The Briefing | Issue No. 10 - Bay Science Newsletter

Rāhina 27 o Paenga-whāwhā 2026

On Friday 24th 11:13 am, Bay Science received confirmation from the ministry that our submission was received. It remains available to the public here.

Kia ora koutou

Last week, on April 19, we submitted Bay Science's organisational-level feedback on the draft science curriculum. Coming in at 300 A3 pages, 700 annotations and a 110 mb file size we actually had to email it in -- on April 24th we received written confirmation that our feedback was received.

Shoutout and acknowledgement to Science in a Van, who have also publicly shared their feedback too.

If you are interested in what the sector is saying about science, the bottom of this post has a long list (as well as our full feedback too).

Also... today is the last day to vote for your favourite School Sustainability and Resilience Fund projects! It is also the last day for the TCC 2026 Youth Panel.

Ngā manaakitanga,

Bay Science

info@bayscience.nz

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      GENERAL NEWS

• "Scientists stunned by ‘fundamentally new way’ life produces DNA"; an article that might interest senior biology teachers (Ngā mihi Jim Critchley for sharing).
  

• Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust are offering a raptor apprenticeship opportunity (Conservation Jobs NZ)
  

• Tsunami risk zones shift inland as maps updated (Sunlive)
  

• Scientific Ocean Art is returning to the Pāpāmoa and Mount Makers market. More details here.
  

• Planetary Perspectives (Blue Marble Space substack) allows you to receive emails about all things space and astrobiology
  

• 'A name with mana': Te Rere o Ōmanawa restored as reserve's name (RNZ)
  

• Reminder: Applications for Tauranga City Council's Tahua Āhuarangi Climate Action Fund closes May 1st
  

• Is Conservation Racist? An article from Te Tira Whakamātaki
  

• TECT’s long-term support strengthens conservation across the Western Bay (article from TECT)
  

• Can you help? A PhD student from the University of Canterbury, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha, is looking for a few more participants for her research

      EVENT FORECAST

Our full calendar is available here. More than half of our readers are from beyond the Bay of Plenty. Let us know how we can help promote your event. Apr 28

• [Ōpōtiki] Freshwater Conservation

Apr 28

• [Te Puke] Agritech Seminar: Land in Transition

• [Hauraki-Coromandel] Local voices for Nature Night Talk 2

• [Online] Mātiki Minecraft Beginners Workshop by sowtheseed.org.nz

Apr 29

• [Tauranga] Kōkako Comeback - Emma Cronin from KEEP

• [Te Puke] Agritech Seminar: Land in Transition; Wai Kokopu

Apr 30

• [Reminder] BioLive ChemEd Call for Workshops Close

• [Online] Ki Tua: Māori and Space Science

• [Tauranga] Tauranga Student Space Innovation Hub – First Session

May 2

• [Wellington] WikiCon 2026 (Wikimedia NZ)

May 3

• [Global] International Compost Awareness Week

May 4

• [National] National Primary Science Week 2026! Catch that carbon!

May 5

• [Wester Bay of Plenty] Freshwater Conservation (Friends of the Blade)

• [Online] Level One AgHort Achievement Standards - Tips and tricks external moderation webinar.

May 6

• [Online] Ask a Scientist | Environmental Scientist and Professor Louis Schipper (Science Alive)
  

May 7

• [Port Levy] The business of rongoā: wananga with Donna Kerridge (Waitlist)

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CONFERENCE WATCHLIST

• 2026 NZ Bird Conference (May 30 - Jun 1)

  
  

• Science Communicators of Aotearoa NZ Conference (Jun 24-26)
  

• ASERA 2026 (Australasian Science Education Research Association) takes place in Brisbane (30 June - 3 July).

  
  

• UpliftEd by Aotearoa Educators Collective (July 8-9)
  

• NZ International Science Festival (15-19 July)

  
  

• NZ Plant Conservation Network conference (Oct 12-15)

  
  

• New Zealand Association of Environmental Education Conference (5 - 7 October Tāmaki Makaurau).

