The Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology is a minister in the

New Zealand Government The New Zealand Government () is the central government through which political authority is exercised in New Zealand. As in most other parliamentary democracies, the term "Government" refers chiefly to the executive branch, and more specifica ...

. 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 Institute In New Zealand, Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) are corporatised Crown entities charged with conducting scientific research. In January 2025, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced plans to merge the existing crown research institutes into t ...

s, Callaghan Innovation, the

Health Research Council of New Zealand The Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) is a Crown agency of the New Zealand Government. It is responsible for managing the government's investment in health research for the public good. The HRC was established under the Health Rese ...

, the Marsden Fund Council and the

Royal Society of New Zealand Royal may refer to: People * Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name * A member of a royal family or royalty Places United States * Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Royal, Illinois, a village * Royal ...

. The portfolio is serviced by the

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment ( MBIE; ) is the public service department of New Zealand charged with "delivering policy, services, advice and regulation" which contribute to New Zealand's economic productivity and business ...

. The current minister is

Shane Reti Shane Raymond Reti (born 5 June 1963) is a New Zealand politician and a member of the New Zealand House of Representatives, and a Cabinet Minister with the roles of Minister for Pacific Peoples, Minister of Science, Innovation, and Technology, ...

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 Joseph Gordon Coates (3 February 1878 – 27 May 1943) served as the 21st prime minister of New Zealand from 1925 to 1928. He was the third successive Reform prime minister since 1912. Born in rural Northland, Coates grew up on a farm, which ...

. 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

Notes

References

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Research, Science and Innovation Minister of Lists of government ministers of New Zealand People associated with Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (New Zealand)