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Documents

Check out all of the available documents around the decision to downsize Invermay.

Reports

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Independent Economic Analyses

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Parliamentary Questions

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Surveys

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Alternative proposal for Invermay

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Memos and briefings informing the Minister

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Letters

  • Letter to Ram Breeders from Jock Allison
    01 May 2014 (76.2 KB pdf)
    Former Invermay Director Jock Allison outlines his concerns about the Future Footprint Plan to ram breeders. Talks about Berl’s economic analysis of the proposal, the loss of scientific capability for sheep and deer research because many scientists won’t move. He asks why destroy an effective scientific hub?
  • Letter to Ram Breeders from Southern Delegates Group
    30 Apr 2014 (159.4 KB pdf)
    Environment Southland Chair Ali Timms, Otago Regional Council Chair Stephen Woodhead and Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull endorse a joint letter expressing concerns about AgResearch’s decision to relocate Invermay’s scientists to Lincoln. Also warns against destruction of an existing scientific hub at Invermay to build a new one at Lincoln.
  • Letter to Ram Breeders from Beef+Lamb New Zealand
    16 Apr 2014 (58.8 KB pdf)
    Letter informing members that it has included background information from AgResearch on the Future Footprint Proposal with the letter. It explains the information is included in response to a motion at the Beef + Lamb AGM.
  • Letter to Ram Breeders from AgResearch
    16 Apr 2014 (114.8 KB pdf)
    AgResearch Chair Sam Robinson outlines his view of the Future Footprint Proposal to ram breeders. Talks about having a shared pathway with Beef+Lamb and the plan to shift sheep genomics from Invermay to Lincoln to create a hub.
  • Letter to Jock Allison from AgResearch
    15 Apr 2014 (238.8 KB pdf)
    Former Invermay Director Jock Allison is told he can only enter Invermay Grounds on Authority of AgResearch Shared Services Director Andrew McSweeney.
  • Letter to AgResearch Chair Sam Robinson from Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull
    19 Mar 2014 (18.0 KB pdf)
    Mayor Cull asks for a decision date for the Future Footprint Proposal after AgResearch mentions a decision date drawing near at a sheep breeders meeting in Gore.
  • Letter to Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull from AgResearch Chair Sam Robinson
    07 Oct 2013 (235.8 KB pdf)
    Response from AgResearch Chair informing Mayor Cull that the full AgReserach Board nor its CEO will be at a scheduled meeting as requested. Also recommends how an upcoming meeting should be shaped for the “consultation”. The 15 page Future Footprint Proposal (see Reports above), but NOT the business case was attached with the letter.
  • Letter to AgResearch Board Chair Sam Robinson from Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull
    02 Oct 2013 (80.9 KB pdf)
    Letter expressing disappointment about AgResearch decision and the lack of information it has supplied the Southern Delegates Group in terms of providing its business case and its change proposal.
  • Letter to Minister Joyce from AgResearch Chair Sam Robinson
    24 Sep 2013 (94.8 KB pdf)
    Letter on behalf of AgResearch Board requesting a teleconference on 25 September 2013 to discuss the 250 staff submissions received by AgResearch regarding its Future Footprint Proposal. That is the day before it expected to talk to staff about the changes it was going to make to the original proposal.
  • Letter from AgResearch Chair Sam Robinson to Mayor Dave Cull
    02 Sep 2013 (188.2 KB pdf)
    Letter from AgResearch Chair Sam Robinson to Mayor Dave Cull asking Dunedin to wait for Invermay decision by AgResearch Board until the review is complete on 26 September 2013 before presenting alternative.
  • Letter to AgResearch Chair Sam Robinson from Mayor Dave Cull re Southern Delegates submission
    29 Aug 2013 (86.4 KB pdf)
    Mayor Cull responding to a request for one page summary of submission that Southern Delegates planned to make to AgResearch Board.
  • Letter to Deer Industry NZ Chief Executive Dan Coup from Dr Jock Allison
    20 Aug 2013 (281.2 KB pdf)
    Outlines concerns of moving the Deer Research Programme from Invermay to Lincoln and asks that they become points for discussion at the DINZ Board meeting. It also highlights the conflicting interests of two members of the DINZ Board on this issue and asks for their views to be set aside when the DINZ board discusses the matter.
  • Open letter to Minister Steven Joyce from Mayor of Waitaki Alex Familton
    14 Aug 2013 (264.1 KB pdf)
    Letter written prior to the Invermay Summit in Dunedin outlining the southern region’s concerns about the closure of Invermay, the lack of supporting data for the FFP plan and the lack of regional investment in general by Government in comparison with OECD countries.
  • Letter from Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull to southern leaders re Summit about Invermay jobs
    06 Aug 2013 (173.4 KB pdf)
    An invitation to a summit in Dunedin to discuss the proposed downsizing of Invermay and what it will mean for communities, businesses and other organisations.
  • Letter to Dunedin City Councillor Syd Brown from AgResearch Chief Executive Tom Richardson
    29 Apr 2013 (927.3 KB pdf)
    Briefly introduces the concept of the $100 million science hub programme announced by the Minister Steven Joyce. Makes no direct mention of downsizing Invermay or increasing capability of Lincoln.

