National’s plans for a merger in the Research Science and Technology sector show it lacks a clear strategy on making innovation a driver of economic growth, Labour’s Research Science and technology spokesperson David Shearer said today.

It’s been reported the Government intends to merge the Foundation for Research Science and technology with the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology.

“National needs to explain to the sector and to Kiwis how this merger will have a major positive effect on innovation in New Zealand,” David Shearer said.

“How will a merger benefit New Zealand? Will it allow us to compete with Australia, which has made a major commitment to innovation?

“A review of the structure of the sector by MoRST last year concluded the foundation should be retained as a separate entity.

“We should always strive to find efficiencies but my sources are telling me that any savings from merger of MoRST and FRST would be negligible.

“So what is this talk of a merger really about?

“I suspect it’s false activity by the Research Science and Technology Minister Wayne Mapp, desperately trying to make up for a lack of a plan.

David Shearer says the proposed merger is not the grand plan the sector is calling for and which New Zealand needs.

“New Zealand needs vision for its innovations to be international commercial success stories, not the tinkering we’re seeing from National with talk of mergers,” David Shearer said.

“The Government has talked a big game on R&D but it’s showing little sign of how its sees the industry becoming a wealth creator for New Zealand.

“National needs to set out its direction for innovation.

“It needs to tell New Zealand how a merger will fit into the Government’s overall plan, because at the moment, I don’t see one.”