News

Catch up with the latest activities of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor and her office.

Our latest intern report

One of the pleasures of working in the Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor is getting involved with the interns on their projects. The projects provide opportunities for the interns to apply their knowledge in a policy area, build their skills and...

Mahi Tahi 5: Annual report 2023

Our fifth annual report, Mahi Tahi 5, is now at the printers. If you would like a hard copy, please get in touch. Download Mahi Tahi 5 here You can read Juliet's foreword below: Tēnā koutou katoa, ngā mihi o te wā ki a tātou. Ahakoa ngā ārai, ahakoa ngā aupiki me...

Gene editing: Time to have your say

In a December 2022 blog post, I reflected on the pathway from science advice to implementation of science-based recommendations that arise from commissioned reports from our office. Not all our advice is commissioned – sometimes the science community proactively...

The Gangs report in the media

The OPMCSA's report, "Toward an understanding of Aotearoa New Zealand's adult gang environment", has featured in multiple news articles and interviews with Juliet and co-author Professor Tracey McIntosh. See the coverage in the links below 5th July 2023 The report...

Why is regulating AI such a challenge?

AI (artificial intelligence) regulation is a hot topic internationally. Leaders of some of the big players in the AI world are signing open letters and talking to politicians and journalists about the need to regulate AI to prevent serious harms. In this blog, we...

Out and about: OPMCSA international travel

After several years of interacting with the international community remotely, it has been great to be able to connect in person again. This year the (fully vaccinated!) team have been making the most of the opportunity to travel and learn from colleagues in other...

Washington DC Capitol building

Jacinda Ardern speaks at WHO’s 76th Assembly

Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks at WHO's 76th Assembly, discussing her experience leading the Covid-19 pandemic response, including the role of Professor Sir Ashley Bloomfield and Professor Dame Juliet Gerrard. To see more about the speech, read the...

The Fisheries Report in the Media

The 2021 Fisheries report was referenced in these articles. In an article about the fishing industry and the draft industry transformation plan, the Office's 2021 report on Fisheries was highlighted as evidence of the need for change. Read more in the Newsroom...

Fish underwater, front-on to camera with mouth agape

What to do with your household food waste?

The government's launch of Te rautaki para - Waste strategy today sheds light on the importance of how we create and manage waste in Aotearoa New Zealand, and sets out a pathway for changing unsustainable practices where valuable resources are wasted in enormous...

An appeal for improved marine habitat protection

MP and Greens fisheries spokesperson Eugenie Sage has appealed for wider protection of Aotearoa New Zealand's marine environment, calling for a more "holistic" and "ecosystem based" approach to marine habitat protection. Sage says that current protection of New...

It’s raining, it’s pouring

Flooding events across the North Island have resulted in fatalities, uninhabitable homes, and vital infrastructure in need of repair. OPMCSA analyst Dr Emma Brown reflects on the situation.

COP15 International Science Advisors’ Statement

Juliet has joined with her international peers in releasing the COP15 International science advisors statement. The statement outlines the vital importance of action and commitment to protect biodiversity, and the grim reality if action isn't taken. The statement calls on governments around the globe to commit to addressing this pressing issue at COP15.

Earth from space

Our second food waste report: Food rescue

Food rescue organisations in Aotearoa captured over 11,500 tonnes of food at risk of going to waste last year, distributing it to people in the community, including those experiencing food insecurity. Our second food waste report, which we are releasing today, explores the food rescue sector’s role as part of the solution to food waste.

GE in the media

An article in the NZ Herald details the history of GE in Aotearoa, the current regulatory systems, the review of these settings and what could occur moving forward. Juliet is interviewed in the article, giving her perspective on the issue, including the difficulty...

Government responds to the fisheries report

Last week the government formally responded to The Future of Commercial Fishing report. Minister Parker announced the formal response to the report at the Sea into the Future conference, where Juliet was also a speaker.

Stripy parore fish swim near the seafloor, surrounded by tall kelp

Our first food waste report in the media

Our series of reports on food waste are underway with the first of these reports released in early July. The office is busy with the second report, focused on food rescue, while engaging with stakeholders across the food system. This page highlights the coverage of...

Spinach leaves

Introducing our first food waste report

Food ending up in the bin is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to food waste. That’s one of the key messages from our first report in the food waste series, Food waste: A global and local problem, which we are releasing today.

Hon David Parker on GM

In an interview with Newshub, Hon David Parker discusses GM policies, and outlines why they are being reviewing the regulatory settings around biomedical research and laboratory research to see if they are outdated. Watch the interview...

Aotearoa’s first mātauranga-based holiday

This week New Zealanders across the motu will enjoy a long weekend, the nation’s first ever Matariki holiday. Senior analyst Emily McCarthy met with astrophysicist, Māori astronomy expert, and member of the Matariki Advisory Committee Dr Pauline Harris to find out more.

Combatting food waste

Our next major project is on food rescue, food loss and food waste. We’re kicking off our project to understand the nature and extent of this problem in Aotearoa New Zealand and explore evidence-based solutions to reduce food waste across the food supply chain.

Daylight saving: It’s complicated

With New Zealanders preparing to turn their clocks back as daylight saving ends this Sunday, senior analyst Emily McCarthy has been pondering the history and science behind this tradition.

Kotahitanga in the media

We released our report Kotahitanga Uniting Aotearoa against infectious disease and antimicrobial resistance on 3 March 2022. Check out recent news articles that have profiled our work.

