It is vital that discussions of the future of our research and science system are grounded in understanding of both how it functions now, and how it has changed over time. This article serves as an overview of available information about the Aotearoa New Zealand research and science workforce, considering surveys and workforce analyses published in the last thirty years. It illustrates the need for more systemic data capture in the future to support in-depth analyses over time of the scientific workforce and the trajectories of graduates of our university system into and out of that workforce. Such data and subsequent analysis will allow better allocation of resources, better design of education and training, better understanding of the science and research landscape, and informed appraisal of the career paths that emerge from PhD study in the sciences.