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The Briefing | Issue No. 29 - Bay Science Newsletter

9 hours ago
9 min read

Aotearoa NZ's home of science education news.

Rātapu, te 18 o Oketopa 2026


On the afternoon of November 9th, a range of subject area associations will convene at Pāpāmoa College to run cluster workshops. Science teachers can now register via Bay Science: https://www.bayscience.nz/post/cluster-3-2026-bay-science
On the afternoon of November 9th, a range of subject area associations will convene at Pāpāmoa College to run cluster workshops. Science teachers can now register via Bay Science: https://www.bayscience.nz/post/cluster-3-2026-bay-science

Kia ora koutou


Yes, you read the caption right -- our third cluster of 2026 will take place in the afternoon on Monday 9 November. Various associations had initially planned for a full jumbo day, but logistical challenges mean that we are parking this idea until 2027.


Also, you might have noticed that the recent Ministry of Education's Science Teacher Staffing Survey had landed during a somewhat awkward period of time where kaiako were either away or too busy establishing Term 4 routines. After sharing our concerns with the ministry, we are delighted to hear that they have agreed to extend the deadline for an additional week, ending the beginning of Week 3 (Monday 26th October). Hooray!


Have a great week! We'll park our next Bay Science Newsletter until after the Labour Weekend. Kia kaha,

Lian and Vicki info@bayscience.nz

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  • Closing soon! Friends of Tauranga Museum Photography Competition Capture the people, places, landscapes, traditions and moments that tell the story of Tauranga. Entries close October 31. https://tauranga.syd1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_42644jWndHJDRMW


  • An Evening with Conservation Legend Dean Baigent-Mercer He’s been called David Attenborough with dreads and the living Lorax for his environmental advocacy and activism, but growing up in suburban Palmerston North, Dean Baigent-Mercer had little experience with native bush. https://events.humanitix.com/shades-of-green

  • The Adaptation Game: Play, connect and explore possible futures for Auckland (Auckland Council) Launching October 21, The Adaptation Game uses Auckland maps, local stories and collaborative decision-making to invite participants to step into possible futures, share ideas, test solutions and discover how communities can build climate resilience together. https://events.humanitix.com/the-adaptation-game-auckland-edition

  • Curriculum Forum NZ A new website where a range of scholar contributors with a track record in educational research share their expert knowledge on aspects of curriculum-making.

    https://curriculum-forum.nz/

  • New GeoNet website Phase 1 of GeoNet's new website is now available for preview at https://beta.geonet.org.nz/ , and they are interested in your feedback. Read this news article to find out what's happening. www.geonet.org.nz continues to run as usual.

  • New book release: Song of the Birds Robert Vennell, bestselling author of The Meaning of Trees, has released a new title which shows the vital roles birds have played in the lives of those who call Aotearoa their home. https://www.thenile.co.nz/books/robert-vennell/song-of-the-birds/9781775542773

  • Predator Free BOP Trapping Competition! PFBOPs backyard trapping competition is back! To enter, log your kills on their website or the free green team app, and email your photo in to the team. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1JGrXV6pgV/

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

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  • Labour Day

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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.


  • The Great White App The Sustainable Oceans Society has launched an app that receives locations of sharks in real time and displays them on a map. https://www.sustainableoceansociety.co.nz/

  • BioBlitz (posters at the bottom) - Bioeconomy Institute BioBlitz is a scientific race against time. The goal is to count as many species as possible in a 24-hour survey of a large urban area

    https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/tools-and-resources/education/bioblitz

  • Science Buddies

    Thousands of science projects that you can sort by year level as well as by 'global goals', the latter of which are linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This one looks really useful for unit planning! https://www.sciencebuddies.org/

