Royal Society of New Zealand policy papers

The Royal Society is charged by its Act to: “To provide expert advice on important public issues to the Government and the community:”

The policy paper process spans a spectrum from responses to requests for information, to policies developed by Council. These processes vary in their approval, time consumption, and consultation. However, all resulting papers are intended to both inform policy-makers and be available for public attention.

Other policy issues
Guidelines covering expert advice from the Royal Society of New Zealand

Policy Papers

2009

• Emerging Issues - GM Forages
  March 2010
  An information paper discussing the benefits and risks of genetically modified forages.
   
• Emerging Issues - Virtual Water (PDF, 728 kB)
  September 2009
  An information paper discussing the water content of our agricultural products.
   
• Ocean Acidification Workshop
  September 2009
  Presentations from a combined science-policy workshop to explore ocean acidification.
   
• Geoengineering no replacement for reducing greenhouse gas emissions (PDF, 407 kB)
  September 2009
  Geoengineering commentary in response to Royal Society of London report.
   
• Emerging Issues - Ocean Acidification (PDF, 283 kB)
  May 2009
  Emissions of carbon dioxide are causing the world's oceans to acidify. This information paper discusses what this may mean for New Zealand.
   

2007

• Backbone Funding for National Collections and Databases (PDF, 128kB)
  June 2007
  Response to MoRST discussion documents on backbone funding and public access to research data. Written in conjunction with the Biodiversity Committee.
   
• Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change (PDF, 147 kB)
  March 2007
  Response to discussion document from Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
   
• Response to Draft Energy Strategy (PDF, 139 kB)
  March 2007
  From the Ministry of Economic Development.
   
• Use of Human Gametes and Embryos in Research (PDF, 148 kB)
  February 2007
  Response to the Advisory Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technologies.
   
• Freedom and responsibility in science (PDF, 65 kB)
  February 2007
  Response to questionnaire from the International Council for Scientific Unions' Committee for Freedom and Responsibility in Science, with particular reference to the (lack of) biological and toxic weapons research under the BTW Convention.
   

2006

• Response to the Draft Environment Roadmap (MS Word document, 45 kB)
  November 2006
   
• A Strategic Overview of the Science and Innovation System in New Zealand (MS Word document, 284 kB)
  November 2006
   
• 2020: Energy Opportunities
  October 2006
  Report from the Energy Panel.
   
• Response to the Draft Second Tertiary Education Strategy
  October 2006
   
• Submission by the Biodiversity Committee (PDF, 69 kB)
  October 2006
  Submission to MoRST's Environment Research Roadmap.
   
• Submission on the Business Tax Review
  September 2006
   
• Stem Cell Research policy page updated
  September 2006
   
• Use of Human Tissues in Unspecified Future Research
  August 2006
   
• National Science Panel : statement of purpose
  April 2006
   
• The Energy Panel of the Royal Society of New Zealand’s response to the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment's questions on barriers facing microgeneration (PDF, 46 kB)
  March 2006
   
• Letter to Minister of Conservation regarding native snail Powelliphanta augustus
  March 2006
   
• MEDSAFE fees increase proposal
  February 2006
   
• More Stable Funding. A response to MoRST
  February 2006
   

2005

• Interim advice to the MoRST energy roadmapping team (PDF, 142 kB)
  December 2005
   
• Synopsis of advice from the Society's Energy Panel to the new Minister of Energy (PDF, 32 kB)
  November 2005
   
• Briefing for the Incoming Minister
  October 2005
   
• If creative scientists sustain New Zealand's knowledge economy, how is science education doing? (PDF, 575 kB)
  2005
  Insights from recent university science graduates. Scott Koslow, University of Waikato.
   
• Women in Science - a Royal Society Overview
  June 2005
   
• Biodiversity Committee contribution to the review of the Outcome Based Investment process
  May 2005
   
• Submission on the Management of New Zealand's Freshwater Resources (PDF, 60 kB)
  March 2005
   

2004

• Distinctiveness Among Tertiary Education Organisations
  August 2004
   
• Biotechnology Science Discovery Futurewatch (PDF, 860 kB)
  June 2004
   
• Tax incentives for R&D: the issues analysed (PDF, 500 kB)
  April 2004
   
• How can research afford big capital items?
  April 2004
  Response to MoRST’s discussion paper.
   
• Science and Technology Capabilities in New Zealand
  March 2004
  A Response to MoRST.
   

2003

• A light to the future
  November 2003
  The Case for Synchrotron Science.
   
• Royal Society initiatives in relation to Mâori
  September 2003
   
• Biotechnology strategy
  June 2003
   

2002

• RSNZ Publishing - a case for the national research journals
  Oct 2002
   
• Human Resources Study - the "Quantum Project"
  Oct 2002
   
• New Zealand's International Linkages
  July 2002
   
• Human capital
  2002
   
• Changes to the HSNO Act
  2002
   
• Biodiversity
  2002
   
• Social sciences
  2002
   
• Harnessing excellence
  Feb 2002
   
• Mid-course correction: a revised RS&T strategy for New Zealand
  2002
   

2001

• Manifesto for change (PDF, 281 kB)
  2001
   
• Genetic modification
  2001
   
• Centres of Excellence
  2001
   
• Cooperative research
  2001
   
• Stem cell research
  2001
   
• Climate change
  2001