NZSG Background

New Zealand’s Investment in the Australian Synchrotron

New Zealand has joined other shareholders as foundation investors in the Australian Synchrotron, now nearing completion at Monash University in Melbourne.  Each has contributed AUD$5 million as equity.

The New Zealand investor is the New Zealand Synchrotron Group Limited; a company formed by Auckland, Massey, Waikato, Victoria, Lincoln, Canterbury and Otago universities, Crop and Food Limited, AgResearch Limited and GNS Science Limited.  The New Zealand Government is contributing grants totalling some AUD$5 million over five years to assist with the purchase of shares and meeting operating cost obligations.  The Government will not be a shareholder in the company.

The other shareholders comprise various combinations of Australian State Governments and universities. The Victorian State Government has met all capital costs to date and hence is a major investor in its own right. New Zealand’s ownership stake in Australian Synchrotron (Holding Ltd) guarantees an agreed level of access to beamlines essential to our research interests and a say in the future strategic development of the facility.
The New Zealand Synchrotron Group Limited establishment held its initial meeting in September 2006, chaired by Dr Garth Carnaby.  The Royal Society of NZ Inc. provides secretariat services and administers the beamline time allocation process and capability development programme.
All enquiries in connection with the Australian Synchrotron should be directed to Dr Don Smith at the Royal Society (synchrotron@rsnz.org).

New Zealand Synchrotron Group Ltd, C/o Royal Society of New Zealand, 9 Turnbull Street, Thorndon, PO Box 598, Wellington, NZ Ph: +64 4 472-7421 Fax: +64 4 473-1841 Email: synchrotron@rsnz.org Web: http://synchrotron.rsnz.org