New Zealand seems to be waking up to an issue I thought would have caused more concern.
As part of the bonfire of the public service, the Government seems to be eyeing cuts to our public research and development sector.
Principally that means the Callaghan Institute, the Crown agency that employs about 300 people and has been the target of attack, particularly from David Seymour.
He sees the agency's work as being a form of corporate welfare, a bugbear of ACT's.
Other ministries and departments conduct significant research funded by the taxpayer. The Department of Conservation has developed major techniques and processes that have been adopted around the world.
The Primary Industries ministry also funds valuable research, including work into climate change mitigation.
It's feared that all this work will be affected as the Government saves costs in the backroom.
Last week, Stats NZ revealed that private industry is starting to put their money where their mouth is.
The New Zealand business sector has shown a robust increase in research and development (R&D) spending, reaching a new high of $3.7 billion in 2023.
That's $540 million increase, or 17 percent, from the previous year, marking the largest annual growth since annual data collection began in 2018.
There's value in research spending. So it would be short-sighted to reduce Governmental spending on it
R&D funding cuts could mean we will lose our best and brightest scientists, like those at Callaghan, to overseas countries who are investing in science.
As we enter a regime determined to cut spending I think it's good to remember a famous quote by Oscar Wilde.
He said - " a fool is a person who knows the price of everything but the value of nothing".
The worry is that the Government goes too far and starts to cut things of value.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Drug educator: ‘Shorter sentences for drug addicts could be problematic’
Andrew Dickens: NZ First prove once again they are more than a sideshow
Andrew Dickens: Why PM's Peace Prize hype was a bit of fake news
Ginger Baker, Cream's volatile drummer, dies at 80
Andrew Dickens: The country needs to go to rehab
Family members of the Pike River victims re-enter the mine
Andrew Dickens: Dumb Dog Whistle Politics Treats Voters Disrespectfully
Basketball hoop hoo-ha: ‘We’ve invited the neighbour over for a BBQ’
Andrew Dickens: Boom Times in Slow Times
Community devastated as Maketu Pies goes into receivership.
Andrew Dickens: Time For the Prime Minister to Be A Star At Home
Andrew Dickens: This Government Suggests Too Much
Andrew Dickens: Government can't put big road projects on the backburner
Over half of Kiwis’ would rather talk politics, sex, or drugs rather than money.
Andrew Dickens: Government promising more then it's going to spend
Barry Soper: The fundamental right to vote shouldn't be taken from anyone.
Andrew Dickens: Finally we are seeing the full story around Oranga Tamariki uplifts
Andrew Dickens: Social justice division is taking Green Party off focus
Andrew Dickens: Labour and National are both cynically politicising health care
Newstalk ZB hosts and personalities react to Cricket World Cup final
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Jim & Bill (It‘s Another Day)
HauntingLive
Dr. Paul’s Worldviews
The Ben Shapiro Show
The Tucker Carlson Show