At Scion, we believe the power of forests can transform the way we live.

Through science, research, and innovation, we work across sectors with industry, government, and iwi to help lead New Zealand’s transition to a circular bioeconomy and achieve a net-zero 2050 and beyond.

We are impact-driven organisation focused on delivering positive environmental, social and economic outcomes for New Zealand.

As a Crown Research Institute (CRI) for forestry in New Zealand, our purpose is mandated by the Crown:

“To drive innovation and growth from New Zealand’s forestry, industrial biotechnology and advanced manufacturing sectors to create economic value and contribute to beneficial environmental and social outcomes for New Zealand.”

For more than 75 years, we have led research that creates resilient planted forests, productive timber industries and sustainable product solutions.

Our vision: Prosperity from trees | Mai i te ngahere oranga

Creating a prosperous future

The global imperative to transition away from fossil fuels and petrochemicals to sustainable biobased alternatives is a huge opportunity for New Zealand. Our natural competitive advantage around growing sustainable biomass, combined with Scion's world-leading science and technology expertise, linked to an emerging biotechnology and biomanufacturing sector, is a generational opportunity to create new levels of prosperity from this transformation

Altogether, this means New Zealand has a globally unique value proposition. At Scion, we see this as doubly exciting as it would result in a mosaic of existing and new high-value economic activity across our regional, rural and Māori communities thereby increasing their resilience.

Read more about our imperatives, structure and aspirations for New Zealand in the latest Statement of Corporate Intent.

Our mission: Enhancing New Zealand’s prosperity, wellbeing and environment through trees. Kia piki te ora, te taiao me te whai rawa o Aotearoa mā te ngāherehere.

Our Rotorua Whenua

The area where Scion’s Rotorua campus sits is known as Te Mingi. The tangata whenua (people of the land) are Ngāti Hurungaterangi, Ngāti Taeotu and Ngāti Te Kahu. Combined, they are Ngā Hapū e Toru.

The Scion campus was gifted the name ‘Te Papa Tipu’ by these hapū. Te Papa Tipu Innovation Park is set against the magnificent backdrop of Whakarewarewa Forest (also known as The Redwoods). The 114 hectares of park-like grounds contain our main campus, laboratories and research nursery plus other businesses.

In 2020, Scion’s three-storey wood framed building was gifted the name ‘Te Whare Nui o Tuteata’ by the hapū. The name pays tribute to the illustrious tupuna (ancestor), Tuteata, who held mana over a wide area including Te Mingi.  'Te Whare Nui o Tuteata' is Scion’s front door for business visitors and the public. All are invited to experience the building’s unique structural design, discover innovative technologies and science achievements in the interactive exhibition area and enjoy refreshments from Eastwood café.