After moving to New Zealand in 1961, Mary Earle began work at New Zealand's Meat Industry

Research Institute. She joined the staff of Massey University Food Technology Department in
1965,[5] becoming the first female engineering academic in New Zealand.[7] Her early work was
adding rigour to the university's graduate course in food technology,[5] which had been established
the year before she joined Massey. In time she would develop the Food Technology Research
Centre, which made the university's resources available to industry.[7]
In 1992, Earle became a full professor when she was awarded a personal chair by Massey
University, the first in the university's technology faculty. She was the fourth female professor at
Massey.[5] She retired from Massey in 1994, and was accorded the title of professor emerita.[6][7]
Earle served on the board of the New Zealand Institute for Crop and Food Research, and was a
director of the Pork Industry Board
AgResearch has grown over time by acquiring research organisations "down" the value stream from
its initial on-farm emphasis, such as the former Meat Industry Research Institute of New
Zealand (MIRINZ) in 1999 and the former Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand (WRONZ,
which had been rebranded as Canesis) in 2007.
In March 2009 AgResearch announced that it planned to merge with Lincoln University,[2] but that
was subsequently changed to an intention to form a joint venture.[3]
A plan called "Future Footprint" was announced in 2013 to concentrate resources at the Grasslands
site in Palmerston North and Lincoln campus near Christchurch.[4] This involved the transfer of about
200 staff mostly from Ruakura (Hamilton) and Invermay (Dunedin) sites.[5] There were reports that a
substantial number of staff left the CRI after Future Footprint was announced[6][7] and staff morale
was poor with redundancies being considered in September 2015.[8] About 50 scientific staff were
made redundant in 2016.[9] The government approved the restructure in June 2016.[1
In New Zealand, Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) are corporatised Crown entities charged with
conducting scientific research.[citation needed]
Crown Research Institutes date from 1992, with most formed out of parts of the former Department
of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) and of elements of various government
departments.[citation needed] 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]
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] A CRI must do these things whilst remaining financially viable. The technical
definition of financial viability changes from time to time, but as of 2007 focused on return on equity.
The State does not expect CRIs to maximise profit, but simply to cover the costs of capital. This
formula aims to ensure appropriate commercial disciplines whilst fulfilling scientific purposes.[citation
needed]

The State charges CRIs with promoting the transfer and dissemination of research, science
and technology. In other words, they have the role of "making a difference"[original research?] with the
research they produce. They do this via strategic, long-term relationships with sectors (the CRI Act
set up most of the CRIs with a sector-orientation), to support, sustain, challenge and develop
existing sectors and also to lead development of new sectors.