Printed from https://fyi.org.nz/request/34357-esnz-communications-and-decision-records-on-science-prioritisation on May 28, 2026 06:59

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ESNZ communications and decision records on science prioritisation

S Summers made this Official Information request to National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Limited

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From: S Summers

Dear Earth Science New Zealand,

I am writing to request information under the Official Information Act 1982 relating to science prioritisation and associated funding decisions within Earth Sciences New Zealand.

This request is limited to communications and decision-making material involving the any of the following roles:

- Chief Science Strategy Officer
- General Managers of Missions
- Chief Scientists

For the period 1 October 2025 to present, I request:

1. Internal Communications

Copies of emails, internal chat messages (e.g. Teams/Slack), and similar communications between the above roles that discuss:

- The identification, prioritisation, or refinement of science focus areas;
- Any changes in emphasis across science domains, including areas being reduced, scaled back, not progressed, or transitioned;
- The relationship between science strategy and funding mechanisms, including SSIF and MBIE Endeavour Fund;
- Decisions or guidance on which research areas or proposals should be supported, sustained, or not progressed;
- The balance between research-led and commercially or impact-driven activities, including any shift toward cost-recovery or commercial delivery models.

2. Meeting Notes and Records

Any meeting notes, minutes, or summaries involving the above roles that relate to:

- Science prioritisation or strategic direction;
- SSIF investment decisions or changes in supported areas;
- Selection, prioritisation, or internal review of MBIE Endeavour Fund proposals;
- Discussions of areas of reduced emphasis or transition in delivery model.

3. Formal Decision Records

Any formal decision documents or records (including approvals, endorsements, or documented recommendations) involving the above roles that:
- Confirm or implement decisions on science priorities;
- Record decisions relating to SSIF investment areas or changes to them;
- Record decisions on which Endeavour Fund proposals are progressed or not progressed;
- Capture rationale for supporting, deprioritising, or transitioning specific areas or proposal types.

Yours faithfully,

S. Summers

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From: Enquiries

Thank you for your e-mail to Enquiries at NIWA.  We have received your
query and will respond as soon as possible.

Kind regards

Enquiries

Enquiries
, , New Zealand
Earth Sciences New Zealand
[1]Earth Sciences New Zealand
The Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Limited and the National
Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Limited joined to become the
New Zealand Institute for Earth Science Limited. We are known as Earth
Sciences New Zealand. For more information on the Earth Sciences
transition [2]click here.

Notice: This email and any attachments may contain information which is
confidential and/or subject to copyright or legal privilege, and may not
be used, published or redistributed without the prior written consent of
Earth Sciences New Zealand. If you are not the intended recipient, please
immediately notify the sender and delete the email and any attachments.
Any opinion or views expressed in this email are those of the individual
sender and may not represent those of Earth Sciences New Zealand.

For information about how we process data and monitor communications
please see our [3]privacy policy.

References

Visible links
1. https://earthsciences.nz/
2. https://niwa.co.nz/about-niwa/science-se...
3. https://niwa.co.nz/about-niwa/privacy-po...

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From: Enquiries
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Limited

Thank you for your e-mail to Enquiries at NIWA.  We have received your
query and will respond as soon as possible.

Kind regards

Enquiries

Enquiries
, , New Zealand
Earth Sciences New Zealand
[1]Earth Sciences New Zealand
The Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Limited and the National
Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Limited joined to become the
New Zealand Institute for Earth Science Limited. We are known as Earth
Sciences New Zealand. For more information on the Earth Sciences
transition [2]click here.

Notice: This email may contain information which is confidential and/or
subject to copyright, and may not be used, published or redistributed
without the prior written consent of Earth Sciences New Zealand. If you
are not the intended recipient, please immediately notify the sender and
delete the email and any attachments. Any opinion or views expressed in
this email are those of the individual sender and may not represent those
of Earth Sciences New Zealand.

For information about how we process data and monitor communications
please see our [3]privacy policy.

References

Visible links
1. https://earthsciences.nz/
2. https://niwa.co.nz/about-niwa/science-se...
3. https://niwa.co.nz/about-niwa/privacy-po...

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From: Susan Pepperell

Kia ora,

Earth Sciences NZ acknowledges the below OIA request and will respond within the timeframe required.

Regards
Susan Pepperell

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From: Sarah Fraser

Kia ora S Summers

Thank you for your request dated 2 April 2026.

We’re writing to let you know that, under section 15A of the Official Information Act 1982, we need to extend the timeframe for responding to your request, as it covers information held across multiple systems and roles, and we also need to consult internally before making a decision.

Because of this, we’re unable to complete a proper response within the original timeframe without this work unreasonably impacting our operations.

We’ll provide our decision on your request by Friday, 29 May 2026, and sooner if possible.

If you have any concerns about this extension, you have the right to ask the Office of the Ombudsman to review it. More information is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz.

Nâku noa, nâ

Sarah Fraser

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From: Sarah Fraser

Kia ora S. Summers

I refer to your official information request dated 2 April 2026 for communications and decision-making material relating to science prioritisation and associated funding decisions within Earth Sciences New Zealand.

Your search is extremely broad and has resulted in the identification of at least 165GB of information, comprising hundreds of thousands of documents potentially relevant to your requests 1 and 2. Deciding on each item will necessitate reviewing each item of information, and in some cases consultations with third parties whose information is included. Also physically sorting and working with the large number of documents to check for relevance, identify duplications, deciding on the request and prepare the approved documents for release will be extremely time consuming and onerous for Earth Sciences New Zealand.

Accordingly, unless you are able to refine your request significantly, we estimate we will require a further three months to complete the work. As such, the target date for our response would be at least 29 August 2026. With the volume of work involved we would also need to look at charging you for the time involved to collate the information and prepare the material for release.

With regard to your request 3 for formal decision records, this is refused under S18(e) of the Official Information Act as the information does not exist – ie no formal decisions have been made in the requested time period.

We look forward to hearing from you on how you wish to proceed.

Nâku noa, nâ

Sarah Fraser

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