Educator Association Updates | October
- Lian Soh
- Oct 3
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 12
This article contains updates from educator association representatives; where a regional representative is not available, news has been curated from a national-level newsletter or announcement.
This is a live article so please continue to check-in as our key contacts may provide new information as the month progresses.
🟩 = There is an update for this month ❌ = No Updates this month |
He Pānui Nui: If you are using derived grade exams, please check the conditions of sale. In many instances, scripts and marking schedules cannot be distributed (e.g., taken home, shared online, posted on Google Classrooms, in full or in part, etc.) until the end of Week 2, Term 4 (17th October).
🟩 Biology Educators of Aotearoa New Zealand
Registrations for the Maurice Wilkins Centre Teacher PLD day are open.
Ngā mihi nui,
Vicki Wallace
BEANZ Regional Representative
🟩 Earth and Space Science Educators New Zealand
Make EarthFest part of your November plans!
Reminder: there is a free ESS Teachers PD Day on November 7th at the University of Auckland (register here) - there is also funding support for those who do not get school support or who must travel from afar; email jenny@earthspacescience.org.nz .
Wellington region also has an ESS Teacher's Day coming up on December 1st; this is free and kai is provided. Register here.
Membership to ESSENZ is currently free and gives kaiako access to all ESSENZ resources on their Google shared area, as well as access to all the exams that the association has produced. You can join here.
Ngā mihi nui
Jim Critchley and Erin Nolan
ESSENZ Regional Representatives
🟩 New Zealand Institute of Physics (Education)
You can now register for the 2025 Physics Teacher Day. This will take place on November 28; this is the last day of the NCEA exam period and the Friday of Week 7, Term 4. Numbers are limited so please register early.
More information here.
Registration link here.
There is one more session to go for the NZIP (Education) webinar series. Please register to gain access to all three sessions (more details below)
Wednesday 10 September (7–9pm)
Kate Jackson: Why physics is such a challenging subject for students, and how teachers can help them take learning risks.
Sue Napier: Physics Scholarship workshop.
Matthew McGovern: Session details TBC.
Wednesday 17 September (7–9pm)
Chris Currie & Mark Standley: The role of practical work in physics.
Brenda MacKechnie: Level 2 Mechanics through a mix of experiments, demos, applets, and videos.
Sue Napier: Level 2 Electricity using the same interactive approach.
Wednesday 8 October (7–9pm)
Mat Synge & Haggis Henderson: Examples of integrating mātauranga Māori into physics teaching.
Jeffery Yang: Using simulations, quizzes, and graphing programs to guide learning in Simple Harmonic Motion.
Haggis Henderson: Rural contexts for connecting physics to students’ lives.
Questions can be directed to NZIP@confer.co.nz.
Ngā manaakitanga
Mat Synge
NZIP Regional Representative
🟩 Secondary Chemistry Educators New Zealand
The SCENZ AGM for 2025 is coming up. Details are below:
Time and Date: Thursday 27 November 2025, 7.30 – 8.30 pm
Location: Online (Zoom link to be advised)
Attendees: Open to all financial SCENZ members
Agenda:
Minutes of the 2024 AGM held at the ChemEdBioLive Conference (attached below)
Matters arising from the 2024 AGM
Executive annual report on activities and developments in 2025
Regional reports
Financial report (to be circulated prior to the AGM)
Subscriptions for 2026 – Executive is recommending no change, with the 50% NEX subsidy remaining in place for 2026.
Election of officers
Ian Torrie (current co-chair) stepping down to become senior vice-chair for 2026
Emma Smith (current junior vice-chair) nominated to become co-chair for 2026
Election of honorary life members
Nominations: Ian Torrie, Murray Thompson, Suzanne Boniface
Proposed constitutional amendment: reduce AGM notification period from 60 to 30 days
Proposed restructuring of administrative roles to create new part-time contract positions:
Administrator
Exam Manager
PLD Manager
Resource Manager
Newsletter Editor
Any other business
Ngā manaakitanga
Lian Soh
SCENZ Regional Representative
🟩 Horticultural and Agricultural Teachers Associations
HATA has regional hubs in Term 4, including one on November 11th at Mount Maunganui College. More information here.
🟩New Zealand Association of Environmental Educators
NZAEE's Term Three newsletter is out now.
There is a pūtaiao webinar on Tuesday 14th at 3:30 pm.
Ngā mihi nui,
Thea DePetris
NZAEE Regional Representative
🟩 New Zealand Association of Science Educators
NZASE Cluster PLD "Science Education: Moving Forward" is taking place in Taupō, Gisborne, Wellington, Nelson and Christchurch. See more here.
Ngā manaakitanga
Lian Soh
NZASE Regional Representative
🟩 Empower Kaiako for Equity Aotearoa
Members will have received an email with a Jeopardy revision game for Level 2 Chemistry. Tip: add some buzzers.
Ngā mihi nui
Keri Tan Garlick
President of Empower KEA
❌ Te Kikini o te Rehutai (Tauranga Moana Māori Teacher's Association)
No updates this term; but note the change in email address.
Ngā manaakitanga
Whaea Tania Jackson
Tauranga Moana Māori Teacher's Association
❌ New Zealand Association of Primary Science Educators
No updates yet - please check back later.
Ngā manaakitanga
John Marsh
NZAPSE
