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The Briefing | Issue No. 23 - Bay Science Newsletter

  • 1 hour ago
  • 10 min read

Aotearoa NZ's home of science education news.

Rātapu, te 23 o Ākuhata 2026


The 2026 Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā Mātauranga Māori Science and Design Fair begins this week! © Te Arawa Lakes Trust.
The 2026 Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā Mātauranga Māori Science and Design Fair begins this week! © Te Arawa Lakes Trust.

Kia ora koutou


In case you missed it, Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā Mātauranga Māori Science and Design Fair have released their full event programme. Check it out below.

We've also updated our Getting Started page with the latest contact details. If you need to get in touch with someone, reach out to AJ Marshall: aj@tearawa.iwi.nz For those who are interested in learning about our lakes and the interface of science and Mātauranga Māori in the BoP region, a variety of evening speakers are also scheduled:

Kia kaha,

Lian and Vicki info@bayscience.nz




Bay Science Newsletter


  • Win a Sustainable Living Prize Bag! Envirohub Bay of Plenty are running challenges through the free Green Team App (free download on the Apple Store / Google Play). Complete this month's draw to go in to win a bag with sustainable living goodies!

    https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HuFKi1yQD/

  • The New Zealand Antarctic Science & Open Science Conference Dates have now been announced for the middle of next year: June 28 - 2 July 2027, University of Canterbury. The New Zealand Antarctic Science Conference will combine three days of Open Science Conference (28 - 30 June) with two days of Antarctic Science Platform workshops (1 - 2 July).

    https://www.antarcticanz.govt.nz/science/nzasc21

  • Thriving Cities Webinar Series: Kaupapa Māori Frameworks for Assessing Urban Restoration | Kākano How do we know whether urban restoration is truly restoring relationships between people, place and te taiao — not just planting trees? In this webinar, Dr Erana Walker (University of Waikato) and Dr Shaun Awatere (Bioeconomy Science Institute) explore how kaupapa Māori frameworks can reshape the way we assess and understand urban restoration. https://youtu.be/21DBY0Qoows


  • New 2026 Mathematics Workbooks For our parent readers, new editions of the AME Mathematics Workbooks for L2 Mathematics, L3 Calculus and L3 Statistics are now available. Bundle pricing is available when you buy two or more -- last week, new editions of L2, L3 and Scholarship Biology were also released. https://learnwell.co.nz/


  • Plant Conservation Wiki Workshop Bring a laptop, the NZ Plant Conservation Network is offering a free workshop which is open to everyone during the NZPCN Conference on October 12. You'll learn how to contribute to Wikipedia. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EpxKU67tB/

  • Save Science Coalition Pre-Election Forum The Save Science Coalition, which NZIC (and hence SCENZ) is a member of, recently hosted a pre-election forum. "National and ACT opted not to send a representative to share their views on the future". https://www.youtube.com/live/0yxmHaabd14

  • Helping Ethnic Migrant Parents to Understand the NZ Education System Multicultural Tauranga are hosting another evening in collaboration with Gate Pā School and the MoE on August 27th at Tauranga Girls College. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14ksP1V2aSn/

  • Bird of the Year 2026 Some of the BOTY2026 candidates still do not have anyone to run campaigns for them. Can you help? Check out all the candidates here:

    https://www.birdoftheyear.org.nz/


REMINDERS

  • Rongoa Workshops | Kawhia, Tauranga, Tāmaki Makaurau, Northland Titoki Education has organised a range of Rongoa Workshops with Pā Ropata (Rob McGowarn) and Donna Kerridge from August - November. https://titokieducation.co.nz/workshops/

  • MakerFest 2026 tickets now available! It's Free! STEM Wana is proud to announce the inaugural MakerFest, a two-day sustainable technology festival taking place on 12–13 September 2026. Discover the secrets to big savings and a cleaner future. Early bird tickets are now sold out, but general tickets are still free! events.humanitix.com/makerfest-2026-innovate-and-electrify

Our full calendar is available here. Let us know how we can help promote your event.

August 24


August 25


August 26


August 27


August 28


August 29


August 30


August 31


Hepetema 1

Hepetema 2


Hepetema 3


Hepetema 4


Hepetema 5



CONFERENCE WATCHLIST (CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER)



The following have been added to our Experiences page and Resources directory. While we may share resources here, directory only saves items which are free and which do not require a login.


  • Forest and Birth Youth Regional Hui (Ōtautahi) Join Forest and Bird for a range of interactive workshops, activities and ways to connect with nature. For rangatahi aged 14-25. Free. https://events.humanitix.com/forest-and-bird-youth-regional-hui-2026-otautahi-christchurch

  • Apply to be a 2027 Ocean Ambassador

    For rangatahi who are passionate about the ocean, Manta Trust are offering those aged 13-17 to join their Ocean Ambassador Programme. This includes monthly calls with marine scientists, developing a conservation project and building skills.

    https://education.mantatrust.org/getinvolved

  • Rotorua Island Education Programme - Book your Term One 2026 Space now! Rotoroa Island offers an immersive conservation learningexperience where students investigate New Zealand's uniquenative species, ecosystems and restoration story. Led byexperienced educators, our programme for Years 5 to 8develops students' understanding of ecology, biodiversity,food webs, adaptations and human impacts throughauthentic field investigations. https://www.rotoroa.org.nz/pages/education-programme



REMINDERS

  • Fully Funded STEAM for Flood Resilience Workshop for Schools | STEAM-ED Tauranga STEAM-ED is excited to offer “Te Hīkoi o te Wai – Flood Resilience through STEAM-based Kaitiakitanga”, a fully funded, hands-on STEAM workshop suitable for students from Years 5 - 8 . The workshop blends practical engineering design, science-based decision-making , and Te Ao Māori perspectives, empowering students to see themselves as guardians and future problem-solvers in their communities.

