Thank you for contacting Hon. Penny Simmonds, Member of Parliament for
Invercargill, Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, Minister for
Tertiary Education and Associate Minister for Social Development &
Employment.
The Minister considers all correspondence important, however, as she
receives a large amount of correspondence, it is not always possible to
provide a personal response.
Please note the following guidelines:

* If you are an Invercargill constituent contacting the Minister about
an issue, then your email will be passed to her electorate office.
* Invitations and requests to meet with the Minister will be considered
and a staff member will be in touch with you in due course.
* Requests for official information will be managed in accordance with
provisions of the Official Information Act 1982, which may include a
transfer to a more relevant Minister or agency.
* If your email falls outside of the Minister's portfolio
responsibilities, expresses a personal view, or is copied to multiple
Members of Parliament, then your opinion will be noted and your
correspondence may be transferred to another office, or there may be
no further response to you.

Thank you once again for taking the time to write; it is very much
appreciated.
The Office of Hon. Penny Simmonds
(Please note that this acknowledgement is an automatically generated
email.)

Kia ora Tobias,

 

Thank you for your request for official information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act) to the Office of Hon Penny Simmonds. You
requested:

 

“I am writing to you in your capacitity as Minister for Science,
Innovation and Technology to request information regarding the recent
reform to New Zealand's government research agencies.

 

1) During the merger to create the New Zealand Institute for Earth
Sciences, were any research programs (including induvidual studies or
grants given to universities and private research organizations) being
conducted the institute's predecessor agencies, NIWA and GNS Science, cut,
downsized or otherwise effected by the reforms.

 

2) If yes, please list what these programs were and what reason was given
for their disestablishment.”

 

The reference number for your request is: PSTE-OI-26-011

As required under the Official Information Act 1982, the Office will
endeavour to respond to your request no later than 20 working days after
the day your request was received. You can expect a response by 15 June
2026.

 

Under section 28(3) of the Act you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to
review any decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be
contacted by email at: [1][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602. 

 

Ngâ mihi

 

Office of Hon Penny Simmonds

Minister for Tertiary Education

Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology

Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment
Email: [2][email address]

Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Tobias Corbett <[FOI #34716 email]>
Sent: Friday, 15 May 2026 7:13 pm
To: Penny Simmonds (MIN) <[email address]>
Subject: PSTE-OI-26-011: Official Information request - Research programs
effected by CRI mergers

 

Dear Penny Simmonds,

 

I am writing to you in your capacitity as Minister for Science, Innovation
and Technology to request information regarding the recent reform to New
Zealand's government research agencies.

 

1) During the merger to create the New Zealand Institute for Earth
Sciences, were any research programs (including induvidual studies or
grants given to universities and private research organizations) being
conducted the institute's predecessor agencies, NIWA and GNS Science, cut,
downsized or otherwise effected by the reforms.

 

2) If yes, please list what these programs were and what reason was given
for their disestablishment.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Tobias Corbett

 

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