The Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) has changed its name to the New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science (PHF Science) as of 1 July 2025. The website address is now www.phfscience.nz. Visitors are automatically redirected to the new address. Please check and update any links and bookmarks.

Tūhono mai ki a mātou

Partner with us

Working in partnership with like-minded organisations enables the delivery of long-term, sustainable solutions to safeguard the health and wellbeing of the people we serve.

PHF Science aspires to deliver transformative impacts that protect and enhance the health and wellbeing of all New Zealanders. We can’t achieve this alone, and our success relies on combining complementary skills and perspectives through long-term partnerships across the research, science and innovation sectors.

Get in touch

Community led

We listen carefully to the needs of our partners and incorporate the expertise of all parties to deliver solutions that meet or exceed expectations. To achieve greater impact for Māori, we develop and deliver Māori-led approaches in research, science and innovation.

Find out more

World-leading expertise & knowledge

PHF Science expertise spans a range of fields relating to the health and wellbeing of people, and our focus is on tackling the issues at the intersection of health, justice, environment, water and food science.

Cutting-edge skills and capabilities

PHF Science invests in cutting-edge capabilities and skills development to drive continuous improvements in our science services and research.

  • Internationally- and nationally-accredited laboratories for forensics, radiation analysis and microbiology

  • Genomics (including whole-genome sequencing)

  • Data Science and artificial intelligence

Areas of expertise

What we do

PHF Science's expertise spans a range of fields relating to the health and wellbeing of people, and our focus is on tackling the issues at the intersection of health, justice, environment, water and food science. These issues include infectious diseases preparedness and resilience, antimicrobial resistance, food safety, mitigating climate change health and environmental risks, finding solutions to address water quality issues, and improving outcomes for the health and justice sectors.

Learn more

Long-term partnerships

PHF Science is committed to being a trusted partner and has a track record of long-term partnerships, both within New Zealand and internationally. To best meet the needs of our communities, our transdisciplinary science includes partnerships across:

  • Local and national government agencies
  • Iwi and communities
  • Universities
  • Research institutes
  • Non-governmental organisations and not-for profits
  • Crown research institutes
  • International government agencies, research organisations and universities.

Our valued partners

Te Niwha: Preparedness for infectious disease challenges.

Genomics Aotearoa: genomics and bioinformatics research

Pūhoro: connection between mātauranga Māori in STEMM

Well Kiwis: influenza research study

One Health Aotearoa: leading infectious diseases research

Lumi Drug Scan: real time drug detection and decision making

Prezode: the risk of emergence of zoonotic infectious disease

NZFSSRC: world class food safety science

NZMN