[4] The dissolution of the DSIR, along with the government-imposed requirement that the CRIs become "financially viable" and operate on commercial lines, created a certain amount of resentment among some scientists.
[citation needed] On 23 January 2025, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced that the seven existing CRIs would be merged into three new public research organisations (PRO): The Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins described these reforms as the "largest reset of New Zealand's science system in more than 30 years.
The Crown Research Institutes Act 1992 states the purpose of a CRI as carrying out research, and that each CRI must do this for the benefit of New Zealand, pursuing excellence in all that it does, abiding by ethical standards and recognising social responsibility; and operating as a good employer.
[citation needed] The State charges CRIs with promoting the transfer and dissemination of research, science and technology.
[7][8] The Cawthron Institute is privately owned and operates independently but engages in partnerships with relevant CRIs, particularly in the aquaculture and seafood research.
The Non-Specific Output Fund (NSOF) provided CRIs with some independent public-good research-funding streams from 1992 to 2005.
The Institute For Social Research and Development (known as NZISRD or SR&D or "Te Kura Kōkiri, Rangahau-ā-Iwi o Aotearoa") was disestablished in 1995 after failing to achieve financial viability.