4383 (2025). Camilla Belich to the Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery

4383 (2025). Camilla Belich to the Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery: What is the justification for the reduction in annual operating funding to GeoNet, the National Seismic Hazards Model and the 24/7 GeoHazard Monitoring Centre between 2024/25 and 2027/28, given the increase in natural disasters throughout New Zealand?

Hon Mark Mitchell: This Government increased the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Limited (GNS) funding for GeoNet by allocating $106.943 million in Budget 2024. This funding, which is baselined and no longer time limited, is additional to approximately $44 million (over 4 years) in Government agency funding which purchases GeoNet services. The reason for this funding increase was to address a funding gap that threatened the sustainability of GeoNet services, and the National Seismic Hazard Model. The funding for the National Geohazards Monitoring Centre is unaffected as it is already baselined via MBIE’s Strategic Science Investment Fund. I am aware that decisions from planning that is currently underway may result in changes to the shape of GeoNet and how it delivers services in the future. These decisions will be made by the GNS Board, and in time will shift to the governing authority for the recently announced Public Research Organisation (PRO) for Earth sciences, including climate and hazards resilience.