Wayne Mapp

Wellington, June 25 NZPA - The Government has announced 18 new appointments to the boards of Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) and says it has chosen people with exceptional skills.

Changes to the way CRIs work were announced in March after a report recommended how they could best deliver on national priorities and meet the needs of research users.

Research and Science Minister Wayne Mapp said today CRIs were central to the science that was a cornerstone of economic growth.

"The CRI boards now have a much higher degree of accountability," he said.

"They must have the drive and leadership to make a significant contribution to the economy."

The new appointments include the promotion of two current directors to chair positions and four other current directors to deputy chair positions.

There are new chairs for the New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research (Plant and Food), the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS Science), and the New Zealand Forest Research Institute (Scion).

The new chair of Scion is Tony Nowell, and Auckland-based company director.

Michael Ahie, who has held senior executive positions in major agribusinesses, takes over as chair of Plant and Food and at GNS Science current director Tom Campbell is bring promoted to chair.