Landcare Research at a glance
Our Vision
Science and environment for a better New Zealand
Our Core Purpose
To drive innovation in New Zealand’s management of terrestrial biodiversity and land resources in order to both protect and enhance the terrestrial environment and grow New Zealand’s prosperity.
Our National Outcomes
- Improved measurement, management and protection of New Zealand’s terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity, including in the conservation estate
- Sustainable use of land resources and their ecosystem services across catchments and sectors
- Improved measurement and mitigation of greenhouse gases from the terrestrial biosphere
- New Zealand industries and organisations have increased ability to develop within environmental limits and meet market and community requirements
Our Scope of Operation
Landcare Research is recognised as the lead CRI in the following areas:
- Catchment–level ecosystems (including wetlands) and related ecosystem services
- Terrestrial vertebrate pest control
- Terrestrial carbon processes and inventory, and other greenhouse gases from soil and land
- Land cover, land use capability and effects, and spatial land information that integrates across sectors and scales
- Soil characterisation, processes and services
- Integrated social and biophysical research to support the sustainable management of terrestrial biodiversity and land resources
- Landcare Research is expected to work with other research providers and end–users to contribute to the following:
- Biosecurity, land, soil and freshwater management
- Climate change adaptation and mitigation
- Industry and business environmental performance including verification
- Indigenous forestry
- Urban environments
- Antarctica
Our Organisation
We are one of eight Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) formed in 1992. CRIs function as independent companies but are owned by, and accountable to, the New Zealand Government. Our shareholders are the Minister of Finance and Minister of Science and Innovation.
We have approximately 400 staff at 10 locations across New Zealand, including our subsidiaries Sirtrack at Havelock North and carboNZeroCertTM at Lincoln and Auckland.
Sustainability is embedded throughout our organisation and evidenced in both our research focus (science for sustainable outcomes) and our day–to–day operational activities. It’s not just about what we do but how we do it – and add value to society and the natural environment. We report comprehensively on this at www.landcareresearch.co.nz/sustainability/
Our science revenue (approximately NZ$65 million per year) is derived primarily from contracts with the Ministry of Science and Innovation (MSI), Ministry for the Environment (MfE), Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), Department of Conservation, (DOC), Animal Health Board (AHB), regional, city and district councils, private sector businesses and organisations, and Māori organisations.
Manaaki whenua – Manaaki tangata (Care for the land – Care for the people)
Our Māori name means to care for the land in the sense that the environment is inextricably linked to economic, societal and cultural well–being. Māori are tangata whenua, the indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand, with whom we consult and collaborate.