July 2018–June 2023

G.38 STATEMENT OF CORPORATE INTENT JULY 2018–JUNE 2023 Mai i te rangi, ki te nuku o te whenua, ka puta te ira tangata i te po, i te whaiao, ki te ao mārama. Ko Te Pū Ao mātou. From the sky and the land, came people from the night, from the old world, to the world of light. We are GNS Science. UPCOMING MILESTONES AUCKLAND’S CARBON EMISSIONS GEONET ENHANCEMENTS We are leading a project to determine Auckland’s first full The GeoNet system is undergoing major enhancements, carbon budget. The project uses atmospheric measurements including the establishment of a dedicated 24/7 operations to determine not only Auckland’s fossil fuel carbon emissions centre by December 2018. It will mean increased capability but also account for Auckland’s ‘land carbon sink’—the to provide fast and accurate information on earthquakes, exchange of carbon with the urban biosphere. We believe volcanic unrest, tsunamis, and landslides. The upgrades that Auckland’s land carbon sink could remove a substantial will provide new decision support tools and visualisation amount of carbon from the atmosphere. Our study will collect software that will enable duty officers to make faster and the first city-scale evidence as to whether this is occurring, more accurate assessments of geological hazards. Faster and if so, how much carbon is being removed. Findings detection of threats and more specific advice will ultimately will inform Auckland Council’s carbon emission mitigation lead to reduced risk to life and property. strategy and will be incorporated into New Zealand’s Paris Climate Agreement commitments. JULY 2018–JUNE 2019 SHINING A LIGHT ON SUBDUCTION PROBING ZEALANDIA Together with international research teams we are collecting New Zealand’s largest ever Earth science endeavour is a large amount of seismic data to better understand the underway with the 23-nation International Ocean Discovery hazard posed by Hikurangi subduction zone, which lies off Program (IODP) completing six expeditions to Zealandia, the eastern coastline of the North Island. Advances in seismic the largely submerged continent of New Zealand, and the hazard assessment depend on a better understanding of Ross Sea. GNS Science is a key player in this initiative, which the physical environment and mechanisms that control the is acquiring seabed cores to better understand the forces earthquake, slow-slip, and creeping behaviours that occur on that generate earthquakes and drive plate tectonics, the this subduction zone. Detailed 3D images of the subduction workings of a seafloor volcano, and probe the mechanisms of zone will help define the potential for great subduction submarine landslides. The research is also delivering insights earthquakes and tsunamis at the Hikurangi margin. on how a warmer climate impacted the South Pacific and West Antarctica in the geological past. PROFILING OUR SUPER-VOLCANOES OUR RISING TIDES We are planning to publish a landmark geological map of the We are working with our partners to provide accurate entire Taupo Volcanic Zone. The first comprehensive map projections of sea-level rise and its impact on New Zealand. of its type, it will cover all active volcanoes from Ruapehu Parts of the Antarctic Ice Sheets are particularly sensitive to White Island and include Earth’s most-productive to the warming oceans and could add over a metre to global super-volcano system. The well-illustrated book and sea level by the end of the century and 10-20 metres in the accompanying map will detail the volcanic geology and longer term. Our ice core and sedimentary programmes will evolution of the zone. It will incorporate advances over the provide accurate projections of sea-level rise and assess the past decade from our 1:250,000 scale geological mapping impact on our shores. These projections will help to improve (QMAP) programme, including the evolution of the Taupo- New Zealand’s resilience to sea-level rise, and will inform Okataina super-volcano system. adaptation and mitigation strategies. JULY 2018–JUNE 2019 JULY 2019–JUNE 2020 PROTECTING OUR GROUNDWATER SMARTER BUILDINGS We are leading the development of a range of new computer We are developing a new system for measuring the inter- modelling tools to help with the management of New storey movement of buildings during earthquakes. This Zealand aquifers. There are about 200 known aquifers movement is a key measure in