The New Zealand Association of Scientists is a professional body for scientists in New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

. It differs from the Royal Society of New Zealand

Royal Society of New Zealand

The Royal Society of New Zealand , known as the New Zealand Institute before 1933, was established in 1867 to co-ordinate and assist the activities of a number of regional research societies including the Auckland Institute, the Wellington Philosophical Society, the Philosophical Institute of...

 in being a independent non-profit incorporated society and registered charity, rather than being constituted by an Act of Parliament

Act of Parliament

An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...

. While not being entirely non-political, the Association focuses on policy and social responsibility aspects of science.

The Association publishes a peer reviewed journal the New Zealand Science Review which is a "forum for the discussion of science policy." The Association awards an annual Marsden Medal

Marsden Medal

The Marsden Medal is a yearly award given by the New Zealand Association of Scientists. It honors "a lifetime of outstanding service to the cause or profession of science, in recognition of service rendered to the cause or profession of science in the widest connotation of the phrase." It rivals...

for service rendered to the cause or profession of science.