BAY SCIENCE

Connecting Bay of Plenty Science Educators

View from Pāpāmoa Hills Regional Park

Latest News

New Zealand Science Curriculum Released

The refreshed Science Learning Area has been released, marking a major step in Aotearoa’s curriculum refresh. Educators across the motu are now examining what it means for teaching and learning in science.

BAY OF PLENTY PĀNUI

Thumbnail image from the film Recloaking the Bay on Vimeo, highlighting Bay of Plenty farmers working to protect water quality, restore wetlands, and build climate-resilient farms.

Recloaking the Bay Comes to Te Puke

University of Waikato Tauranga campus exterior on Durham Street

TECT Tauranga Campus Returning Student Scholarship

Kai Rotorua invites everyone to a hands-on Food Forest Planting Day this Labour Weekend, a relaxed day of learning, growing, and connecting through values that restore balance between people and papatūānuku.

Kai Rotorua Food Forest Planting Day

Manawahe Adventure Run 2025

Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council team are keen to help you remove Woolly Nightshade.

Woolly Nightshade Removal — Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council

LEARNZ is inviting kaiako and ākonga to explore that landscape through a new virtual field trip to Te Moana-a-Toitehuatahi Bay of Plenty; one of the most geologically active regions in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Virtual Fieldtrip: Natural Hazards

From November 10–16, Envirohub Bay of Plenty will host a week-long celebration of creativity and climate action across the region — with workshops, eco-markets and activities.

Climate Action Festival

Educator Association Updates | October

See All Pānui

NATIONAL PĀNUI

New Zealand Science Curriculum Released

Poster for The “Other” Curriculum Roadshow, featuring the film Multiple Choice and the logos of PPTA, NZEI, EdRising, Education Outdoors New Zealand, and Te Akatea, who proudly support the event.

Reminder: The 'Other' Curriculum Roadshow — AEC NZ

A laptop displaying the Critical Minerals in New Zealand website by GNS Science | Te Pū Ao, showcasing interactive maps and visuals for exploring Aotearoa’s geological systems.

Critical Minerals in Aotearoa New Zealand — a new national resource from GNS Science

A tramper cleans their boots at a Kauri dieback station in New Zealand. The Te Pū Hono Cadetship Programme prepares new DOC cadets for real conservation work across the motu.

Te Pū Hono - DOC’s New Cadetship Programme into Conservation

Global Challenges, Local Classrooms: Empowering Through Science — Refreshed Science Curriculum

Science Curriculum Timeline: Key Dates and Rollout Plan 2025–2030

Great Southern BioBlitz!

AI in education, learning in the age of AI, NZCER, education webinar, teacher professional learning

What Counts as Learning in the Age of AI? Essential Questions from the Field

See All Pānui

RANGATAHI OPPORTUNITIES

KAIAKO OPPORTUNITIES

Manawahe Adventure Run 2025

Adventure meets science at the Manawahe Adventure Run 2025! Year 7–10 teams will navigate bush trails, solve conservation-themed challenges, and explore how ecosystems, landforms, and farming systems connect in the heart of Manawahe. Hosted by the Manawahe Eco Trust, this event blends orienteering, sustainability, and outdoor science into one epic day of discovery.

TECT Tauranga Campus Returning Student Scholarship

Manawahe Adventure Run 2025

Te Pū Hono - DOC’s New Cadetship Programme into Conservation

Virtual Fieldtrip: Natural Hazards

More Rangatahi Opportunities

Reminder: The 'Other' Curriculum Roadshow — AEC NZ

As educators await the draft curricula, Aotearoa Educators Collective invites kaiako and tumuaki to The “Other” Curriculum Roadshow — a free, teacher-led series of film screenings and kōrero exploring the future of education in Aotearoa.

Reminder: The 'Other' Curriculum Roadshow — AEC NZ

What Counts as Learning in the Age of AI? Essential Questions from the Field

Elevate Your Practice with Otago's Science Communication Postgraduate Online

Sow the Seed Regional Hubs Term 4 2025

More Kaiako Opportunities

ASSOCIATION PĀNUI

A student carefully performs a titration.

