Environment
MoRST supports the development of policy, strategy and management practices in environmental areas such as:
Government agencies other than MoRST take the lead in most of these areas. More detailed information about these topics can be found on their websites.
Department of Conservation
Ministry for the Environment
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Ministry of Fisheries
MoRST’s role
MoRST’s particular interest is ensuring policies and strategies developed are based on sound science. In some cases MoRST staff have the technical skills to participate directly, while in others MoRST identifies researchers or technical experts who have the necessary skills or knowledge.
MoRST also helps coordinate research users' access to and utilisation of relevant environmental RS&T. This includes both government agencies and non-government bodies, as environmental research outputs assist decision-making in a variety of different spheres. Environmental and geospatial e-research infrastructure also serves a wide range of research users, and MoRST works to coordinate New Zealand's investment to maximise efficiency.
Through Vote RS&T, the Government invests around $85 million each year in environmental research. This funding is managed by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology. MoRST also assists whole-of-government uptake of environmental information and research, including setting principles for sharing and access of government environmental data which are reflected by the Foundation.