Publications
Explore reports, public information sheets and briefings produced by the Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor. The publications are divided into three types: reports, public information sheets, and briefings. Publications are listed from newest to oldest within each section.
You can also browse by topic on our topics page
Looking for publications from Sir Peter Gluckman’s tenure? Check out the archives page for historical reports
Publications produced by interns, fellows and seconded scholars affiliated with the Office can be found on our internships page.
Reports
Testing for COVID-19
30 March 2020
A commissioned review on COVID-19 testing methods, produced under urgency by lead author Professor Michael Bunce, Chief Scientist at the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) – Te Mana Rauhī Taiao. This is a living document that will be updated regularly.
Download the report ‘Testing for COVID-19’ (PDF, 880KB)
Download the appendices for the report (PDF, 2.41MB)
Brain, behaviour and justice
29 January 2020
What were they thinking? A discussion paper on brain and behaviour in relation to the justice system in New Zealand is the fourth in a series of reports.
Rethinking plastics
8 December 2019
Our first major report outlines a vision for rethinking plastics in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Explore our online content to help you rethink plastics
Download the full ‘Rethinking plastics’ report (PDF, 27MB)
Download the key messages (PDF, 8MB)
Download the ‘At a glance’ summary (PDF, 2MB)
Mahi Tahi 1 – Annual report 2019
July 2019
See what Juliet and the team got up to in the first year.
Download Mahi Tahi 1 (PDF, 2MB)
Family violence in New Zealand
November 2018
‘Every 4 Minutes: A discussion paper on preventing family violence in New Zealand’ is the third in a series of reports related to the criminal justice system.
Download the ‘Every 4 Minutes’ report (PDF, 2MB)
Myrtle rust
January 2020
Myrtle Rust arrived in Aotearoa New Zealand in 2017 and is a threat to a number of native plant species. We’ve pulled together some accessible summary information on myrtle rust in the New Zealand context.
Download the myrtle rust explainer (PDF, 2MB)
5G in Aotearoa New Zealand
29 November 2019
As 5G begins its roll out in Aotearoa New Zealand, lots of people are asking what exactly 5G is and what it will mean for our country, our health, and our way of living. There are many legitimate questions to ask around the safety of any new technology, and there is also a lot of misinformation around 5G. To address this, we have launched a webpage providing information on 5G.
Download the 5G information sheet (PDF, 968KB)
Antimicrobial resistance
September 2018
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an imminent threat to Aotearoa New Zealand.
Download the antimicrobial resistance information sheet (PDF, 467KB)
View the web version of the antimicrobial resistance info sheet
Briefings
Gene editing
12 August 2019
The Royal Society Te Apārangi has released its comprehensive report on gene editing. Juliet provided a briefing to the Prime Minister on the report.
Read Juliet’s briefing to the PM on gene editing (PDF, 1020KB)
Christchurch shooting
31 May 2019
This briefing was provided to the PM by way of a summary of the Rapid Response Issue (RRI) of the New Zealand Psychology Journal dedicated to reflections on the immediate aftermath of the Christchurch shooting. The briefing was prepared at pace by Juliet Gerrard (PMCSA), Marc Wilson (Journal Editor), Ian Lambie (Chief Science Advisor for Justice) and Stuart McNaughton (Chief Science Advisor for Education).
Download the briefing (PDF, 376KB)
Read the full RRI issue of the New Zealand Psychology Journal
Science and the development of NZ standards
8 May 2019
The Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs asked the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor to work jointly with the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) on how science is currently treated in the New Zealand standards setting process, and how this can be improved.
Download the external review of standards setting (PDF, 1MB)
