NZCEE Beginning and Vision

The New Zealand Centre for Ecological Economics (NZCEE) was opened on 26 April 2004, by the then Minister of Research, Science and Technology, Pete Hodgson, in a ceremony at the Landcare Research building (Palmerston North) where the Centre is located.

NZCEE is a joint venture between Massey University and Landcare Research Ltd that draws on the strengths of both organisations. The venture grew out of a research collaboration between Massey and Landcare dating back to mid-2000, which had an ecological economics focus. The outstanding success of this collaboration in gaining research contracts encouraged both organisations to establish NZCEE in 2004. We see NZCEE as an unique opportunity to integrate economics and ecology, which is the essence of ecological economics. We believe that without this integration at both the conceptual and practical level, it will not be possible to make real progress towards sustainability.

NZCEE also works closely with Market Economics Ltd to delivery quality ecological economics research. NZCEE works in collaboration with clients, leading science researchers, government and the private sector to identify, design, implement and evaluate solutions to sustainability issues.

Our vision is for NZCEE to establish itself as a focal point in New Zealand and Australia for top-quality, policy-relevant research at the interface of economics and ecology. Our core areas of current research expertise include: biophysical analysis of economic processes; sustainability indicators and modelling; environmental valuation; industrial and urban ecology; ecological footprinting; the economics of sustainability options; spatial analysis in ecological economics; ecosystems services; and environmental accounting of the macro-economy. We aim to produce research results that are of practical use to stakeholders both directly and in the sense of promoting new ways of thinking about both economic and environmental policy.

Please go to Contact Us for more information and contact details about NZCEE researchers.