View source for GNS Science

{{short description|New Zealand research institute}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}{{Use New Zealand English|date=February 2024}}

{{Infobox government agency
| name            = GNS Science
| native_name     = {{lang|mi|Te Pū Ao}} ([[Māori language|Māori]])
| logo            = File:GNS Science logo.svg
| formed          = 1865
| preceding1      = New Zealand Geological Survey (1865–1990)
| preceding2      = DSIR Geophysics Division (1951–1990)
| preceding3      = Institute of Nuclear Sciences (1959–1992)
| preceding4      = DSIR Geology and Geophysics (1990–1992)
| preceding5      = Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (IGNS; 1992–2005)
| dissolved       = 30 June 2025
| superseding1    = [[Earth Sciences New Zealand]]
| headquarters    = 1 Fairway Drive, [[Avalon, New Zealand|Avalon]], New Zealand
| employees       = 390
| website         = https://www.gns.cri.nz/
}}

'''GNS Science''' ({{langx|mi|'''Te Pū Ao'''}}), officially registered as the '''Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Limited''',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Limited (547568) Registered |url=https://app.companiesoffice.govt.nz/companies/app/ui/pages/companies/547568 |access-date=2021-10-12 |website=[[New Zealand Companies Office]]}}</ref> is a New Zealand [[Crown Research Institutes|Crown Research Institute]]. It focuses on [[geology]], [[geophysics]] (including [[seismology]] and [[volcanology]]), and [[atomic nucleus|nuclear science]] (particularly [[ion beam|ion-beam technologies]], [[isotope|isotope science]] and [[radiocarbon dating|carbon dating]]). From 1 July 2025 GNS Science will become part of the new [[Public Research Organisation]] [[New Zealand Institute for Earth Science]].<ref name="Beehive 14 May 2025">{{Cite web |last1=Reti |first1=Shane |date=14 May 2025 |title=Bold science reforms to fuel economic growth |url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/bold-science-reforms-fuel-economic-growth |access-date=14 May 2025 |website=www.beehive.govt.nz|publisher=[[New Zealand Government]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250524102716/https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/bold-science-reforms-fuel-economic-growth|archive-date=24 May 2025|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="RNZ 14 May 2025">{{Cite news |last1=Palmer|first1=Russell |date=14 May 2025|title=Chairs, board members named for new science mergers |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/560964/chairs-board-members-named-for-new-science-mergers |access-date=15 May 2025 |work=[[RNZ]] |language=en-nz|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250515001110/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/560964/chairs-board-members-named-for-new-science-mergers|archive-date=15 May 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Functions and responsibilities==
As well as undertaking basic research, and operating the national geological hazards monitoring network ([[GeoNet (New Zealand)|GeoNet]])<ref name="geonet">[http://www.geonet.org.nz/ GeoNet Hazards Monitoring Network]</ref> and the National Isotope Centre (NIC),<ref>
{{cite web
 | url = https://www.gns.cri.nz/Home/Services/Laboratories-Facilities/National-Isotope-Centre
 | title = National Isotope Centre
 | publisher = GNS Science
 | access-date = 2016-11-01
 | quote = The National Isotope Centre at GNS Science is New Zealand's premier provider of isotope science expertise and associated commercial applications.
}}
</ref> GNS Science contracts its services to various private groups (notably energy companies) both in New Zealand and overseas, as well as to central and local government agencies, to provide scientific advice and information.<ref>{{cite web |title=2012 Annual Report |url=http://www.gns.cri.nz/Home/About-Us/Corporate-Documents/Annual-Reports/2012-Annual-Report |publisher=GNS Science |access-date=27 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208052942/http://www.gns.cri.nz/Home/About-Us/Corporate-Documents/Annual-Reports/2012-Annual-Report |archive-date=8 February 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

GNS Science has its head office in [[Avalon, New Zealand|Avalon, Lower Hutt]], with other facilities in [[Gracefield, New Zealand|Gracefield]], [[Dunedin]], [[Wairakei]], [[Auckland]] and [[Tokyo, Japan|Tokyo]].<ref>https://www.gns.cri.nz/contact-us/</ref>

==History==
GNS Science was known as the '''Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences''' (IGNS) from 1992 to 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our History |url=https://www.gns.cri.nz/about-us/our-history/ |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=GNS Science {{!}} Te Pῡ Ao |language=en-NZ}}</ref> Originally part of the New Zealand Government's [[Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (New Zealand)|Department of Scientific and Industrial Research]] (DSIR), it was established as an independent organisation when the Crown Research Institutes were set up in 1992.<ref name="CRIact">{{Cite web |title=Crown Research Institutes Act 1992 No 47 (as at 23 December 2023), Public Act Contents – New Zealand Legislation |url=https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1992/0047/latest/DLM264292.html |access-date= |website=www.legislation.govt.nz}}</ref>

In late September 2024, GNS Science confirmed that 59 roles would be cut, amounting to ten percent of its workforce. In addition, 37 new roles would be created. This was part of the [[Sixth National Government of New Zealand|Sixth National Government]]'s public sector job cuts.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gibbens |first1=Krystal |title=59 jobs to go at GNS Science |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/528963/59-jobs-to-go-at-gns-science |access-date=25 September 2024 |work=[[RNZ]] |date=25 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240924233104/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/528963/59-jobs-to-go-at-gns-science |archive-date=24 September 2024}}</ref>

In mid May 2025, [[Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology]] [[Shane Reti]] announced that GNS would be integrated into a new [[Public Research Organisation]] called the [[New Zealand Institute for Earth Science]]. <ref name="Beehive 14 May 2025" /><ref name="RNZ 14 May 2025" />

==References==
{{More citations needed|date=September 2010}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.gns.cri.nz/ GNS Science]
* [http://www.geonet.org.nz/ GeoNet Hazards Monitoring Network]

{{coord|-41.195565|174.933175|region:NZ-WGN_type:landmark|display=title}}

{{NZ crown entities/crown entity companies}}
{{Science and Research in New Zealand}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Crown Research Institutes of New Zealand]]
[[Category:Science and technology in New Zealand]]
[[Category:National geological agencies]]
[[Category:Nuclear technology in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Earth sciences]]
[[Category:Earth science research institutes]]