A delegation of Ministry of Research, Science and Technology (MORST) of New Zealand visited MOST on 21 May 2007. Mr. Jon Tanner, Director General of the Department of International Cooperation, MORST said that the Government of New Zealand specifically established the position of commissioner for China-New Zealand S&T cooperation after the China-New Zealand Joint Committee Meeting for governmental S&T cooperation was held and Mr. Shannon Scott was the first commissioner. In addition, the government of New Zealand approved the establishment of a special fund on 17 May, which allotted 700,000 New Zealand dollars (RMB 4.2 million) to support S&T cooperation with China.

The China-New Zealand Joint Committee for Governmental S&T Cooperation met for the first time in Beijing in September 2006. Leaders of the Division of American and Oceanian Affairs, Department of International Cooperation met with Mr. Jon Tanner and the delegation.