assessing the potential in New Zealand and groundwater currently accounts for damage to a building, helping engineers decide whether about a third of all freshwater usage. The novel, world- a building can be quickly and safely re-entered. The leading toolbox includes components for risk assessment technology is easily retrofitted and helps to ensure business and uncertainty analysis to support decision-making. The continuity by reducing the time it takes to re-enter a modelling tools will be much faster and more powerful than workplace and restart cashflow. We are working with those currently in use. When fully available, it is expected Kiwinet, a government-supported network of research the new models will deliver benefits worth about $350 providers, and private sector companies, to determine its million a year to New Zealand. commercial potential. GNS SCIENCE PROFILE Institute of Geological and Trading as GNS Science Nuclear Sciences Limited Head Office 1 Fairway Drive, Avalon, Lower Hutt 5010 Other Locations National Isotope Centre, 30 Gracefield Road, Lower Hutt 5010 Dunedin Research Centre, 764 Cumberland Street, Dunedin 9016 Wairakei Research Centre, 114 Karetoto Road, RD4, Taupō 3384 Postal Address PO Box 30368, Lower Hutt 5040 Web Address www.gns.cri.nz Ownership Crown-owned entity, established under the Crown Research Institutes Act 1992 Board Chairman, Dr Nicola Crauford Deputy Chair, Ms Sarah Haydon Director, Prof. Steve Weaver Director, Mr Chris Bush Director, Dr John Sharpe Director, Mr Paul White Chief Executive Mr Ian Simpson General Manager, Strategy, Prof. Tim Naish General Manager, Stakeholder Relations, Dr Justine Daw General Manager, Science, Dr Peter Benfell General Manager, Business Services, Mr Allan Frost General Manager, People & Culture, Ms Rose MacFarlane 4 CONTENTS Delivering on Our Vision ��6 Statement of Core Purpose ��8 Operating Environment �� 10 Government Priorities ��14 Sector Priorities �� 16 National Science Challenges �� 22 Natural Hazards Research Platform��24 Implementing Vision Mātauranga ��26 Operational Initiatives ��30 Our Research �� 32 Horizon Scanning �� 66 Performance Monitoring �� 68 Financial Forecasting ��70 Accounting Policies �� 74 CONTENTS 5 DELIVERING ON OUR VISION This Statement of Corporate Intent (SCI) outlines our priorities and goals for the period July 2018 to June 2023 to deliver on our vision of a cleaner, safer, more prosperous New Zealand, and meet the expectations of our Shareholding Ministers. The Government’s expectations are clear: GNS Science’s purpose is to undertake research that drives innovation and economic growth in New Zealand’s geologically- based energy and minerals industries, develops industrial and environmental applications of nuclear science, increases New Zealand’s resilience to natural hazards, and enhances understanding of geological and Earth-system processes. Aligned with the Government’s Five themes emerged: A review of our science programmes National Statement of Science has led to a shift in emphasis of our 1. Investing for and with purpose— Investment (NSSI) and priorities for SSIF investment towards: linking our role, purpose and activities Research, Science and Innovation, we with New Zealand’s strategic needs; » exploring the continent of will invest our resources to deliver Zealandia; excellent science and profound 2. From ‘decision taker’ to ‘decision impact that addresses the six maker’—improving our connections » understanding hazards and risks; Outcome Statements identified with officials and government; » understanding New Zealand’s in our Statement of Core Purpose 3. Culture change—organisational groundwater resource; (SCP). Our research, across four before individual activity, where our Core Science Areas (CSAs) and 12 » enhancing support for Vision strategic direction drives our funding; Themes, is supported by a mix of Mātauranga research; and funding from the Crown (Strategic 4. Deep partnering—enhancing our » developing a strategy for managing Science Investment Fund - SSIF, ability to partner with other CRIs and ‘big data’. and contestable), EQC (support organisations; and for GeoNet), and domestic and To allow for this shift in emphasis we 5. Awareness—improving stakeholder international commercial clients. are reducing investment in petroleum, engagement and upweighting minerals, and geothermal

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