2019 Annual Report, Part 1

MANAAKI WHENUA – LANDCARE RESEARCH / PART ONE / G.40 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 We present our Annual Report in two parts. Part 1 provides an overview of Manaaki Whenua, highlights of our science that show the contribution we are making towards our four ambitions for New Zealand, and an update on the progress we are making in delivering on Strategy 22, our 5-year strategy. In Part 2 we present our directors' report and financial statements. PDF versions of both Part 1 and Part 2 are available for download from the Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research website: manaakiwhenua.co.nz/report Contents PART 1 02 OUR LAND, OUR FUTURE 24 OUR AMBITIONS FOR NEW ZEALAND 04 A word from our Chair and CEO 26 Our Biodiversity 06 He Kupu nā te Pou Whakarae rāua ko te Tumuaki 32 Our Biosecurity 08 Our purpose 38 Our Land 09 Our vision 44 Our Environment 10 Our values 49 Enviro-Mark Solutions 11 Our behaviours 12 Our locations 52 OUR STRATEGIC GOALS 13 Our investments in science impacts 54 An irresistible culture 14 Our collections and databases 62 A better way of working 16 Our board 64 National Science Challenges 17 Our leadership team 68 Science for impact 18 OUR CONTEXT 74 Summary of financial performance 74 Glossary 20 Global priorities 75 Directory 21 New Zealand’s science priorities 21 New Zealand’s Well-Being Budget 22 Advisory panels 23 A new partnership 1 Our Land, Our Future Tō tātou whenua, mō āpōpō 2 About us As the Crown Research Institute for our land environment and biodiversity, our role and responsibility to New Zealand is clear. This land, and everything that shares it with us, is our future. Hence our purpose is ‘Science for our land and our future’. Our role is to ensure that all New Zealanders have the knowledge, understanding and tools to truly live in harmony with our land: enjoying its many gifts, preserving its unique diversity, and enriching it through our creativity, care, industry, and culture. 3 A word from our Chair and CEO We are pleased to present our 2019 report for Manaaki impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss. The At the other end of the science spectrum our work Whenua, which describes progress towards our New Zealand Government has published Environment using genomics, artificial intelligence (AI) and ‘big vision that the land and all its fruits may flourish. It has Aotearoa 2019, a state of the environment report that data’ has also increased as we utilise new scientific been a positive year for Manaaki Whenua, with strong paints an uncomfortable picture of our land, water, and approaches to find solutions to biodiversity loss and improvement in performance across all of our capitals. greenhouse gas emissions. School students have been sustainable land use. We have worked with numerous Particular highlights have been the stories of uptake on strike and cities have declared climate emergencies. community groups and land managers to ensure and impact of our science in supporting the sustainable In our work, these important global issues confront us these solutions help them in practical ways with their use of natural capital and ecosystem services; the daily and more starkly. challenges and aspirations – from predator-free cities recruitment of many excellent new staff; a very positive and sanctuaries, to farmers ‘doing the right thing’ on the As we consider the enormity of the challenges, we 26% increase in our staff engagement score; the land and optimising land uses. take the view that positive action − at any scale − is widespread acknowledgement of our staff and science increasingly important in a world flooded with negative Our recruitment of 60 additional science staff in the past by peers and partners; and progress with our internal stories and polarised views. For us, this means our 3 years has brought greater capacity, diversity, skills initiatives that are making Manaaki Whenua fit for the research, science and technology must have impact. and international networks to Manaaki Whenua. This future. We thank our 427 people for the outstanding It must inform, influence and make more effective the has been across all areas of our science. We have also contributions they have made to these achievements. positive actions of our partners. We acknowledge increased our non-science staff to enable us to progress This report describes how our strategy and structure that our science is but one contribution. Action by projects across our people and culture (enhancing have shaped our role in enabling New Zealand to communities is critical to societal change when it is well-being, safety and leadership skills) and our achieve its ambitions for biodiversity, biosecurity, and guided by values and peer support, informed and infrastructure (a large replacement building at Lincoln, our land and wider environment, including the country’s enabled by science and technology, bounded by and enhancements to system security and information response to climate change. Our science has informed regulations, and achieved through individual behaviour. technologies). and