BAY SCIENCE

Connecting Bay of Plenty Science Educators

View from Pāpāmoa Hills Regional Park

Latest News

Two outstanding projects took top honours at the SCANZ Awards 2025: The Seed Pod (Excellence in Science Communication) and Anna Yeoman (Emerging Science Communicator). Both winners will present at the 2026 SCANZ Conference in Ōtautahi Christchurch.

SCANZ Awards 2025 — Winners Announced

The SCANZ Awards 2025 celebrate outstanding science communication across Aotearoa. Congratulations to The Seed Pod (Excellence in Science Communication) and Anna Yeoman (Emerging Science Communicator). See why judges were impressed, explore this year’s finalists, and find out what’s next — including presentations at the 2026 SCANZ Conference in Christchurch.

BAY OF PLENTY PĀNUI

Join Forest & Bird in Rotorua, for a powerful day of kōrero, strategy, and inspiration.

Forest & Bird Hui: Protecting Our Wild Places

Future Voices: Leading Change is part of the Climate Action Festival 2025 by Envirohub BOP and Tauranga City Council's

Future Voices: Leading Change – Speakers Forum

First Impressions: Draft Science Curriculum Survey

STEAM-ED is growing and looking for an additional STEAM Educator to join their team.

STEAM-ED is hiring a new STEAM Educator in Tauranga

Diver swimming beside a humpback whale promoting Teachers’ Ocean PD Tauranga, presented by Steve Hathaway.

Young Ocean Explorers: Teachers’ Ocean PD — Tauranga

Ecosystems in Action connects mātauranga Māori, local science, and everyday kaitiakitanga in ways that inspire real-world sustainability.

Ecosystems in Action: Forests, Harbours, Backyards, and You!

Thumbnail image from the film Recloaking the Bay on Vimeo, highlighting Bay of Plenty farmers working to protect water quality, restore wetlands, and build climate-resilient farms.

Recloaking the Bay Comes to Te Puke

University of Waikato Tauranga campus exterior on Durham Street

TECT Tauranga Campus Returning Student Scholarship

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NATIONAL PĀNUI

SCANZ Awards 2025 — Winners Announced

The New Zealand Association of Science Educators (NZASE) is currently inviting member feedback on the draft science curriculum.

NZASE Feedback Survey: Draft Science Curriculum

An Open Letter From Earth and Space Science Educators of New Zealand Regarding the Draft Science Curriculum

Earth & Space Science Educators of New Zealand (ESSENZ) Respond to the Draft Science Curriculum

Explore how urban forest soil biodiversity drives successful ecosystem restoration. Dr Andrew Barnes and Dr Kiri Joy Wallace share insights on soil biota, restoration methods, and why healthy soil is key to thriving urban forests. Perfect for kaiako, councils and community groups.

Thriving Cities: Urban forest soil biodiversity and restoration

Teachers of the New Zealand Curriculum are invited to a new series of NZC learning areas webinars from 24 November to 4 December 2025.

Webinars: Unpacking the NZC learning areas

Educator Association Updates | November 2025

New Zealand Science Curriculum Released

Poster for The “Other” Curriculum Roadshow, featuring the film Multiple Choice and the logos of PPTA, NZEI, EdRising, Education Outdoors New Zealand, and Te Akatea, who proudly support the event.

Reminder: The 'Other' Curriculum Roadshow — AEC NZ

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RANGATAHI OPPORTUNITIES

KAIAKO OPPORTUNITIES

Future Voices: Leading Change – Speakers Forum

Future Voices: Leading Change celebrates emerging climate changemakers across the Bay of Plenty. As part of Envirohub’s Climate Action Festival Week, this speakers forum brings together seven inspiring rangatahi and young professionals working to protect te taiao — from marine biosecurity to community-led climate action. Enjoy drinks and nibbles, hear their stories, and leave energised with practical ways to make a difference.