SCENZ Annual General Meeting 2025

The SCENZ Annual General Meeting 2025 will be held online on Thursday 27 November. Open to all financial members, the AGM will review the year’s activities, elect new officers, and consider proposed updates to SCENZ’s structure and constitution.

SCENZ Annual General Meeting 2025

Educator Association Updates | October

Agricultural & Horticultural Science, Agribusiness, Removed from Senior Subject List

Education for Sustainability Removed from Senior Subject List

More Association Updates

KAIAKO HIGHLIGHT

Kaiako Highlight: Jim Critchley

Jim Critchley is an Earth and Space Science educator who thrives on creating those chance encounters that open doors for students. Whether it’s connecting learners with industry, organising field trips that make science tangible, or guiding rangatahi to think critically in an information-rich world, Jim’s teaching is about sparking curiosity and showing how science and technology evolve together.

Kaiako Highlight: Whaea Tania Jackson

Introducing Whaea Tania Jackson, a secondary school kaiako of science and te reo Māori, and an emerging curriculum leader in kaupapa Māori. Her mahi spans both the classroom and the wider community, where she plays a pivotal role in the Tauranga Moana Māori Teachers’ Association.

SCIENCE IN ACTION

Te Reo o Te Repo was created to give voice to our wetlands through the voices of our people, raising awareness of wetland values and restoration from a Te Ao Māori perspective. Tuihonoa Te Reo o Te Repo was developed in response to kaiako who wanted to support ākonga to become kaitiaki of their local repo. Yvonne with fellow co-editors, Cheri van Schravendijk-Goodman and Dr Bev Clarkson. Source: Image supplied, © Yvonne Taura

Scientist Highlight: Yvonne Taura

Freshwater ecologist Yvonne Taura (Ngāiterangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Uenuku, Ngāti Tūwharetoa) didn’t always see herself in science. Now her mahi is reshaping how kaiako, kairangahau, and communities think about wetlands, mātauranga Māori, and the purpose of science education in Aotearoa.

Lizzie Thompson conducting a diving survey as part of her marine science research.

Scientist Highlight: Lizzie Thompson | Marine Science

Marine scientist Lizzie Thompson is exploring how marine ecosystems recover after disruption. Find out how her work at Otāiti/Astrolabe Reef can support real-world science learning in your classroom—and what it’s really like to do fieldwork beneath the waves!

PIVOTAL PERSPECTIVES

Global Challenges, Local Classrooms: Empowering Through Science — Refreshed Science Curriculum

What Counts as Learning in the Age of AI? Essential Questions from the Field

Science Education: Fit for the Future

Provocations for Science Educators | Science Learning Hub

Looking Ahead: Science Education for the Twenty-First Century | Sir Peter Gluckman

SCIENCE CURRICULUM REFRESH

New Zealand Science Curriculum Released

Science Curriculum Timeline: Key Dates and Rollout Plan 2025–2030

Future Secured: AgHort to Remain a Ministry-Led Senior Science Subject in NZ Curriculum

Senior Secondary Science Subjects for Years 11-13 for the New Zealand Curriculum

Curriculum Days 2026 & 2027

NCEA & THE RAS

2026 Reviewed Materials, Assessment Materials, Conditions of Assessment for NCEA L1, L2 & L3 Sciences

Consultation on proposal to replace NCEA

Empower KEA PLD: Redox Chemistry

BoP Cluster #2 2025

NCEA Feedback Wanted!

More Pivotal Perspectives

More Science Curriculum Refresh

More NCEA & The RAS

EVENTS COMING UP

See All Events

MICRO UPDATES - BITS FROM BEYOND

26/10 Kiwi Conservation Club Christmas Packs now available!

18/10 New Book from NZCER: Tautai: The Master Navigator—Navigating Pacific students’ education, health, and wellbeing from a Pacific leadership perspective

15/10/25 Revisiting and Reimagining Possibilities and Opportunities for Science Curriculum-Making in Aotearoa New Zealand

Science Learning Hub: Mythbusting de-extinction to sort fact from fiction

25/10 Resource Drop: An archive of NZ flood pictures

15/10/25 New: Predator Free NZ Lizard Posters for sale

14/10/25 Sunlive: Virtual trip helps kids explore natural hazards

Civil Defense NZ: Get Ready Week is coming up! Something for your classroom?