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OIA requests and responses

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Treasury Guidelines

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Ten reasons why the AgResearch Invermay campus should be expanded

  • 1. Invermay campus does not require modernisation – New buildings costing $17m were opened only 5 years ago and have never been fully occupied. It is an outrage to spend $100m replicating facilities elsewhere. George Davis DSc; FRSNZ; FAAABG
  • 2. There is ample scope for future growth at Invermay with currently less than half the available office space occupied by AgResearch staff. George Davis DSc; FRSNZ; FAAABG
  • 3. A large number of skilled staff will be lost if asked to transfer to Lincoln – when AgResearch’s Wallaceville campus closed in 2008 less than 1/3 of the staff who were requested to move to Invermay, accepted the offer. Half of those who did transfer were made redundant in 2013. George Davis DSc; FRSNZ; FAAABG
  • 4. Invermay with its large flocks of sheep and herds of deer has a highly regarded international reputation and leading scientists have had many productive international collaborations. Many scientists have been attracted from overseas because of the large animal resource and excellent facilities available. George Davis DSc; FRSNZ; FAAABG
  • 5. Invermay staff have since the Centre’s inception been very active in on-farm collaborations in Otago and Southland. George Davis DSc; FRSNZ; FAAABG
  • 6. Invermay staff have a long history of collaboration with Otago University and for many years had the Molecular Biology Unit staffed with AgResearch researchers located in the Biochemistry Department. George Davis DSc; FRSNZ; FAAABG
  • 7. Unlike the other major AgResearch campuses, Invermay is not threatened by urban encroachment. George Davis DSc; FRSNZ; FAAABG
  • 8. If the proposed staff transfer is proceeded with, the complete closure of the Centre will almost certainly soon follow because with only 30 staff proposed for Invermay there will be a strong case for closure due to the high overhead cost in accommodating a small group in a large campus. George Davis DSc; FRSNZ; FAAABG
  • 9. Invermay is not located in an earthquake-prone region. George Davis DSc; FRSNZ; FAAABG
  • 10. The scaling down of Invermay is a complete reversal of AgResearch’s policy of only 10 years ago when then CEO, Keith Steele said in justification for closing Wallaceville: “AgResearch plans to consolidate research at its sites at Ruakura (Hamilton), Grasslands (Palmerston North) and Invermay (Mosgiel), which will share closer links with Auckland, Lincoln and Otago universities. Overall, the science innovation centres, improved science capabilities and faster commercialisation of discoveries will cost $60 million.” George Davis DSc; FRSNZ; FAAABG