The Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology is a minister in the New Zealand Government. The minister's responsibilities include leading the science and innovation system and setting the direction for government investment.
The minister has oversight of the Crown Research Institutes, Callaghan Innovation, the Health Research Council of New Zealand, the Marsden Fund Council and the Royal Society of New Zealand. The portfolio is serviced by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
The current minister is Penny Simmonds.
History The portfolio was established in 1926, partway through the final term of the Reform government, as Minister in Charge of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. The first minister was the prime minister, Gordon Coates. The establishment of the portfolio accompanied the creation of the eponymous department.
The portfolio title has changed several times since its establishment. In 1963, the portfolio was renamed Minister of Science. A subsequent name change to Minister of Science and Technology occurred in 1975. The title Minister of Research, Science and Technology was used from 1989 to 2011, when the portfolio became Minister of Science and Innovation to align with the short-lived Ministry of Science and Innovation.
The title Minister of Research, Science and Innovation commenced from 2017 until 2023 when changed to Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.
List of ministers The following ministers have held the office of Minister of Research, Science and Innovation.
Key
No. Name PortraitTerm of officePrime Minister 1 Gordon Coates 1 September 1926 10 December 1928 Coates 2 Harry Atmore 10 December 1928 28 May 1930 Ward 3 George Forbes 28 May 1930 6 December 1935 Forbes4Dan Sullivan6 December 19358 April 1947 SavageFraser 5 Arnold Nordmeyer 29 May 1947 18 October 1947 6 Terry McCombs 18 October 1947 13 December 1949 7 Keith Holyoake 13 December 1949 26 June 1951Holland 8 Clifton Webb 26 June 1951 25 September 1951 9 Ronald Algie 25 September 1951 12 December 1957 Holyoake 10 Phil Holloway 12 December 1957 12 December 1960 Nash 11 Blair Tennent 12 December 1960 20 December 1963 Holyoake 12 Brian Talboys 20 December 1963 9 February 1972 13 Les Gandar 9 February 1972 8 December 1972 Marshall14Colin Moyle8 December 197212 December 1975 Kirk Rowling (13) Les Gandar 12 December 1975 13 December 1978Muldoon 15 Bill Birch 13 December 1978 12 February 1981 16 Ian Shearer 12 February 1981 26 July 198417Bob Tizard26 July 19849 February 1990 LangePalmer18Margaret Austin 9 February 19902 November 1990 Moore 19 Simon Upton 2 November 1990 16 December 1996 Bolger 20 Maurice Williamson 16 December 1996 10 December 1999 Shipley 21 Pete Hodgson 10 December 1999 21 December 2004Clark 22 Steve Maharey 21 December 2004 31 October 2007 (21) Pete Hodgson 5 November 2007 19 November 2008 23 Wayne Mapp 19 November 2008 30 November 2011 Key 24 Steven Joyce 30 November 2011 20 December 2016 25 Paul Goldsmith 20 December 2016 26 October 2017 English Minister for Research, Science and Innovation 26 Megan Woods 26 October 2017 14 June 2022 Ardern 27 Ayesha Verrall 14 June 2022 27 November 2023 Hipkins Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology 28 Judith Collins 27 November 2023 24 January 2025 Luxon 29 Shane Reti 24 January 2025 7 April 2026 29 Penny Simmonds 7 April 2026 incumbent
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