21/10 A new book from Sir Mason Durie - Ngā Tini Whetū: Navigating Māori Futures

15/10/25 Naturing: Soundscapes from Arthur's Pass National Park is now available on YouTube (and Spotify)

BAY SCIENCE

View from Pāpāmoa Hills Regional Park

Latest News

New Zealand Science Curriculum Released

BAY OF PLENTY PĀNUI

Recloaking the Bay Comes to Te Puke

TECT Tauranga Campus Returning Student Scholarship

Kai Rotorua Food Forest Planting Day

Manawahe Adventure Run 2025

Woolly Nightshade Removal — Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council

Virtual Fieldtrip: Natural Hazards

Climate Action Festival

Educator Association Updates | October

NATIONAL PĀNUI

New Zealand Science Curriculum Released

Reminder: The 'Other' Curriculum Roadshow — AEC NZ

Critical Minerals in Aotearoa New Zealand — a new national resource from GNS Science

Te Pū Hono - DOC’s New Cadetship Programme into Conservation

Global Challenges, Local Classrooms: Empowering Through Science — Refreshed Science Curriculum

Science Curriculum Timeline: Key Dates and Rollout Plan 2025–2030

Great Southern BioBlitz!

What Counts as Learning in the Age of AI? Essential Questions from the Field

RANGATAHI OPPORTUNITIES

KAIAKO OPPORTUNITIES

Manawahe Adventure Run 2025

TECT Tauranga Campus Returning Student Scholarship

Manawahe Adventure Run 2025

Te Pū Hono - DOC’s New Cadetship Programme into Conservation

Virtual Fieldtrip: Natural Hazards

Reminder: The 'Other' Curriculum Roadshow — AEC NZ

Reminder: The 'Other' Curriculum Roadshow — AEC NZ

What Counts as Learning in the Age of AI? Essential Questions from the Field

Elevate Your Practice with Otago's Science Communication Postgraduate Online

Sow the Seed Regional Hubs Term 4 2025

ASSOCIATION PĀNUI

SCENZ Annual General Meeting 2025

SCENZ Annual General Meeting 2025

Educator Association Updates | October

Agricultural & Horticultural Science, Agribusiness, Removed from Senior Subject List

Education for Sustainability Removed from Senior Subject List

KAIAKO HIGHLIGHT

Kaiako Highlight: Jim Critchley

Kaiako Highlight: Whaea Tania Jackson

SCIENCE IN ACTION

Scientist Highlight: Yvonne Taura

Scientist Highlight: Lizzie Thompson | Marine Science

PIVOTAL PERSPECTIVES

Global Challenges, Local Classrooms: Empowering Through Science — Refreshed Science Curriculum

What Counts as Learning in the Age of AI? Essential Questions from the Field

Science Education: Fit for the Future

Provocations for Science Educators | Science Learning Hub

Looking Ahead: Science Education for the Twenty-First Century | Sir Peter Gluckman

SCIENCE CURRICULUM REFRESH

New Zealand Science Curriculum Released

Science Curriculum Timeline: Key Dates and Rollout Plan 2025–2030

Future Secured: AgHort to Remain a Ministry-Led Senior Science Subject in NZ Curriculum

Senior Secondary Science Subjects for Years 11-13 for the New Zealand Curriculum

Curriculum Days 2026 & 2027

NCEA & THE RAS

2026 Reviewed Materials, Assessment Materials, Conditions of Assessment for NCEA L1, L2 & L3 Sciences

Consultation on proposal to replace NCEA

Empower KEA PLD: Redox Chemistry

BoP Cluster #2 2025

NCEA Feedback Wanted!

EVENTS COMING UP

MICRO UPDATES - BITS FROM BEYOND

Join Bay Science - Stay in the Loop!