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Source: Reuters -
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The government has promised support for science with budget funding across a range of projects.
Included in the budget is an extra $40m over four years for the Crown Research Institute Capability Fund.
Health research is to receive $36m over four years.
High speed telecommunications gets $16m for capital injection in 2010/11, with funding for the Kiwi Advanced Research and Education Network (KAREN).
The Marsden Fund for research gets $36m over four years and there is $4 over the same period for the Prime Minister's Science Prizes.
Offshore oil and gas exploration, and bio diesel
Earlier this month National announced a five year continuation of tax exemptions for offshore oil and gas exploration.
The measure aims to ensure continued development and investment in New Zealand energy resources.
The exemptions, which apply to tax on profits of non-resident operators of offshore rigs and seismic vessels, were introduced under Labour in 2004, and where due to expire at the end of the year.
Energy and resources minister, Gerry Brownlee, and Revenue minister, Peter Dunne announced a tax bill will introduced later in the year.
The bio diesel industry also received a boost with the pre budget announcement of $36m in new grants to help kick-start the industry.
The fund is spread over three years and is available only to domestic bio diesel producers selling to New Zealand consumers, not for export.
The move is part of an election promise to provide incentives for bio diesel production. Some bio diesel is already produced in New Zealand from waste cooking oil, tallow and rape seed oil. Users include fishing fleets, vehicles and boilers.
