The Briefing | Issue No. 14

Rātapu 24 o Haratua 2026

As a subject association, Bay Science will be participating in the Phase 5 science curriculum consultation process. Take part in our survey here and sign up to our cluster here.

Kia ora koutou

We still have plenty of space for our upcoming cluster on June 02 2026. I realise that this is incredibly short notice, but this is also the consequence of an extremely short consultation period. English, Social Sciences and Education for Sustainability associations will also be present -- please bring yourselves and colleagues along, we could really use more hands on deck!

On a related note, NZATE (the English teachers association) has published an open letter asking for more time for consultation; I'm hoping our national science associations will do the same. In the meantime, we've seen your votes come in on recent polling so have taken the initiative ourselves.

Ngā manaakitanga

Lian Soh

info@bayscience.nz

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      GENERAL NEWS

• Tauranga Free Tree Day is returning on June 06; this is an easy way for the community to take part in local environmental action. Register now to get your free tree.
  

• This year for 2026, Matariki Te Tauranga o ngā Waka embraces Ururangi as its theme, provided by renowned Māori navigator Jack Thatcher. A variety of public events are available starting May 30!
  

• The Tauranga Community Learning Hub, a collaboration between Multicultural Tauranga, Gate Pā School, and the Ministry of Education, is an initiative that offers free evening workshops to help ethnic migrant parents understand and navigate the New Zealand school system
  

• UNESCO is launching a new Early Childhood Ocean Literacy toolkit; this webinar takes place at midnight on Saturday June 6 NZST but registration may provide a link to the downloadable resources.
  

• Te Ranga School's Possum and Pest Hunt competition returns on June 04 through to June 07.
  

• Tauranga Food Forest has opened tickets for their spring tours in September and October.
  

• Season 2 of the Sustainability Options podcast has launched. Listen to their May 22 episode here.
  

• The Royal Society Te Apārangi is looking for a skilled communicator to help amplify the voices of students, teachers, researchers, scholars, and scientists.
  

• The Australia New Zealand Marine Biotechnology Society (ANZMBS) conference, held every two years, is coming to Tauranga on August 26-28.
  

Reminders:

• Vote for NZ’s Fungus of the Year 2026! (Bioeconomy Science Institute)
  

• New Zealand Geographic has officially opened entries for the NZ Geo Photographer of the Year 2026.
  

• The NZFrogs Ambhibian Award aims to support projects that contribute to amphibian conservation, research or science communication; grants of up to $300 are available per project. Applications due 15/07/2026.
  

• Wingspan Photography Competition | Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust is on the hunt for spectacular imagery to feature in their annual fundraising calendar
  

      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. May 24

• [Auckland] Sports Tech (MOTAT)

May 26

• [Waikato] Hamilton Public Lecture: 'Being Human in the Age of Technology' by Professor Judy Bowen

• [Dunedin / Online] A question of balance: How cells manage stress, ageing and disease (Professor Elizabeth Ledgerwood)

• [Wellington] The Forces That Shape Our World (The Curious Society NZ)

• [Online] Protecting Conservation Land Webinar (Forest & Bird)
  

May 27

• [Tauranga] Information Evening (Toi Ohomai)

• [Wellington] Book Launch: The Evolving Story of Life (National Library of New Zealand)

• [Online] Afterschool Special: Phase 5 Science Subjects Live with Claire Coleman will start on May 27 at 4:30 PM
  

May 28

• [Porirua] Awa After Dark: Spotlighting at Onepoto Park (Mountains to Sea Wellington)

• [Palmerston North] Info Evening Palmerston North 2026 (University of Canterbury)
  

May 30

• [Reminder] Last date of workshop acceptance notification; BioLive ChemEd

• [Wanaka] 2026 NZ Bird Conference (Birds New Zealand)

• [Ōmokoroa] 'Threads of Connection' – Matariki Exhibition (Matariki Te Tauranga o Ngā Waka)
  

June 01

• [Aotearoa] King's Birthday (Public Holiday)

June 02

• [Bay of Plenty] Cluster #2 - Working Group Hui (Bay Science)

• [Online] ESSENZ Webinar | Unpacking the Level 1 External 92046 & Examiner’s Report (ESSENZ)

• [Dunedin] Curriculum & Assessment Roadshow for Leaders (Ministry of Education)

June 04

• [Bay of Plenty] Te Ranga School Possum and Pest Hunt 2026

• [Online] Level 3 AgHort Achievement Standards – Questions and Answers | External moderation webinar

