Workers take voluntary redundancy at the government’s new science entity

134 workers have taken voluntary redundancy at the Bioeconomy Science Institute, less than a year after the entity was formed. 

It started in July 2025 after the merger of four existing research organisations: AgResearch, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, Plant & Food Research, and Scion.

Of the jobs set to go, 86 are science roles and 48 are in professional services such as finance and administration.

A statement from the organisation said the move was ‘to ensure the new organisation is placed on a strong and sustainable footing’.

The Public Services Association questioned the value placed on science and technology.

"BSI was set up to promote innovation in agriculture, horticulture, forestry, aquaculture, biotechnology - how can it do this with a smaller workforce?” National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said. 

There were concerns that workers would find employment somewhere other than New Zealand. 

"Voluntary redundancy is preferable to forced dismissals but make no mistake, every expert who takes a package and heads overseas is a loss New Zealand will feel for years to come."

This was not an isolated move - there have been previous cuts in the sector that had people worried about the future. 

The downsizing comes on top of three of the agencies - AgResearch, Scion and Landcare - axing 152 roles in an earlier restructure.

"Come November, the PSA will be reminding voters of the choice the Coalition Government political parties made to prioritise tax cuts over a science sector equipped to drive our future prosperity."