Home > About us > Our organisation > Legislation

Our Organisation
Legislation

We were established by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology Act 1990 to invest in science and technology research for the benefit of New Zealand.

Our purpose

Under the Act, we have three principal purposes:

  • allocating funds to produce outputs relating to public good science and technology
  • allocating funds pursuant to ministerial schemes
  • providing independent policy advice to the Minister for Research, Science and Technology on matters relating to RS&T, including advice on national priorities.

Amendments

There have been two amendments to the original Act:

  • Foundation? for Research, Science, and Technology Amendment Act 1993
  • Foundation for Research, Science, and Technology Amendment Act 2001

Review of the Act

Our Act is to be reviewed by May 2009. The Ministry of Research, Science and Technology will lead the review and the terms of reference for the review are due to be finalised in December 2007.