  
  

• Chem-Ed Biolive by SCENZ and BEANZ (Nov 18-20)

      RESOURCES & EXPERIENCES

The following have been added to our Experiences page and Resources directory. Our Resources directory only saves items which are free and which do not require a login.

• Thank you Jim Critchley for sharing the following:
  

  • Your Name in LandSat: type your name and see it appear in the form of satellite images.
    

  • A list of all the youtube Ask an Astrobiologist videos.
    

  • Azmth allows you to track every satellite in real time.
    

• Sustainability Options has released a new podcast. In the first episode, Nik Gregg and Jo Wills, key figures behind Sustainability Options, delve into their important work in improving the quality of homes across the Bay of Plenty and beyond (Spotify)
  

• Infographics about climate change (Climate Trunk); more will be added in the future.
  

• CoastCraft is a world in Minecraft Education that teaches students about coastal erosion, flood resilience and climate adaptation. Set in a seaside town in Cornwall, UK, players protect against rising sea levels and extreme weather through decision making.
  

• Kiwi Kids News is a news website created for New Zealand students and teachers. It provides safe, educational and informative news content for young readers.
  

  
  

      RANGATAHI OPPORTUNITIES

• [Waikato] Teachers are being encouraged to register their school group(s) for Fieldays 10–13 June, at Mystery Creek Events Centre, with discounted student tickets available for groups of 10 or more at NZ$10 each, a 45% discount off the child rate. Fieldays provides opportunities designed to connect classroom learning with real-world careers across New Zealand’s primary industries.
  

• [Bay of Plenty] Applications for the 2026 Youth Panel are open until Monday 27 April 2026

  
  

      KAIAKO OPPORTUNITIES

• Mātiki Minecraft Beginners Workshop by Sow the Seed | This beginner-friendly online workshop is for teachers who deliver agriculture and horticulture education, or weave it into science, social studies, technology, or Aotearoa NZ Histories.
  

• HATA has a range of study and travel scholarships. Apply for them here.
  

• Fonterra and Agribusiness in Schools are offering scholarships of up to $10000 for the July 2026 intake. Apply by May 29th; more info: k.allen@stpauls.school.nz
  

• Massey University is offering professional development courses, designed for teachers who'd like to upskill in horticulture, agriculture, and agribusiness subjects. EOI form.
  

• Food and Fibre Industry Skills Board has 3 upcoming webinars:

  • Webinar 1: Understanding the Food and Fibre Industry Skills Board (ISB)

  • Webinar 2: Pre‑assessment moderation – designing assessments that work

  • Webinar 3: Post‑assessment moderation – making consistent assessment decisions
    

Reminders

• Dates and locations for the Maurice Wilkins Centre Biology Teacher Professional Development Day 2026 have been announced. More details to come.

      EDUCATION ASSOCIATION UPDATES

This month's updates are available here. New changes for the week are below.

• AEC

  • Recapturing the Senior English Curriculum (Bevan Holloway)

  • Under Pressure: Is the New Reporting System Already Cracking Under the Pressure? (Gareth Sinton)

  • The SMART Tool Writing Exemplars (Bevan Holloway)
    

• BEANZ

  • BioLive ChemEd event information is now live.

  • If you have moved kura and are wondering why you are not receiving BEANZ updates, please let us know so that we can update your contact details:

    • vickia@mmc.school.nz

    • alishag@mmc.school.nz

• ESSENZ

  • Reminder: following from Term 1, ESSENZ also has a range of webinars scheduled for Term 2.

    
    

• HATA

  • HATA has shared their latest newsletter with members on April 24th. Highlights include:

    • Details from the 2026 Subject Association Forum which occurred on April 16-17.

    • HATA membership updates; if your details have changed complete this form.

    • If you would like buddy up for moderation, or would like to help you, fill out this form.

    • Regional Hub Workshops (May 22nd for BOP).

