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News - 13 May 2013
The revised Regional Council Research, Science & Technology Strategy (September 2011 version) has been launched to all relevant government departments and several key CRIs. It has been very well received and is already having an impact on new research priorities for several organisations.
A number of Special Interest Groups have commenced developed specific research strategies for their interest areas. These will be posted on this website as they become available.
A SIG Futures workshop is planned for the 21 June 2013 in Wellington.
Research for the Environment - the Regional Council Research, Science and Technology Strategy - September 2011 updated version
The combined 16 Regional Councils have released the September 2011 update of the Regional Council Research, Science & Technology Strategy. Our vision is to be effectively involved in the identification, development, and implementation of research, science and technology to facilitate the functions of Regional Councils for the benefit of New Zealanders. We also want to see that New Zealand is a world leader in environmental RS&T and that there is a process in place to ensure that science evolves and deals with issues before they become major problems, and that the latest knowledge and technology is appropriately implemented.
The strategy provides an overview as to what the regional councils require in research, science and technology including a process to achieve goals and objectives.
The strategy has been developed by a Science Advisory Group, which is chaired by Gary Bedford. Other members of this group include: Lindsay McKenzie, Tony Petch, Richard Bowman, Chris Ingle, and Grant Barnes.
Bill Dyck has been contracted to implement the strategy and will be working with the regional councils, the SIGS, and external organisations such as MSI, MfE, MAF, EPA, DOC, and the key research providers.
The 'Regional Council Research Strategy' 2011 document is available to download as a pdf below:
Research for the Enviroment - September 2011 (786 kb)
SIG Research Priorities 2011 plus 2009 Critical Issues and Research Needs
This document is in two parts. Part 1 is the “Regional Council Special Interest Group Research Priorities” report. The report summarises the key critical issues and research needs identified by thirteen of the Regional Council Special Interests Groups. The issues and needs were initially identified at a Futures Workshop in November 2010 and then slightly revised into their current form. They provide detail that complements the high level Regional Council Research, Science & Technology Strategy, which is currently in final draft form (as of June 2011). The Regional Council Special Interest Group Research Priorities report will be updated as priorities change.
SIG Research Priorites 2011 plus 2009 Critical Issues and Research Needs (283 kb)
Futures Workshop Presentations - November 2010
A Regional Council science Futures Workshop was held in Wellington in November 2010. The main purpose of the workshop was to have Regional Council Special Interest Groups (SIGs) present on what they saw as the critical issues facing them in the future and the key research required to address this. Three keynote speakers from Landcare Research, MAF, and FRST set the scene, followed by presentations on critical issues and key research needs from 13 SIGS. The presentations are available below. The information from the workshop was used to update the Regional Council Research Strategy.
- Futures workshop final agenda
(80 kb, 11 seconds to download, 56k modem)
- New Zealand New Futures New Thinking - Bob Frame, Landcare Research
- Freshwater Future Management - Chris Arbuckle, MAF
(673 kb, 96 seconds to download, 56k modem)
- Environmental Science - a changing landscape - Justine Daw, FRST
(1435 kb, 205 seconds to download, 56k modem)
- Air research priorities
(86 kb, 12 seconds to download, 56k modem)
- Biodiversity research priorities
(171 kb, 24 seconds to download, 56k modem)
- Biosecurity research priorities
(187 kb, 26 seconds to download, 56k modem
- Coastal research priorities
(61 kb, 8 seconds to download, 56k modem)
- Groundwater Forum - critical issues
(742 kb, 106 seconds to download, 56k modem)
- Hazards research priorities
(5932 kb, 847 seconds to download, 56k modem)
- Local Authority Environmental Monitoring research priorities
(284 kb, 40 seconds to download, 56k modem)
- Land and soil issues
(78 kb, 11 seconds to download, 56k modem)
- Policy SIG research priorities
(74 kb, 10 seconds to download, 56k modem)
- Regional waste and contaminated land priorities
(67 kb, 9 seconds to download, 56k modem)
- River manager research priorities
(71 kb, 10 seconds to download, 56k modem)
- Surface water and integrated management update on critical issues
(83 kb, 11 seconds to download, 56k modem)
Special Interest Groups as of May 2013
SIGS as of May 2013
SIG contacts as of May 2013
Earlier Documents available:
Futures Workshop - 26th September 07
Futures Workshop 26 September report
(121 kb, 17 seconds to download, 56k modem)
Presentations
Climate change impacts - National perspective
(1661 kb, 237 seconds to download, 56k modem)