• [Online] A Cautionary Tale on Curriculum Reform (Aotearoa Educators Collective)

• [Taupō] Greening Taupō Day (Kids Greening Taupō)

• [Nelson/Marlborough] Info Evening Nelson/Marlborough (University of Canterbury)

• [Auckland] Prof Brian Cox - Emergence - Worldwide Tour

• [New Plymouth] GSNZ Taranaki branch meeting (Geoscience Society of New Zealand)

June 05

• [Hamilton] Fossil Fest (Waikato Museum)

• [Christchurch] Curriculum & Assessment Roadshow for Leaders (Ministry of Education)

June 06

• [Online] UNESCO Launches New Early Childhood Ocean Literacy Toolkit Webinar (UNESCO)

• [Tauranga] Free Tree Day 2026 (Tauranga City Council)

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CONFERENCE WATCHLIST (CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER)

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

• Science Communicators of Aotearoa NZ Conference (Jun 24-26); early bird registrations extended until May 7th!

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

• NZ International Science Festival (15-19 July)

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

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

• 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.

• The Royal Society Te Apārangi has published a new evidenced-based and peer reviewed resource 'Genetic Technologies in Aotearoa New Zealand'.
  

• Vividmaps shows the world at various regions in the end-cretaceous period.
  

• Seismic Explorer shows a zoomable and animated map with c.a 50 years of earthquake data.
  

• An activity using glow sticks and temperature to observe the rate of reaction.
  

• Sarah Gaze's Google Dive folder for senior chemistry is still available here.
  

• oPhysics has a library of simulations for L2 and L3 physics.
  

• How to make a light bulb Experiment (YouTube)
  

• An oldie, but there is a scholarship physics workbook here.

      RANGATAHI OPPORTUNITIES

• The Bubble Spectacular, starring Dr. Hubble, is touring various town centres in the July school holidays. Tickets here.
  

• NIWA Science and Technology Fairs are happening in various regions from August 24 to September 05. It's also probably not too late to register for Te Tūkohu Ngāwha Mātauranga Māori Science and Design Fair.
  

Reminders; these opportunities are still open!

• [Nationwide] The Get Ready Civil Defence Schools Challenge has returned for 2026 with 15 iPads to be won for participating schools (Closes June 12).
  

• [Nationwide] Solve for Tomorrow is a nationwide competition challenging New Zealand’s next generation of innovators to unleash their creativity and use STEAM to help improve their communities (Closes June 12)
  

• [Wellington] The New Zealand Institute of Chemistry (NZIC) Wellington branch has locked in June 17 for its chemistry quiz and titration competition.
  

• [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.
  

• [Nationwide] Westpac NZ and BLAKE are running a nationwide competition to giveaway 15 immersive VR learning experiences (Closes May 31).
  

• [Nationwide] To celebrate a decade of growth and innovation in our local aerospace industry, the New Zealand Space Agency (NZSA) is inviting primary and intermediate students to leave their mark on history through the "Patch to the Future" competition (Closes June 5).

  
  

      KAIAKO OPPORTUNITIES

• [Bay of Plenty] Cluster two returns to Pāpāmoa. This free working group hui aims to collate commentary and annotations to inform organisational level feedback. English and Social Sciences included; carpool and share travel expenses to get here! This is open to all kaiako, including those from beyond the region.
  

• [Online] Afterschool Special: Phase 5 Science Subjects Live with Claire Coleman will start on May 27 at 4:30 PM
  

• [Online] A four week professional learning course 'Puna Aronui – unravelling the science/s of learning' by the Science Learning Hub begins on June 02. Registrations close May 27th!
  

Reminders:

• [Nationwide] HATA is bringing back Sow the Seed Regional Hub Workshops. Highlights for this year include Ministry of Education curriculum updates and insights from the Food and Fibre Industry Skills Board.
  

• [Nationwide] The Maurice Wilkins Centre (MWC) has just announced its 2026 Teacher Professional Development Days.
  

• [Nationwide] NZCER is inviting kaiako to share their personal stories through a new research initiative to understand why people enter, stay in, or leave the teaching profession. Respondents go into the draw to win one of five $100 vouchers.
  

• [Nationwide] The Curriculum Insights and Progress Study has officially released its highly anticipated findings drawing on national data collected from student learning. To help educators unpack what these findings mean for the science classroom, the study team is hosting a range of short, free webinar series this June which also includes a specific focus on science.
  

