In 1992, government funding, including that for science, in New Zealand underwent dramatic reform. The philosophy driving it was New Public Management (NPM). By emulating the commercial world, it was felt that Nations could be run more economically. Central to the reform was separation of policy, purchasing, and providers. The Ministry of Research, Science, and Technology sets the policy. The Foundation for Research, Science, and Technology (FRST) is the major purchaser of science. The Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) and universities provide the R&D. The reform led to large reductions in CRI scientists. In 2003, FRST funded glamorous science sectors and slashed funding for land-related sciences. The decision potentially killed off New Zealand's capacity for research in soil science. Public outcry from newspaper editorials and leading businessmen, along with effective leadership within the CRIs, led to funding re-establishment in the form of a virtual National Center called SLURI (Sustainable Land Use Research Initiative). The near-death of soil science research in New Zealand shows that NPM had unexpected results. This demonstrates that a balance must be maintained in funding decisions so that scientific capability is retained to solve future problems.