Hutchison Paul: Estimates Debate — In Committee 
Text is subject to correction 
Hutchison Paul: Estimates Debate — In Committee 
[Sitting date: 01 August 2012. Volume:682;Page:4220. Text is subject to correction.] 
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON (National—Hunua) 
: 
 It is an absolute pleasure to take a call on the tertiary education estimates. I must say I thought it was somewhat mean-spirited and sad that Mr Hipkins from the Labour Party denied me a call on the science and innovation part of these estimates because tertiary education and science and innovation are inextricably linked and we have a great story to tell. It is very very sad that the Labour Party is not interested in this vital area for New Zealand’s future for our economic growth— 
Chris Hipkins 
: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. As you well know members are entitled to object to leave being sought and it is not in order to then go into a rant and a rave about that. If the member is too incompetent to get up and seek the call— 
The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Order! The member was doing very well up to a certain point and then he went a step too far. But I notice that the member is coming to the debate. 
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON 
: Absolutely. I am talking about the estimates for tertiary education because it is all very good news. What I wanted to make very clear was that the total direct cross-portfolio science innovation and research funding which includes tertiary education has risen significantly—17 percent year on year since 2008—and this is in pretty difficult economic times. So the record is one of substantial progress.  
What is of particular note is that this Government has indeed recognised that New Zealand’s future economic growth cannot be dependent just on primary products and cannot be dependent just on tourism but indeed is highly dependent on value-added products whether they are manufacturing or our agrifood products which this Government has indeed concentrated on. I wanted to just make the comment that the Minister for Tertiary Education Skills and Employment did—that these estimates include $100 million of additional research funding in terms of the Performance-based Research Fund to $300 million by 2016. 
Chris Hipkins 
: Judith wants to get on to ACC. 
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON 
: This is hugely welcomed—hugely welcomed Mr Hipkins—by the various universities because this is the one area where they do indeed have the opportunity to do this sort of research. And this is the funding that creates the idea flow that is absolutely vital for innovation and its ultimate commercialisation in New Zealand and I would hope Mr Hipkins that in the future you may take some interest in it—Mr Hipkins?  
Chris Hipkins 
: Yes. 
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON 
: So the point is Mr Hipkins be well aware that this Government has cemented in a substantial $100 million in these estimates over the next 4 years. As well as that there has been this increase of $42 million in operating funding for engineering; an additional $17 million operating funding for science students which is a 2 percent funding increase per equivalent full-time student; and $100 million as we have said for the Performance-based Research Fund which is hugely important for the wider science and innovation budget. Clearly this Government has made a great focus on this area over the last 4 years making a transformation from a time when New Zealand had really forgotten about the area of science and innovation. The percentage of GDP that was invested had been static for 9 to 10 long years and now fortunately it has come up.  
So I just want to finish by once again saying that this is an area that under this National Government has seen a renaissance in funding has seen a renaissance in focus and indeed is going to make a huge difference in terms of the economic development and the ability to retain graduates who go through our tertiary education system as we have it right now. 
Vote agreed to.