Sir Peter, who was visiting Dunedin yesterday, said he had also found other people, including Government ministers, ready to engage positively.
"It shows that this role has been urgently needed in New Zealand and my challenge is to provide that," he said in an interview.
Sir Peter, a distinguished Auckland-based medical researcher, gave a talk entitled Evolution and Medicine last night at a function at Otago University.
The Genetics Otago research network was launched at the function.
Genetics Otago director Dr Peter Dearden said the research network aimed to establish itself as New Zealand's leading centre for advanced genetics research and teaching.
Dr Dearden is an award-winning biochemist who is collaborating with Sir Peter in basic research involving developmental biology.
Sir Peter's appointment as chief science adviser was a positive move for New Zealand science, he said.
Sir Peter said in an interview establishing Genetics Otago was "a good step towards New Zealand as a whole improving its research infrastructure".
"The research infrastructure of New Zealand, particularly in the biological sciences, has not received adequate investment for a long time."
Sir Peter said that his job was "to ask the hard questions".
"We need to think very clearly about how we can get the maximum from our research."
"Science has to be primarily focused on outputs that will transform New Zealand."
His advisory role was part-time and it was important he continued to be an active researcher.
Sir Peter said that given his new advisory role, he was no longer carrying out science administrative work and no longer preparing science grant applications.
"I'm feeling like a new boy," he joked.
"I'm getting more science done than I've done in a long time."