Future Voices: Leading Change – Speakers Forum

TECT Tauranga Campus Returning Student Scholarship

Manawahe Adventure Run 2025

Te Pū Hono - DOC’s New Cadetship Programme into Conservation

More Rangatahi Opportunities

Webinars: Unpacking the NZC learning areas

A series of NZC learning areas webinars will run from 24 November to 4 December 2025 to unpack each learning area, highlight key changes, and outline PLD support. Separate sessions are available for Years 0–8 and Years 9–10, and all webinars will be recorded. Teachers can join the sessions that best match their context and workload.

Webinars: Unpacking the NZC learning areas

STEAM-ED is hiring a new STEAM Educator in Tauranga

Young Ocean Explorers: Teachers’ Ocean PD — Tauranga

Reminder: The 'Other' Curriculum Roadshow — AEC NZ

More Kaiako Opportunities

ASSOCIATION PĀNUI

NZASE Feedback Survey: Draft Science Curriculum

NZASE is collecting member feedback on the draft science curriculum until 15 November 2025. Members received a survey link from President Catherine Hunter on 11 November. Teachers can also submit feedback directly via Tāhūrangi until 24 April 2026. NZASE, ESSENZ and Bay Science are separate organisations, each providing a way for educators to share their perspectives.

NZASE Feedback Survey: Draft Science Curriculum

Earth & Space Science Educators of New Zealand (ESSENZ) Respond to the Draft Science Curriculum

First Impressions: Draft Science Curriculum Survey

Educator Association Updates | November 2025

More Association Updates

KAIAKO HIGHLIGHT

Kaiako Highlight: Jim Critchley

Jim Critchley is an Earth and Space Science educator who thrives on creating those chance encounters that open doors for students. Whether it’s connecting learners with industry, organising field trips that make science tangible, or guiding rangatahi to think critically in an information-rich world, Jim’s teaching is about sparking curiosity and showing how science and technology evolve together.

Kaiako Highlight: Whaea Tania Jackson

Introducing Whaea Tania Jackson, a secondary school kaiako of science and te reo Māori, and an emerging curriculum leader in kaupapa Māori. Her mahi spans both the classroom and the wider community, where she plays a pivotal role in the Tauranga Moana Māori Teachers’ Association.

Kaiako Highlight: Sky Smale

Meet Sky Smale, an educator, artist, and environmental advocate involved with the Kaharoa Kōkako Trust and Paraiti Catchment Care Group.

SCIENCE IN ACTION

Te Reo o Te Repo was created to give voice to our wetlands through the voices of our people, raising awareness of wetland values and restoration from a Te Ao Māori perspective. Tuihonoa Te Reo o Te Repo was developed in response to kaiako who wanted to support ākonga to become kaitiaki of their local repo. Yvonne with fellow co-editors, Cheri van Schravendijk-Goodman and Dr Bev Clarkson. Source: Image supplied, © Yvonne Taura

Scientist Highlight: Yvonne Taura

Freshwater ecologist Yvonne Taura (Ngāiterangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Uenuku, Ngāti Tūwharetoa) didn’t always see herself in science. Now her mahi is reshaping how kaiako, kairangahau, and communities think about wetlands, mātauranga Māori, and the purpose of science education in Aotearoa.

Lizzie Thompson conducting a diving survey as part of her marine science research.

Scientist Highlight: Lizzie Thompson | Marine Science

Marine scientist Lizzie Thompson is exploring how marine ecosystems recover after disruption. Find out how her work at Otāiti/Astrolabe Reef can support real-world science learning in your classroom—and what it’s really like to do fieldwork beneath the waves!

Juliet Linzmeier, a Master of Environmental Science student at Tauranga's Coastal Marine Field Station, is helping lay the groundwork for New Zealand’s emerging seaweed aquaculture industry. Our first Scientist Highlight aims to broaden the scope of curriculum and NCEA with real-world research examples, as well as capture researcher perspectives of what led them into STEM careers.

Scientist Highlight: Juliet Linzmeier | Marine Science

Juliet Linzmeier, a Master of Environmental Science student at Tauranga's Coastal Marine Field Station, is helping lay the groundwork for New Zealand’s emerging seaweed aquaculture industry. Our first Scientist Highlight aims to broaden the scope of curriculum and NCEA with real-world research examples, as well as capture researcher perspectives of what led them into STEM careers.