The formation of the New Zealand Institute for Earth Science (NZIES) was announced as part of the New Zealand science sector reforms. The NZIES will come into being as a Public Research Organisation in July 2025, and will be made up of the disestablished National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), MetService and GNS Science. The focus of NZIES will be "supporting energy security and sustainability; developing land, marine and mineral resources; and improving resilience to natural hazards and climate-related risks". [1]
In May 2025, Minister Shane Reti announced the chair of the new board would be David Smol, previously of GNS. Mary-Anne Macleod was appointed deputy chair, with other board members Paul Connell, Paul White, Peter Landon-Lane, and Professor Chris Bumby. [2]