Personnel involved in research and development in New Zealand

Research and development (R&D): R&D performed by enterprises are generally investigative work that is of actual or potential use in the development of new or enhanced materials, products, devices, processes, or services. R&D directed towards duplicating work already developed by others is only included if the knowledge or technology required for the development is not available to the enterprise.

Researchers: professionals engaged in the conception, creation, and management of new knowledge, products, processes, methods, and systems.
Technicians: people performing technical tasks in support of R&D activity, normally under the direction and supervision of a researcher. The tasks include preparing experiments and charts and graphs, and taking records.

There were updates and corrections made as part of the publication of the 2022 release, affecting the 2019 to 2021 results. The updates and corrections were due to: minor improvements to methodology, updated respondent data, minor data processing errors. 
The government total R&D expenditure for 2020 has been revised to $802 million, from $758 million. The higher education sector total headcount for 2020 has been revised to 36,000, from 42,000.

http://datainfoplus.stats.govt.nz/Item/nz.govt.stats/4394653f-7947-487b-b0c7-dd48edb45822?_ga=2.101644546.269686403.1586778321-472930949.1585181988#/nz.govt.stats/4394653f-7947-487b-b0c7-dd48edb45822/110

Only businesses that Stats NZ pre-identified as carrying out R&D are included. The business sector includes central and local government-owned trading enterprises.
The government sector excludes central and local government-owned trading enterprises but includes scientific research.
The higher education sector includes 8 universities (and their commercial arms).

The 2022 R&D Survey was conducted from August–December 2022. Entities were asked to report on the last financial year for which information was available as at August 2022.
The R&D Survey usually runs every two years (even years), but in 2019 and 2021, Stats NZ ran special business sector-only iterations. These special iterations were to help measure any impacts from the research and development tax incentive, that came into effect for the 2019/20 April tax year. A sample of 5,323 entities was selected from known R&D performers.

At URL provided, select 'Industry sectors > Research and Development survey - RAD > Personnel involved in research and development by industry and occupation (Annual-Jun)'. All variables were selected to create this dataset.

The Research and Development Survey, conducted every two years, is a joint survey with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). The survey measures the level of research and development (R&D) activity, employment, and expenditure by business sector enterprises, government departments, government-owned trading entities, and universities.

The R&D Survey is a postal survey consisting of four questionnaires: a business questionnaire, a government questionnaire, a CRI questionnaire, and a higher education (universities) questionnaire. These questionnaires are specifically designed to capture data on R&D from these different organisation types.
Stats NZ requested information for the last financial year within the 12 months ending 30 September.