RC Science Strategy, Climate Change Datasets, and Special Interest Groups

Learn more about research, science and technology strategies used by Regional Councils. View the outputs from previous workshops in the right-hand menu.

On this page:

 

Regional Sector Emerging Research Needs

This paper lists new and emerging science and data needs for our sector. This list is based on recent discussions across our network of Special Interest Groups and key external stakeholders. It complements our existing research strategies and responds to increasing complexity in our sector’s operating context.  

Emerging science needs

Example research opportunities

Managing extremes

Science to understand and manage rare, highly impactful events and scenarios

Navigating overlapping goals

Systems science to support integrated decision-making across multiple objectives

Intervention design and early proof of progress

Science that enables early detection of the effectiveness of interventions

Supporting communities and partners

Applied social science to support effective community and partner enablement

Interfaces with economic and financial systems

Science to integrate resource and emergency management within socio-economic systems

Faster, cheaper insights while retaining robustness

Testing and integrating advanced technologies for resource management

 

Critical Datasets for Adaptation to Climate-related Natural Hazards

This document provides a prioritised list of datasets identified by the regional sector as critical for New Zealand’s adaptation to climate-related natural hazards.

Regional Council RS&T Strategy 2020 (see below for details)

The 2020 Regional Council Research, Science & Technology Strategy was signed off by the CEO Forum in November 2020 and has now been published. A Science Advisory Group Delegation met with MBIE in December 2020 to inform them the strategy would be published in early 2021 and to expect a visit in the new year to discuss council priorities. Additional Government department visits are being planned.

In 2019 the Regional Council's Science Advisory Group had close liaison with the Health Research Council to comment on their draft research prioritisation framework and to provide input on research topics that would be of joint interest. In 2021 the plan is to work with HRC to potentially develop a Research Partnership, focused on "environmental health". 

 

Regional Council Research, Science & Technology Strategy (2020)

The Strategy is available at the link below.

Research for Resource Management: Regional Council Research, Science and Technology Strategy 2020

 A brochure outlining the priorities contained in the RS&T Strategy is also available at:

Research for Resource Management: Regional Council Research, Science and Technology Strategy 2020 brochure

 

 

Special Interest Group Research Strategies

The development of SIG Research Strategies was identified in the Regional Council’s RS&T Strategy 2013 Operational Plan as a priority. The reasons for this were to develop more strategic views on what was required by focus area (although several SIGS have taken a more comprehensive view) in order to influence MBIE investments and CRI research. The strategies (even in draft form) have been particularly useful in influencing the development of the National Science Challenges.

Special Interest Group research priorities are available below.

 

Special Interest Group Science Strategies

(as of February 2025)

Updated  June 2026