Executive Brief

Chief Executive
PHF Science

August 2026

About PHF Science

PHF Science, the New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science, is a New Zealand Government-owned research organisation with a critical national role in protecting public health, supporting the justice system, and strengthening environmental and product safety across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Formerly ESR, the organisation was re-established as PHF Science in July 2025 as part of the government’s science system reforms. Its work spans disease surveillance, reference laboratory services, forensic science, food and product safety, water and environmental science, and radiation science, making it a central part of New Zealand’s health, safety, and resilience infrastructure.

In addition to delivering critical core services for the public health and justice sectors, PHF Science’s programme of research aims to advance knowledge and drive innovation across its areas of expertise. This includes identifying opportunities for developing products such as STRmix, a PHF Science-owned company providing forensic biology software used internationally to interpret complex DNA samples.

PHF Science employs around 500 people across four locations in New Zealand, with teams based in Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington, including both Kenepuru and Wallaceville. Reflecting its specialist national mandate, 83% of the organisation’s workforce is employed in science roles, underscoring the depth of its technical and research capability. PHF Science also has a strong female representation, with women comprising 66% of its workforce, highlighting the organisation’s breadth of expertise and the diversity of its talent base.

PHF Science is currently undertaking significant capability building and delivery improvement, with investment focused on strengthening project and portfolio management, enhancing data and laboratory information systems, and modernising its infrastructure. A key part of this programme is the construction of a new 3,850 square metre laboratory facility at the Kenepuru campus, designed to replace end-of-life buildings, expand laboratory and forensic service capacity, and enable greater multi-science collaboration and future research capability.

This new building is more than just a science building. The Kenepuru Science Centre rebuild is underway, guided by shared values, deep history and a living relationship with Wellington’s Ngāti Toa Rangatira. Drawing on these shared experiences, PHF Science designing a facility ready to serve Aotearoa – now and into the future.

To learn more about the Kenepuru Science Campus, download the brochure below:

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Scope of Operations

To deliver on the core purpose and strategic outcomes, PHF Science leads and contributes to science that strengthens public health, justice and national resilience. Its operations span a set of integrated capabilities to provide specialist knowledge and skills, national infrastructure and science based services to support New Zealand's wellbeing and prosperity, including leading in the following core research areas:

Health Security and Pandemic Preparedness

Delivering surveillance, diagnostics (including reference laboratory functions) and modelling to detect, prevent and respond to infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance and other emerging health threats affecting New Zealanders.

Forensic Science and Justice Services

Providing forensic expertise in DNA analysis, toxicology, digital forensics and scene examination to support criminal investigations, court processes and crime prevention, ensuring timely and fair justice outcomes

Drug Harm Prevention and Integrated Health-Justice Interventions

Applying forensic and public health science to assess, monitor and reduce the harm associated with alcohol, illicit substances and synthetic drugs across both health and justice systems

Environmental Health and Risk Science

Investigating the impact of environmental hazards on human health, including contaminants in drinking-water, groundwater and freshwater systems, as well as safe biowaste use and exposure pathways for chemical and microbial risks

Food Safety and Public Protection

Safeguarding public health and supporting the food industry through science-based assurance of food safety and quality, delivered in partnership with regulators and industry

Science for Policy and Public Good

Generating knowledge and tools that support the government and the wider economy, including the private sector – including scenario modelling, risk assessment and horizon scanning - to inform evidence-based policy in the health, environment and justice sectors, and emergency preparedness and national planning.

You can access the Statement of Corporate Intent here and the 2024/2025 ESR Annual Report here.

https://www.phfscience.nz/