Macindoe Tim: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeMacindoe Tim: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 04 March 2014. Volume:696;Page:16245. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]6.TIM MACINDOE (National—Hamilton West) to theMinister of Science and Innovation: What announcements has he made to encourage further investment in research and development by tech-savvy firms?Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Science and Innovation): Last week I announced the second tranche of research and development growth grants—$59 millionover 3 years awarded to 19 high-tech Kiwi businesses. The grants provide up to $5 million a year co-funding to mid-sized New Zealand - based tech companies that have experience in research and development. Growth grants were introduced last year as part of changes to research and development funding designed to encourage more research and development to be undertaken by businesses in New Zealand. The new funding follows last month’s announcements of more than $140 million over 3 years for the first 31 companies under this new scheme.Tim Macindoe: What level of investment is the Government making in research and development and how is this helping high-tech New Zealand - based businesses to succeed?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: That is a very good question. The Government is investing around $566 million over 4 years in research and development support for high-tech businesses through Callaghan Innovation growth grants project grants and student grants. Currently around 470 high-tech Kiwi companies access these growth grants project grants and their predecessor technology development grants. And 291 undergraduate and postgraduate students are currently undertaking internships at Kiwi high-tech companies. Investment in research and development is critical to helping our innovative and high-tech companies succeed. For example Fisher and Paykel Appliances which many will know was purchased by Chinese manufacturerHaier in 2012 last year announced that it would be expanding its Dunedin and Auckland - based research and development staff by around 100 and in the last 24 hours it has confirmed a further 65 staff to be employed in Dunedin. Fisher and Paykel Appliances is a recent recipient of a Callaghan Innovation research and development growth grant.Tim Macindoe: What support has he seen for research and development growth by high-tech businesses based in New Zealand?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: I have seen a number of comments. In response to the announcement I referred to earlier Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull has endorsed the growth plans ofHaier and Fisher and Paykel Appliances in his city saying that this kind of development is exactly what the city needs and it builds on the strong relationship Dunedin has withHaier. However those comments have not been universal. They contrast with other recent statements noting thatHaier’s investment in Fisher and Paykel Appliances was apparently a “dark day” for New Zealand and with demands that the Government intervene to prevent the sale. This particular person thundered that the Government cannot stand aside from this change of ownership. Both of these comments came from Labour’s current leader David Cunliffe.Sue Moroney: Can he please inform the member for Hamilton West who is asking those questions what he will do to reverse the 180 jobs that have been lost from Ruakura Research Centre in Hamilton?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Well I think the member should talk to the member immediately to her right from Palmerston North who might have a different view on that particular question but this Government is increasing investment significantly in research and development. We have increased it dramatically over the 4 years of the global financial crisis including significant investment in research and development companies operating in the Waikato.Sue Moroney: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The question was very direct. It was about 180 jobs in Ruakura and I was asking the Minister not any other member.Mr SPEAKER: No I listened carefully to the question. I listened to the answer. The question has been addressed.