Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology

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.^[2]

Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology of New Zealand
Coat of arms of New Zealand
Flag of New Zealand
Incumbent Judith Collins since 27 November 2023
Ministry of Science and Innovation
Style	The Honourable
Member of	Cabinet of New Zealand Executive Council
Reports to	Prime Minister of New Zealand
Appointer	Governor-General of New Zealand
Term length	At His Majesty's pleasure
Formation	1 September 1926
First holder	Gordon Coates
Salary	$288,900[1]
Website	www.beehive.govt.nz

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.^[2]

The current minister is Judith Collins.^[3]

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.^[4] A subsequent name change to Minister of Science and Technology occurred in 1975.^[5] The title Minister of Research, Science and Technology was used from 1989 to 2011,^[6] 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.^[7]

Key

  Reform   Independent   United   Labour   National

No.		Name	Portrait	Term of office		Prime 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		Forbes
	4	Dan Sullivan		6 December 1935	8 April 1947		Savage
							Fraser
	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 1951		Holland
	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		Marshall
	14	Colin Moyle		8 December 1972	12 December 1975		Kirk
							Rowling
	(13)	Les Gandar		12 December 1975	13 December 1978		Muldoon
	15	Bill Birch		13 December 1978	12 February 1981
	16	Ian Shearer		12 February 1981	26 July 1984
	17	Bob Tizard		26 July 1984	9 February 1990		Lange
							Palmer
	18	Margaret Austin		9 February 1990	2 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 2004		Clark
	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	present		Luxon

Notes

1. https://www.parliament.nz/media/3151/parliamentary-salaries-and-allowances-determination-2016.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}
2. "Research, Science and Innovation". Research, Science and Innovation. 12 October 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
3. "Ministerial List". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
4. Wood, G. A. (1996). Ministers and Members in the New Zealand Parliament (2nd ed.). Dunedin: University of Otago Press. p. 51. ISBN 1-877133-00-0.
5. Wood, G. A. (1996). Ministers and Members in the New Zealand Parliament (2nd ed.). Dunedin: University of Otago Press. p. 60. ISBN 1-877133-00-0.
6. Wood, G. A. (1996). Ministers and Members in the New Zealand Parliament (2nd ed.). Dunedin: University of Otago Press. p. 72. ISBN 1-877133-00-0.
7. Wilson 1985, pp. 90–97.

References

• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V R Ward, Government Printer. OCLC 154283103.
• Wood, G. A. (1996) [1987]. Ministers and Members in the New Zealand Parliament (2 ed.). Dunedin: University of Otago Press. ISBN 1-877133-00-0.