Full interview: After a delay, the Government named Ministry for Primary Industries' John Roche as the Prime Minister's new chief science advisor. With the Government prioritising economic growth in its efforts in science, Roche reflects on the pressures he faces in the role and whether his advice is truly independent.

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The former Dairy NZ principal scientist also speaks to Q+A about the lessons New Zealand learnt from its M. Bovis eradication programme, broader science sector reforms, and what changes to the school curriculum could mean for the future of STEM.