  • NZ Bird of the Year This year, the NZ Bird of the Year competition is embracing the youth vote by making it easy with a complete resource pack for schools. Get your school or classroom onboard by registering here.

  • INSPIRE Festival 2026 INSPIRE Festival 2026 offers two days of student selected challenging discussions and hands-on workshops all focused around STEAMS (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Maths, and Society). This year the festival is being hosted at Nayland College! www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/inspire-festival-tickets-1981551629265

  • Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2026 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. Final submissions are due 18 September 2026. www.samsung.com/nz/solvefortomorrow/


  • PPTA Hawke's Bay Curriculum Hui This hui is an opportunity for PPTA members to come together and discuss curriculum changes and form a collective voice on issues. We will be inviting local MPs and candidates along to hear from teachers. This hui is being organised by the Post-Primary Teachers' Association Hawke's Bay Region. https://events.humanitix.com/ppta-hawke-s-bay-curriculum-hui

  • Closing September 30th: Applications  for the 2026 Prime Minister's Science Teacher Prize Te Puiaki Kaiwhakaako Pūtaiao. Teachers can now apply for the most prestigious science educator award in Aotearoa New Zealand are now open. Applications close September 30th. https://pmscienceprizes.org.nz/about-the-prizes/teacher-2-2-2-2/



REMINDERS:


  • NZ Association of Environmental Education

    • Reminder: A webinar to unpack the final science and social sciences curriculum is taking place on August 27th, 2026.

  • Horticulture and Agriculture Teachers Association


  • Agribusiness Conference information is now available. See attached flyers below. Both conferences are free to attend. While schools are expected to cover travel and accommodation costs, PPTA members can apply for a grant of up to $850 to assist with travel, accommodation, childcare, and other expenses via: https://www.ppta.org.nz/forms/subject-association-grants-pre-approval-form




I mōhio koe? (Did you know?)


  • Last week we shared that the Years 1-10 (Phases 1-4) was now available alongside a Beehive press-release. We've noticed the fine print in the "About this document" section of the finalised science curriculum, and have updated our page to include a new section: "When do we have to implement the new science curriculum and, is there a transition period?".

Whakaaro which may be relevant to us as science educators.


  • Changing curriculum: A literature review on drivers of change and teachers' roles in curriculum reform (Rachel Bolstad, Sue McDowall, NZCER) ...The literature generally supports teachers having a role in macro curriculum making. However, mechanisms for involvement vary, and having input does not always mean having influence.... https://www.nzcer.org.nz/research/publications/changing-curriculum-literature-review-drivers-change-and-teachers-roles

  • What lies ahead for climate education in our schools? (Rachel Bolstad, NZCER) With so much educational policy change underway, it is worth asking how current changes to New Zealand’s curriculum and assessment structures will address and support better climate education for our learners. Early responses to the updated science and social science curriculum have raised concerns about a lack of visibility and coherence for climate change learning up to Year 10. Final curriculum for the senior levels (Years 11-13) are yet to be released. There is currently little information about how the new senior secondary qualification will enhance students’ climate education opportunities. https://www.nzcer.org.nz/news-and-blogs/what-lies-ahead-climate-education-our-schools

  • Trust: the missing link in educational change (Pasi Sahlberg, Journal of Educational Change) Over the past quarter century, education systems worldwide have pursued sustained reform aimed at improving quality, equity, and responsiveness of education systems. Yet despite the scale and intensity of these efforts, progress has remained uneven and often fragile. This ‘think piece’ argues that a central limitation of contemporary education reform lies in its predominantly technical orientation, which has largely overlooked the relational conditions necessary for meaningful and durable change. Drawing on research, including contributions published in the Journal of Educational Change... https://www.researchgate.net/publication/412322293_Trust_the_missing_link_in_educational_change


  • Research ecosystems: In praise of hexagons and hospitality (NZARE Blog) Recently, NZARE’s Teaching and Teacher Education special interest group (SIG) gathered online with a simple plan. There were no keynote speakers. No PowerPoint presentations. Instead, we invited all participants to bring a few sentences about their current or recent research. There were also hexagons.... https://nzareblog.wordpress.com/2026/08/20/ecosystems-hexagons-hospitality/

Lian Soh from Bay Science is joining Claire Coleman on August 27th webinar "Analysis of the Science Curriculum" https://open.substack.com/live-stream/315554

Bay Science has also launched new social media channels:

Our association is also interested in what you think of the science curriculum. Our Google Form will help inform PLD event(s) and resources for the remainder of the year.


Bay Science is an unincorporated national science teachers association. Our channels serve as the most comprehensive noticeboard of science education news and events across Aotearoa New Zealand. The Briefing is a weekly email newsletter for anyone interested in the latest science education developments in Aotearoa NZ. If your organisation has a kaupapa, event, or opportunity to share with the science education community, we’ll happily share it here.


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© 2025-2026 Lian Soh and Vicki Alderson-Wallace

info@bayscience.nz

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