Will science and innovation 'Get Carter'?
By Peter Kerr for sticK
(sticK - 11 October 2011 ) It may be drawing too long a bow, but was David Carter hinting he might have the ministerial portfolio role following National's (expected) election win?
Speaking at a NZ Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science forum in Wellington last week, the current Minister of Agriculture and acting Minister for Economic Development is one of at least half a dozen MPs putting their hand up for the role.
What is fantastic is that following the implementation of many of the CRI Taskforce Review's recommendations, there is now intense competition among senior cabinet ministers for the role.
For the record, when four parties different MPs were asked what the appropriate NZ investment in R&D should be, Carter said that given the upcoming election, he wasn't at liberty to announce anything.
"But I don't expect anyone to be disappointed," were his words.
For sticK – science, technology, innovation & commercialisation KNOWLEDGE - is a new Wellington based news service concentrating on following the money from ideas to income. Contact editor Peter Kerr at peter.kerr055 @ gmail.com