DOC Chief Science Advisor among roles proposed to go

Thursday, 11 April 2024

The Department of Conservation’s chief science advisor ‒ one who played a role in the country’s pandemic response ‒ is among the roles proposed to be disestablished, The Post understands.

The Post first revealed on Wednesday DOC was proposing to cut 130 net jobs, two of which were from the Office of the Director General.

It is understood the chief science advisor and chief advisor are the two roles proposed to be disestablished.

Professor Michael Bunce, a DNA expert well known for his work on the fossil bones of moa and giant eagles, currently holds the position.

Many departments have a chief science adviser tasked with providing informed, evidence-based scientific advice to agency leadership.

Bunce was appointed in November 2023, having previously been seconded into New Zealand’s Covid-19 pandemic response, writing science advice and policy for the Ministry of Health, ESR and Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor.

DOC's consultation document, seen by The Post, said it considered DOC had strong science capability in other areas, particularity in its biodiversity, heritage and visitors group (this area is proposed to lose 24 roles).

It proposed using that science capability for advice when needed, consequently disestablishing the chief science advisor role.

The proposal has prompted concern in the wider scientific and conservation community. One former DOC staffer said the chief science advisor role was a critical part of the leadership team.

Professor Troy Baisden, co-President of the New Zealand Association of Scientists, said science roles were being cut across the public service without adequate understanding of the implications.

“DOC has a very complex pathway of using science in policy and it really matters a lot more than other organisations,” he said. “Some of the decisions can save whole species. They have enormous implications.”

Coming out of the pandemic, New Zealand had an opportunity to make better choices about science, he said ‒ instead, it appeared to be “doubling down on making worse choices”.

Although DOC would retain many other scientists, losing the chief science role could impact the quality of advice received by decision-makers.

“It doesn't necessarily signal a huge cut in the capacity of DOC to use science, but it does signal a loss of access to science for the Director General's office, and presumably a lack of interest in using science to inform the minister,” Baisden said.

Forest & Bird also expressed alarm about the scale of the cuts, and said they could have long-term consequences for nature and the economy.

“New Zealand cannot afford to lose highly skilled and dedicated Kiwis who are charged with protecting our threatened species and their habitats,” said Group Advocacy Manager Richard Capie.

'DOC’s budget is about the same as the Christchurch City Council’s, but we expect it to look after a third of Aotearoa. Public conservation land is also incredibly important to our economy.”

DOC recently warned the new Government of its dire financial position, after a report it commissioned found the “size and scale of DOC is unaffordable on current baselines”.