  • Understanding the Aotearoa Response to Bird Flu Recorded on 15 October, 2026, this webinar explored the Aotearoa Response to Bird Flu (HPAI H5N1). HPAI H5N1 is increasingly on our country's radar and it is important that we are informed and prepared. This online webinar, co-hosted by Tauranga Moana Biosecurity Capital (TMBC) and Te Tira Whakamātaki (TTW), brought together leading experts from MPI, DOC, and Regional Councils to cover what you need to know right now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFZRAe1CsTQ

  • Physics Revision Planner Benny Pan has constructed an app for students to self-check their level against exam questions, customise a revision calendar and produce a revision plan. https://physics-revision-planner.vercel.app/


REMINDERS:

  • Kura Conference 2026

    National curriculum changes are here. Is your school up to speed? A two day conference where you'll hear from teachers, principals, educationalists and ministry consultants. November 10-11 2026.

    https://brightstar.co.nz/events/the-kura-conference/

  • Reminder: Science Camp for Teachers The ECO School have organised a science camp at Kaitiaki Farm (Okoia, Whanganui) to upskill the teaching of science for Phases 1-3 of the NZC in Freshwater Ecology, Biodiversity, Zero Waste and Climate Studies on January 19-20. Come for one day or both days. $50 Fully catered. Camping and glamping available free of charge. For more information or registration, email: TheECOSchool@gmail.com



Meanwhile...


  • Science Teacher Staffing Survey (Deadline Extended) The Ministry of Education is seeking feedback from science teachers to better understand general secondary science teacher supply challenges, and the potential workforce impacts of making science/pūtaiao compulsory for Year 11 from 2028. The deadline for this survey has been extended for an additional week, ending the beginning of Week 3 (Monday 26th October) https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/H85KP3Y


  • Senior Qualification Update ICYMI, more details were published (Oct 12) on Tāhūrangi about the senior secondary qualifications https://tahurangi.education.govt.nz/new-senior-secondary-qualifications

  • Co-Requisite Reading Results Students who completed the September co-requisites can now access their reading results via their learner login.

  • Chief Advisor Assessment Measurement and Modelling New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) is looking for a highly experienced educational measurement specialist to provide senior psychometrics leadership across secondary school assessment and certification. https://careers.nzqa.govt.nz/jobs/NZQA-26103DESP

Whakaaro which may be relevant to us as science educators.


  • The Takarangi Model: strengthening young people’s participation in our communities (Dr Maria Perreau, NZCER) Young people are actively shaping their communities and our society in so many ways, regardless of whether they are old enough to vote. They interact with others in their spaces and schools, organise and mobilise for environmental causes, and create spaces for people to speak up about things affecting their lives. As adults, we should recognise and support these acts of citizenship, encouraging further civic participation among our rangatahi. But how do we go about this? https://nzcer.substack.com/p/the-takarangi-model-strengthening

  • What a study of 350,000 teachers reveals about wellbeing in schools

    In the largest synthesis of its kind, researchers from the Australian Catholic University’s Institute for Positive Psychology and Education analysed 186 studies published between 1977 and 2023, covering more than 350,000 teachers across 33 countries. https://www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/news/what-a-study-of-350000-teachers-reveals-about-wellbeing-in-schools/289258

  • Supporting students through primary to secondary school transitions: Insights from school leaders in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ Association of Research in Education Blog) The move from primary or intermediate school into secondary school is one of the most significant transitions in a student’s educational journey. Research consistently shows that poorly managed transitions can affect student wellbeing, motivation, and academic achievement. The transition into Year 9 is the most vulnerable, and has been found to impact students’ completing secondary school successfully. https://nzareblog.wordpress.com/2026/10/15/supporting-students-transitions/

Bay Science is organising the science arm of a regional super cluster on November 9th 2026. Register here: https://www.bayscience.nz/post/cluster-3-2026-bay-science


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Bay Science is an unincorporated national teachers association standing for progressive and inclusive science education. Our channels serve as the most comprehensive noticeboard of science education news and events across Aotearoa New Zealand. The Briefing is a free weekly email newsletter for members. Sign up below. 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

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