New Zealand’s Biological Heritage National Science Challenge

New Zealand’s Biological Heritage National Science Challenge (BioHeritage) – Ngā Koiora Tuku Iho – is one of the country’s 11 National Science Challenges. Established in 2014, BioHeritage tackles one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent issues: protecting and managing unique biodiversity, enhancing biosecurity, and building resilience against harmful organisms. While New Zealand’s biological heritage is distinctive, accelerating climate change and increasing pressures on te taiao (the environment) are driving biodiversity loss and rising biosecurity risks. With $63.7 million in funding, BioHeritage focused on tangible, on-the-ground impacts across three core areas: Whakamana | Empower, Tiaki | Protect, and Whakahou | Restore. Through national partnerships, the Challenge promoted innovative research, pioneering technologies, and community-driven action. Over the past decade, this investment has generated hundreds of outputs. A wide collection of journal articles, reports, data, and research summaries is accessible on the Bioheritage Website.