A nine minute exchange took place in Parliament last week when the opposition spokesman on science, David Shearer, asked the Minister of Science and Innovation, Wayne Mapp, "Does he agree with Paul Callaghan's statement on science and innovation, 'it's clear that the Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister have not really seen this as a top priority'"?What David didn't read was the full quote from my Radio Live interview, namely, "I think Wayne Mapp has done a fabulous job as Minister of Science and Innovation and he's really on board with this, but it's clear that the Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister have not really seen this as a top priority".
In the debate, Wayne Mapp tries to read out the full quote but is stopped from doing so by the Speaker of the House, Lockwood Smith. You can tell from the good natured jesting that goes on in the various points of order that Science is not a terribly partisan issue in New Zealand politics. It is also clear that Wayne was himself disappointed by his lack of success in getting more funds for science this year. Watch the active facial muscles of the woman to the left of Wayne, Paula Bennett, Minister of Social Development, a person who is unlikely to have ever had a single thought about science and innovation.
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