17 Sep 2013

Fight to keep AgResearch jobs in south

9:14 pm on 17 September 2013

Southern leaders fighting job cuts from AgResearch's Invermay centre have gone to the Government to try to stop the plan.

The Crown Research Institute is proposing to move 85 of its Dunedin-based scientists to a new hub in Lincoln in 2016, as part of a national restructure.

A six-person southern delegation met Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce on Tuesday evening to put its case that AgResearch's Invermay plan is a serious strategic error with national implications.

The case was developed by a summit of 50 Otago and Southland leaders a month ago.

The group told the minister the changes would dismantle Invermay's world-class animal genetics team for little gain.

A spokesperson for Mr Joyce said he told the leaders he would thoroughly test AgResearch's process but the final decision would be made by its board.

The AgResearch board has refused to meet about the plan until after it has finished staff consultations on 26 September.