NIWA Jobs to Go

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http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4769395 ... ws-35-jobs

LATEST: The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research is reviewing around 35 jobs, its chief executive has confirmed.

NIWA is a Crown Research Institute responsible for scientific investigation and analysis in a range of areas, including climate change, fisheries management and oceans. Chief Executive John Morgan, confirming the review, said about half of the positions under review were science roles.

He said the move would better align NIWA's capability with the country's science needs and better prepare the institute for the future. NIWA had made substantial investments in new administration systems and processes in the past three years, including upgrading its finance, computer, human resources and project management systems.

The science marketplace had also changed, leading to a downturn in some areas of NIWA's work and an increase in others. ''The proposed changes will not have any impact on NIWA's ability to meet its core scientific responsibilities. Our primary focus remains to have a positive impact on the country's economic and environmental prosperity through the provision of leading environmental science _ and we expect that to grow considerably over the longer term.''

NIWA presently employs about 730 scientific and administration staff at 15 sites.

Staff likely to be effected by the review were being consulted and their views would be considered before any decisions were made.

CUTS 'SHORTSIGHTED' - UNION
The Public Service Association has branded the cuts ''shortsighted'' and warned they could hinder innovation and economic gains in the environmental sector.

PSA national sectary Richard Wagstaff said NIWA was proposing to cut 17 science positions, including marine taxonomists, who classify species, molecular biologists and fisheries stock assessment scientists.

An environmental economist, a renewable energy scientist/engineer, a catchment water quality modeler, an atmospheric physicist, a marine ecologist, and a remote sensing scientist were also proposed among the lay-offs, along with 17 support staff.

Wagstaff said the layoffs contradicted Prime Minister John Key's vision for high-performing public service sciences following a $321 million, four year boost for research, science and technology last year.

''In reality the government is doing the opposite of what it announced last year. Slashing science jobs at NIWA does nothing to support the establishment of a high-performing public science system which supports economic growth.

''Crown Research Institutes like NIWA carry out work for government departments. Any cuts to government agencies' budgets will have a flow on effect to public sector science.''