    • Scholarship HATA Google Classroom and online student workshop.

    • Updated resources on the HATA website

    • Heaps of student and kaiako opportunities
      

• NZAPSE

  • Primary Science Week returns this year from May 4th-May 10th. This year's theme "Catch that carbon!" will feature a live Q&A with a scientist (hosted by Science Alive and Science Learning Hub), resources, competetitions and prizes. Ask a Scientist takes place May 6th, 11:45am - 12:30pm (register here). The Science Learning Hub has also organised a webinar on the 23rd of April which explores carbon activities in primary classrooms.
    

• NZASE

  • NZASE’s latest newsletter sent on 22 April is available here. Highlights include curriculum updates, NZ Primary Science Week, resources and upcoming science education events and dates for teachers.
    

• SCENZ

  • BioLive ChemEd details are now live.
    

I mōhio rānei koe? | Did you know?

• Te Akatea Rejects "Recolonisation" Of Education At Urgent Waitangi Tribunal Hearing - (Te Akatea Tumuaki Māori & Māori Leaders Press Release)
  

• An interview with Jason Miles, president of the NZ Principals Federation on the current education reforms (YouTube)
  

• Education sector backlash against Government’s curriculum reforms intensifies (New Zealand Principals Federation Open Letter)

  
  

      SCIENCE CURRICULUM

Reminders:

• Phase 5 of the science curriculum will be released in May-June; this has been included in our science curriculum timeline. Bay Science will be regularly updating this timeline as new information becomes available.

  
  

• Science Learning Kits from MoE are also available with the opportunity for feedback.
  

• Additional annual plans are now available (i.e not just Science).
  

• Curriculum and Assessment Roadshow for Leaders (register here)
  

      NCEA & ASSESSMENT

• NZQA is offering a second round of free, eight-week online workshops to support teachers with assessment practice, including Assessment Approaches, Transforming Assessment Praxis (TAP), and Making Assessor Judgements (NZQA Science Facebook); or head to https://lms.nzqa.govt.nz/ with your Education Sector Login.

  
  

• Reminder: A new exemplar for Science Level 1 AS91920 (S1.1 Science Informed Response) has been published on the NZQA website.
  

  
  

      PIVOTAL PERSPECTIVES

Readings and talks which may be relevant to us; commentaries and research relevant to science education and curriculum reform.

• Emily from Science in a Van has shared their Draft NZ Science Curriculum feedback (Van Vibes; Science in a Van)

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Should the Nature of Science remain a core component of Phase 5 (Years 11–13) of the science curriculum?

• 0%Yes
• 0%No
• 0%Not sure

Findings from previous informal polls

• 56% of readers are not trialling or implementing the draft science curriculum, in Term 1 2026
  

• 88% of readers would like General Science to be a subject in Year 12 and 13
  

• 84% of readers have major concerns about the draft science learning area
  

• 69% of readers think that the pace of the science curriculum changes feels too fast 
  

• 94% of readers think that the Nature of Science should be explicitly taught in the science curriculum 
  

• 83% of readers do not think that draft science curriculum adequately prepares students for a world shaped by AI, climate change and global uncertainty.
  

• 67% of readers believe the science curriculum refresh process is not working well.
  

• 77% of readers believe the draft science curriculum provides very little opportunity for student agency and action.
  

• 80% of readers feel there is far too much content in the draft science curriculum. 13% say there is slightly too much.
  

• 85% of readers think that the science curriculum should teach students how science works, including how scientists and the wider science system operate
  

• 86% of readers would like Education for Sustainability to be a subject at Year 12 and Year 13.

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The Briefing is Bay Science’s weekly email newsletter for anyone interested in the latest developments in science education. Subscribe below to receive each edition.

Bay Science is a noticeboard for science education news and events across Aotearoa New Zealand, helping educators and community members across the country. If your organisation has a kaupapa, event, or opportunity to share with the science education community, we’d love to share it.