# Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology

The Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology is a minister in the New Zealand Government. The minister's responsibilities include leading the science and innovation system and setting the direction for government investment.
The minister has oversight of the Crown Research Institutes, Callaghan Innovation, the Health Research Council of New Zealand, the Marsden Fund Council and the Royal Society of New Zealand. The portfolio is serviced by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
The current minister is Shane Reti.

## History

The portfolio was established in 1926, partway through the final term of the Reform government, as Minister in Charge of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. The first minister was the prime minister, Gordon Coates. The establishment of the portfolio accompanied the creation of the eponymous department.
The portfolio title has changed several times since its establishment. In 1963, the portfolio was renamed Minister of Science. A subsequent name change to Minister of Science and Technology occurred in 1975. The title Minister of Research, Science and Technology was used from 1989 to 2011, when the portfolio became Minister of Science and Innovation to align with the short-lived Ministry of Science and Innovation.
The title Minister of Research, Science and Innovation commenced from 2017 until 2023 when changed to Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.

## List of ministers

The following ministers have held the office of Minister of Research, Science and Innovation.

### Key

Reform  Independent  United  Labour  National
| No. | No. | Name | Term of office | Term of office | Prime Minister |
| | 1 | Gordon Coates | 1 September 1926 | 10 December 1928 | Coates |
| | 2 | Harry Atmore | 10 December 1928 | 28 May 1930 | Ward |
| | 3 | George Forbes | 28 May 1930 | 6 December 1935 | Forbes |
| | 4 | Dan Sullivan | 6 December 1935 | 8 April 1947 | Savage |
| | 4 | Dan Sullivan | 6 December 1935 | 8 April 1947 | Fraser |
| | 5 | Arnold Nordmeyer | 29 May 1947 | 18 October 1947 | Fraser |
| | 6 | Terry McCombs | 18 October 1947 | 13 December 1949 | Fraser |
| | 7 | Keith Holyoake | 13 December 1949 | 26 June 1951 | Holland |
| | 8 | Clifton Webb | 26 June 1951 | 25 September 1951 | Holland |
| | 9 | Ronald Algie | 25 September 1951 | 12 December 1957 | Holland |
| | 9 | Ronald Algie | 25 September 1951 | 12 December 1957 | Holyoake |
| | 10 | Phil Holloway | 12 December 1957 | 12 December 1960 | Nash |
| | 11 | Blair Tennent | 12 December 1960 | 20 December 1963 | Holyoake |
| | 12 | Brian Talboys | 20 December 1963 | 9 February 1972 | Holyoake |
| | 13 | Les Gandar | 9 February 1972 | 8 December 1972 | Marshall |
| | 14 | Colin Moyle | 8 December 1972 | 12 December 1975 | Kirk |
| | 14 | Colin Moyle | 8 December 1972 | 12 December 1975 | Rowling |
| | (13) | Les Gandar | 12 December 1975 | 13 December 1978 | Muldoon |
| | 15 | Bill Birch | 13 December 1978 | 12 February 1981 | Muldoon |
| | 16 | Ian Shearer | 12 February 1981 | 26 July 1984 | Muldoon |
| | 17 | Bob Tizard | 26 July 1984 | 9 February 1990 | Lange |
| | 17 | Bob Tizard | 26 July 1984 | 9 February 1990 | Palmer |
| | 18 | Margaret Austin | 9 February 1990 | 2 November 1990 | Palmer |
| | 18 | Margaret Austin | 9 February 1990 | 2 November 1990 | Moore |
| | 19 | Simon Upton | 2 November 1990 | 16 December 1996 | Bolger |
| | 20 | Maurice Williamson | 16 December 1996 | 10 December 1999 | Bolger |
| | 20 | Maurice Williamson | 16 December 1996 | 10 December 1999 | Shipley |
| | 21 | Pete Hodgson | 10 December 1999 | 21 December 2004 | Clark |
| | 22 | Steve Maharey | 21 December 2004 | 31 October 2007 | Clark |
| | (21) | Pete Hodgson | 5 November 2007 | 19 November 2008 | Clark |
| | 23 | Wayne Mapp | 19 November 2008 | 30 November 2011 | Key |
| | 24 | Steven Joyce | 30 November 2011 | 20 December 2016 | Key |
| | 25 | Paul Goldsmith | 20 December 2016 | 26 October 2017 | English |
| Minister for Research, Science and Innovation ||||||||
| | 26 | Megan Woods | 26 October 2017 | 14 June 2022 | Ardern |
| | 27 | Ayesha Verrall | 14 June 2022 | 27 November 2023 | Ardern |
| | 27 | Ayesha Verrall | 14 June 2022 | 27 November 2023 | Hipkins |
| Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology ||||||||
| | 28 | Judith Collins | 27 November 2023 | 24 January 2025 | Luxon |
| | 29 | Shane Reti | 24 January 2025 | present | Luxon |