and infrastructural resilience to natural hazard events.
Research themes
Research will be organised into five themes. The themes will have linkages and can influence each other. The themes are:
geological hazards
weather hazards
all hazard risk assessment
social impacts
engineering mitigation.
Details of the Natural Hazards Research Platform are available from the Foundation for Science Research and Technology
(FRST) website www.frst.govt.nz.
ENDS