• [Tauranga] The 2026 Tauranga Innovative Education Summit is set to return to the Bay of Plenty on June 12.
  

• [Nationwide] Nominations are now open for the 2026 National Excellence in Teaching Awards, the longest running, community based awards program that recognises teaching excellence in Australia and New Zealand.
  

• [Nationwide] The New Zealand Institute of Chemistry (NZIC) has officially opened its 2026 prize round, including an educators award.

• [Online, International] Science is Cool Unconference is coming up on July 23rd; an all day teacher PD. YouTube highlight reel below. This is now a two day event. Ngā mihi Jim Critchley for letting us know.
  

      EDUCATION ASSOCIATION UPDATES

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

• AEC

  • Waitangi Tribunal Series - Bruce Jepsen and Dr Therese Ford (Bruce Jepsen and Dr Therese Ford)

  • Event - A Cautionary Tale on Curriculum Reform (Dominic, Rebecca, and Stephen)

  • We Are Managing Scarcity. Someone Tell the Emperor He Has No Clothes. (Aotearoa Educators Collective)

  • Irony (Marianne Malmstrom)

  • Teaching is a Profession, Not a Portfolio (Aotearoa Educators Collective)

  • The Silent Subsidy: A Human Cost of Schooling (Aotearoa Educators Collective)
    

• ESSENZ

  • Reminder: following from Term 1, ESSENZ also has a range of webinars scheduled for Term 2. Ngā mihi Najin and Jim.
    

• NZASE

  • Article | NZ Music Month – Teaching science through music

    Teachers Tom McFadden and Emily Hall share how music can bring science concepts to life in the classroom—from catchy science rap songs to creative ways of making learning more engaging. Read article

  • Scientist Posters | Meet an ancient DNA hunter

    NZASE has launched a new series exploring the many careers science can lead to. They chat with ancient DNA hunter and palaeontology lecturer Nic Rawlence. Primary and secondary student versions available. View online

  • Teacher Q&A | Dr Aidan Kiely – Head of Science, Aorere College

    Aidan shares his journey into science teaching, how he builds connections with students in the classroom, and the challenges of keeping young people engaged. View online

  • Article | NZIC Analytical Chemistry competition

    Year 13 students can swap the school lab for a university challenge and put their chemistry skills to the test next month. We share insights from organiser Professor Michèle Prinsep and attendees. View online

  • NZASE has produced derived grade exams for 2026 Level 1 Science - 91922 and 91923. These are available free of charge for NZASE member schools, and at $50 for both exams for non-member schools. Access will be provided to one teacher per school. For more information visit here. 2025 exams are still available as well.

    
    

  • NZASE has joined He Rau Ringa.

I mōhio rānei koe?

• The New Zealand Association for the Teaching of English (NZATE) has published an open letter asking for more time for feedback.
  

• The National Council of Home Educators NZ (NCHENZ) has published a position statement opposing the Amendment Paper 583 to the Education and Training (System Reform) Amendment bill.
  

      SCIENCE CURRICULUM

Consultation for Phase 5 of the draft science curriculum closes on June 15 at 11:59 pm. Bay Science intends to submit organisational-level feedback, register here.

Reminders:

• Additional annual plans are now available (this includes a range of subjects; for science, new unit plans in chemistry have been included).
  

• Curriculum and Assessment Roadshow for Leaders (register here)
  

      NCEA & ASSESSMENT

Reminders:

• The Government has confirmed details of the new qualification that will replace NCEA from 2028. The Beehive Press Release, email to principals, and Tāhurangi announcement have been collated here.
  

  
  

      PIVOTAL PERSPECTIVES

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

• Is “knowledge-rich” more than a slogan? (Dr Graham McPhail, Waipapa Taumata Rau | The University of Auckland)

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Out of the following, what should be the top priority for science educators right now?

• 0%Extending the consultation timeline
• 0%Reinstating the Nature of Science as a core component
• 0%Reducing content overload to make the curriculum teachable
• 0%Creating a General Science / Sustainability pathway

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.
  

• 91% of readers would like the Nature of Science remain a core component of Phase 5 (Years 11-13) of the science curriculum.
  

• 70% of readers believe the primary purpose of Year 12-13 science should support preparing scientifically literate citizens, as well as university study.
  

• 79% of respondents want a consultation period of more than one term for each Phase 5 subject. 21% want one term.
  

• 92% of readers have little or no confidence that sector feedback will actually improve the final curriculum.

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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.