11. Question No. 11—Research Science and InnovationDr PARMJEET PARMAR (National) to the Minister of Research Science and InnovationQuestion No. 11—Research Science and Innovation11. Dr PARMJEET PARMAR (National) to the Minister of Research Science and Innovation: Will the Government give consistent funding to Scion to provide certainty to their work to create new fire spread models to investigate new extreme fire prevention methods?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS (Minister of Research Science and Innovation): The $8.75 million research project to which the member refers is funded from October 2016 to September 2021 through the Endeavour Fund to prepare New Zealand for extreme fire. This research has been funded via contestable allocation continuously since 2004. After the current work has been completed Scion will be in a position to identify what research is needed next. In addition to this we also provide Scion stable and long-term funding through the Strategic Science Investment Fund. From this funding Scion currently invests $120000 per year into fire research aligned to the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment's extreme fire programme and $130000 per year for fire weather and fire climate modelling. In addition to Scion's fire research $580000 is invested per year via the nature's challenges National Science Challenge into high-impact weather and wildfire research as well as the investment by the Ministry for Primary Industries of $150000 into the adapting to and mitigating wildfire risk due to climate change programme. Finally in addition to participating in Scion-led research the University of Canterbury undertakes related research.Dr Parmjeet Parmar: In light of the recent unprecedented Australian bushfires why won't the Government ensure sufficient consistent funding to Scion to ensure the continuity of their groundbreaking research that would save New Zealand's economy at least $67 million per year rather than leaving it—SPEAKER: Order! Order! There's at least two legs to that if not three already.Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: I reject the premise of that member's question that there is somehow not sufficient funding for this research. I just went through a very long list of research that is provided which I don't propose to repeat—a very long list of research that is provided—and I point the member to the fact that this is largely the way this research has been funded continuously since 2004.Dr Parmjeet Parmar: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The list that the Minister provided—some of that funding comes from contestable funds. And that's my question.SPEAKER: Well if that was the member's question she should have asked it. She didn't.Dr Parmjeet Parmar: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I did but I was stopped.SPEAKER: If the member would like a further supplementary she may have one.Dr Parmjeet Parmar: Given this Government's focus on planting more trees isn't it reckless not to ensure fire research is considered a priority by the Government rather than leaving it for Scion to juggle this important research with other priorities?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: I once again reject the premise of the member's question. This is the way in which fire research—wildfire research—in New Zealand has been continuously funded since 2004. There is a range of ways in which it's funded and the research the member is pointing to that needs to be done is in fact being undertaken.Dr Parmjeet Parmar: Will she take responsibility for New Zealand not being better prepared to fight any extreme bushfires in the future?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: I again repeat that the research that has been running continuously since 2004 is addressing the very questions that the member is suggesting that we should. The member should be very happy because the research she would like to see being undertaken is indeed being undertaken.