Scientific and technical cooperation dates back to 1985 when the former Science and Technology Commission of China ( SSTCC ) signed an inter-governmental agreement on Science and Technology Cooperation with then Department of Scientific and Industrial Research ( DSIR ) of New Zealand. With the signing of this agreement a number of cooperative projects and activities have taken place in the scientific communities of both countries. To cope with the rising demand of the scientific activities and to facilitate the cooperative and exchange programmes, SSTCC assigned the first science officer to the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in New Zealand to coordinate the scientific activities between the two countries.

In the past fifteen years, China and New Zealand have carried out extensive exchanges in the fields of forestry, agriculture, geology, seismology, volcanology, antarctic research, meteorology, horticulture, and science system reform.

The scientific linkage between China and New Zealand is further strengthened with the signature of Joint Statement on Antarctic Cooperation between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of New Zealand in January 1999, the Memorandum of Understanding on Earthquake Studies between China Seismological Bureau and Institute of Geological and Nuclear Institute Limited ( GNS ) in March 1999 and the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Natural Resources between China's Ministry of Land Resources and GNS in October 1999.

High-level delegation exchanges have furthered the mutual understanding in the science arena. In September 1995, Hon Mr Simon Upton, Minister of Research, Science and Technology, visited China. In 1994, Hon Mr Song Jian, Director of SSTCC visited New Zealand.

New Zealand and China work closely with each other in multi-lateral scientific activities. In December 2000, sponsored by China's Ministry of Science and Technology ( MOST ) and organized by the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology ( MoRST), APEC Symposium on the Evaluation of S & T Programmes among APEC Member Economies was successfully held in New Zealand.

The scientific exchange between the two countries have gone out of the ivory tower and into the industrial cooperation. The cooperation in timber industry between the relevant agencies between the two countries and the agricultural research and development initiatives have let to promising industrial prospect which will bring tangible benefits to parties involved.

New Zealanders also have the opportunity to appreciate the bilateral scientific exchange. Zhang Heng Seismograph in display in Te Papa and the twin dinasour eggs presented to Te Papa by the Chinese Government have added to the valuable inventory of exhibits for the museum.

On 26 October 2003, during the state visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao to New Zealand, an Agreement on Scientific and Technological Co-operation between two countries was signed to provide broad opportunities for cooperation between government agencies, scientific communities, individual scientists and engineers, and non-governmental and private organizations in scientific and technological field of mutual interest.