influenced government, primary industry, Māori It is not surprising, therefore, that demand for our Our deepening partnerships with government, and the wider public in saving our taonga (treasured) work on the social dynamics of change has grown, primary industry, Māori and public communities are species, protecting our freshwater resources, using our supported largely by the National Science Challenges, supporting our impact as we invest in active listening, soil sustainably, and both mitigating and adapting to where there is a realisation of the critical role of earlier engagement, co-innovation, and stewardship of climate change. community aspirations and pathways to societal change. scientific knowledge. We welcome a new partnership Our work is performed against a global backdrop New Zealand’s Biological Heritage National Science with the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) that of major social and environmental challenges. In the Challenge, which we host, is a leading example. We are recognises the potential for working more closely past year the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate very proud of its outstanding contribution in this area on common issues. Our partnerships in the science Change and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy and acknowledge the work of its governance, Kahui world are deepening through coordination provided Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services have Māori and management groups in achieving a very by Science New Zealand and the National Science published severe warnings about the likely extent and positive review of its first 5 years’ performance. Challenges. We are also building long-term relationships 4 with overseas institutes, such as Wageningen University & We are on track with our Strategy 22 initiatives. Working with Our Enviro-Mark Solutions (E-MS) business has had a record Research in the Netherlands. These bring mutual benefit, Māori has seen us recruiting more Māori to Manaaki Whenua, year, reflecting an increased desire by organisations to especially in the career development and inspiration of our building new relationships with iwi such as Ngāti Kurī in the understand and manage their carbon footprints. Over the people through exchanges. Far North and Māori businesses such as Parininihi ki Waitotara past decade E-MS has secured a market position of providing and Hikurangi Enterprises. Many of our people have engaged credible programmes and certification of achievements by Our financial performance continues to be strong. We reached in our training to raise Treaty of Waitangi awareness and its customers. This year it also became a certified B-Corp, new highs with our revenue and profitability (before understanding of partnership, Māori tikanga (customs), and leading by example in this important developmental area. We investment). Our retained earnings have enabled us to invest language (te reo). acknowledge the exceptional leadership and contribution without debt in the replacement building at Lincoln for 80+ of its CEO, Professor Ann Smith, who is stepping down from staff, which is due for occupation by the end of 2020. Our Strategy 22 science initiatives are boosting innovation the role. E-MS is core to Manaaki Whenua’s business, and its – both for new research directions such as predator control contribution to sustainable development – both now and in strategies, and for new product the future − is of huge relevance and importance. possibilities such as indigenous edible fungi. We acknowledge Ultimately, what motivates Manaaki Whenua’s people is and appreciate the support of making a difference by partnering for impact and providing KiwiNet in this development. leadership where it is needed; informing decisions despite We have also continued to information often being uncomfortable; and experimenting to enhance our integrated science find the best solutions that respect multiple world views. In the capacity to encompass the face of severe global challenges, we celebrate the work of social, economic, and cultural our people and our partners and look forward to continuing complexity of environmental to lead environmental science that creates impact – and value issues. We have lifted the public’s − for New Zealand. awareness of our work through social media, and initiatives such as the award-winning stand at National Fieldays (a farm industry event), the NZ Garden Bird Survey, and outreach to schools. New programmes have started Jane Taylor – Chair Richard Gordon – CEO in the Pacific, bringing our weed 29 August 2019 29 August 2019 biocontrol, biodiversity, and economic capabilities to Island CEO Richard Gordon, Chair Jane Taylor and the Hon. Dr Megan Woods, Minister of Research, Science and Innovation, break ground for the new building at our Lincoln campus. Nation challenges. 5 He Kupu nā te Pou Whakarae rāua ko te Tumuaki E koa ana māua kia tāpae i te pūrongo ā tau 2019 mō Mahi ai mātou i roto i te horopaki o ngā wero o te ao pai me te tautoko o ngā tauākana-teina hei āwhina.

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