An artist's depiction of an Escherichia coli bacterium cell

What comes next with COVID?

The New Zealand Herald has written an in-depth article questioning what is going to happen next after two years of COVID in Aotearoa New Zealand. Speaking to the Herald, Juliet said she had faith we would come through this crisis just as strongly as before. We’ve...

An illustrative model of a SARS-CoV-2 virus particle

Are kiwis losing faith in our experts?

Last year an international study found that Aotearoa New Zealand had the highest level of trust in scientists compared to 11 other countries surveyed (including the US, UK and Australia). With recent protests, journalists are asking whether this level of trust may have waned. Juliet talked to the Herald about how this is not necessarily the case.

Protesters in Wellington

Why is it so hot?

Don’t worry, it’s not just you. With global temperatures up 1.1°C compared to pre-industrial levels, it’s getting noticeably warmer throughout the world. Aotearoa New Zealand is no exception.

A busy year with our interns and fellows

Amidst the noise and haste of supporting the COVID response and delivering our infectious disease and AMR project (more on this in the New Year), we have had a busy and exciting year behind the scenes with our interns and fellows – 13 projects across the year.

Sunrise on Waikanae Beach, Tairāwhiti Gisborne, New Zealand.

Out and about on the AMR beat

We’ve been making the most of a COVID-free South Island, getting out and about as part of our project on antimicrobial resistance and infectious disease.

The five burning questions facing NZ

When will we have a vaccine? And are our borders sufficiently secure now? Science reporter Jamie Morton spoke to Juliet and other scientists to answer five burning coronavirus questions facing NZ.

A COVID tracer QR code print out in a cafe

Our cannabis webpage is now live

This evidence summary won’t tell you how to vote – instead, it aims to support you to make your decision in the upcoming referendum on legalising recreational cannabis.

Cannabis growing indoors under yellow light

Why science really does matter

Dr George Slim, consultant for the Office, writes about the role of the PMCSA and evidence-based decision making in Build magazine, the flagship publication of BRANZ.

Dr George Slim

Accelerating Rangatahi Māori

Over the last year, the Chief Science Advisor Forum has been focused on building a bridge between the science advisory system and te ao Māori. This culminated last year in a hui on 11 December.

harakeke weaving

Space is for everybody

More than a few researchers we meet on our travels raise an amused, sceptical eyebrow at the thought of kiwis being among those with an interest in space, but in fact, Aotearoa New Zealand has a long history in space science and technology.

Close up of the Orion nebula

Mātauranga and science

It seems apt in this year of commemoration to ponder the interface of our two knowledge frameworks. Tahu and I were honoured to be asked to write a forward for a New Zealand Science Review Special Issue on Mātauranga and Science.

Rethinking Plastics in Aotearoa New Zealand

In light of increasing public concern over the harmful effects of plastic pollution, the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, Professor Juliet Gerrard, is presenting the Rethinking Plastics in Aotearoa New Zealand report to the Prime Minister on Sunday 8th December.

Reusable coffee cups made of ceramic with the word "reuse" written on one

Rethinking plastics in Aotearoa New Zealand

We are excited and delighted to launch our major report – Rethinking Plastics in Aotearoa New Zealand – today.  Our panel set out with a bold and broad scope to find ways to reduce the size of the plastic shadow that is cast by modern life.

Reusable coffee cups made of ceramic with the word "reuse" written on one

WasteMINZ Press Release Rethinking Plastics in Aotearoa NZ

WasteMINZ, NZ’s largest representative body of the waste minimisation, resource recovery and contaminated land sectors, is pleased to see the report articulating a national focus on many of the challenges and solutions that its members have been debating and creating in recent years.

Reusable coffee cups made of ceramic with the word "reuse" written on one

Why isn’t my professor Pasifika or Māori?

One of our interns, Dr Tara McAllister (Te Aitanga ā Māhaki), and her fellow researcher, Dr Sereana Naepi, joined RNZ to talk about their research into the stubbornly low numbers of Māori and Pasifika working at New Zealand universities.

Lecture hall

A quick update

It has been a very busy month in our Office, with lots of activity on our various work streams, and some rapid reprioritisation to assist in collating an evidence base for those supporting recovery in Christchurch.

Juliet joined the Forum for Australian Chief Scientists in Darwin last week.

Quiet thoughts

Apart from acknowledging the terrible events of March 15th with a ‘Kia Kaha’, we have turned down the social media volume to zero this week in the Office. A mark of respect for the victims and their whānau, and a time to reflect. A week later, here are a few thoughts.

The Beehive in Wellington with its flag at half-mast

12 Questions with Juliet

In the NZ Herald's '12 Questions with...' series, Professor Juliet Gerrard answers questions about science and her role as the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor.

Juliet Gerrard. Image credit: Greg Bowker/NZ Herald

Ministry of Education Chief Science Advisor discusses teaching children argument and empathy

Professor Stuart McNaughton, Chief Science Advisor for the Ministry of Education, recently spoke to Newshub about the need to teach children critical analysis and argument—but also empathy, Aoteaora, NZ, New Zealand, Science, research, science advice, science policy, evidence-based policy, science advice, PMCSA, OPMCSA, Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, Professor Juliet Gerrard, Juliet Gerrard, Chief Science Adviser, Chief Science Advisor

Apple, books, pencils and ABC blocks

NZ Herald Q&A with Juliet

Science journalist Jamie Morton interviewed Juliet for a Q&A in NZ Herald about her new role as the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor. 

Juliet Gerrard