AgResearch confirms 83 lay-offs, hires 27 for new roles 24 Sep 2015
Related articles
- NZ consumers grow more upbeat, may resume spending Business
- Minister launches SmartGate in Wellington Travel
- New Zealand hosts Pacific fisheries meeting News
- NZ looking at all avenues on whaling issue News
- Knowles quits as CEO of KiwiBank Business
- NZ migration bolstered by British invasion Migration
- Sludge Report #192: The Naked Budget Columns
- Budget 2010 – Building the Recovery News
- NZ manufacturing activity reaches highest since 04 Business
- NZ dollar hits 22-month high vs euro Business
AgResearch confirms 83 lay-offs, hires 27 for new roles, as research demand changes
By Fiona Rotherham
Sept. 24 (BusinessDesk) - AgResearch has confirmed speculation it is axing jobs, announcing plans to lay off 83 scientists and technicians because of declining investment in some areas of research and development, while hiring 27 for new roles.
AgResearch chair Sam Robinson said the Waikato-based crown research institute had to balance shifts in its sector’s research needs, and therefore revenue, with the need to respond to emerging science opportunities to maximise the impact for New Zealand’s pastoral sector.
“Declining R&D investment in some areas means that we are currently facing a significant and ongoing funding challenge in those areas,” he said. “While both private sector and government revenue is increasing in other areas, our net science revenue is forecast to be $5.3 million less for FY16 compared to FY15,” he said.
It proposes reducing 32 scientist roles and 50 science technician roles in areas of low customer demand and recruiting 18 new scientists and nine science technicians in areas of growing customer demand and government investment. The cuts represent 18 percent of its research staff. Total staff number include 769 full time staff and 95 casuals.
The Public Service Association’s national secretary Erin Polaczuk said it had nearly 350 members working at AgResearch sites across the country and that the New Zealand economy will lose out through this move.
"AgResearch should be driving innovation for the New Zealand economy, but instead they face shrinking capacity and budgets," she said."83 skilled science roles are proposed to go, and these people will struggle to find quality jobs elsewhere in New Zealand.”
Many of the scientists and technicians being laid off will be forced to look overseas for work, meaning their skills and knowledge is lost to New Zealand, she said.
Polaczuk said the government had to be held to account for the repeated shrinking of its crown research institutes and AgResearch in particular.
"The loss of well-paying skilled science jobs in the regions will particularly hurt, as people are forced to leave for the big centres or overseas.”
Labour's economic development spokesman David Clark said Science Minister Steven Joyce needed to stop the "shambolic" restructure, "sack the board" and start again to stop long term damage to New Zealand's biggest export earner.
Earlier in the week former AgResearch scientist Doug Edmeades said the news was a “pretty fatal blow” to agricultural research and represented around 19 percent of its researchers.
Robinson said the proposed changes were consistent with its overall strategy for science and what it has identified with its customers.
A final decision on the proposals will be made at the end of October following consultation with staff.
AgResearch’s first-half report flagged that it was unlikely to hit budgeted full-year revenue, primarily because of an unforeseen decrease in revenue from Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and Primary Growth Partnership-related contracts. The report said the board and management were continuing to “explore opportunities to replace this revenue and expenditure controls remain in place”.
The group posted $63.7 million in revenue for the six months ending December 2014, down $5.2 million on the same period the previous year and below budgeted revenue of $69.9 million.
It made a net deficit after tax of $5.9 million, $1.1 million more than at the same time last year.
AgResearch is one of seven state-owned CRIs formed in 1992 and aims to enhance the value, productivity, and profitability in New Zealand’s pastoral, agri-food and agri-technology sector.
(BusinessDesk)
News
Hilary Timmins' Award-Winning UK Documentary Series To Inspire NZ Students
29 Jun 2020 Education
Dream Catchers, produced and directed by Hilary Timmins, celebrates the success stories of more than thirty inspirational New... more
New Zealand reaffirms support for Flight MH17 judicial process
7 Mar 2020 News
Ahead of the start of the criminal trial in the Netherlands on 9 March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed the need to... more
Business
NZ Government's Economic package to fight COVID-19
17 Mar 2020 Business News
The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the... more
NZ Government announces aviation relief package
19 Mar 2020 Business News
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today outlined the first tranche of the $600 million aviation sector relief package announced earlier... more
Living
Diversity was Key at New Zealand Trade Tasting in London
6 Jun 2022 Food & Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Trade Tasting was recently held in London, on Wednesday 4 May, in Lindley Hall.
It was the first... more
Kiwi author stuns Behind the Butterfly Gate
12 Jan 2022 Arts
Hidden behind the Butterfly Gate is where the secret has been kept for 76 years...
New Zealand writer Merryn Corcoran’s... more
Property
Fairer rules for tenants and landlords
17 Nov 2019 Property
17 NOVEMBER 2019
The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer... more
New Zealand Government will not implement a Capital Gains Tax
17 Apr 2019 Property
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the Tax Working Group’s recommendation for a capital gains tax, Jacinda Ardern... more
Migration
Boosting border security with electronic travel authority – now over 500,000 issued
19 Nov 2019 Migration
19 NOVEMBER 2019
We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to... more
Christchurch reinstated as refugee settlement location
18 Aug 2018 Migration
18 AUGUST 2018
HON IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY
The announcement that Christchurch can once again be a settlement location for refugees... more
Travel
Gallipoli Anzac Day services cancelled
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced this year’s joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be cancelled... more
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
more
Sport
The Skipper's Diary: Sir Richard Hadlee honouring his father and NZ's Forty-Niners
27 Oct 2019 Cricket
NZNewsUK London Editor Charlotte Everett spoke to Sir Richard Hadlee about why he’s chosen to publish his father’s... more
PREVIEW: All Blacks v England semi-final
26 Oct 2019 Rugby
The two most convincing quarterfinals winners are set to square off in a semifinal showdown for the ages when the All Blacks meet old... more
Columns
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
11 Nov 2016 Opinion
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
First published on Werewolf
The ghastly likes of Marine Le Pen in France and Geert ... more
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
10 Nov 2016 Opinion
Column - Gordon Campbell
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
Well um.. on the bright side, there (probably)... more
Kiwi Success
Congratulations to Loder Cup winner
26 Sep 2018 People
25 SEPTEMBER 2018
The Loder Cup, one of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, has been awarded to Robert McGowan for 2018... more
Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
16 Aug 2018 Appointments
16 AUGUST 2018Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
HON JENNY SALESA
Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa is... more
Recruitment
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
14 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
22 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more