Supercharging Science To Inspire Next Generation

Friday, 30 May 2025, 11:14 am
Press Release: New Zealand Government

Hon Erica
Stanford
Minister of Education

The
Government is ensuring all Year 0 to 8 students have access
to high quality, hands-on science kits through Budget 2025,
helping pave the way for New Zealand’s future scientists,
problem-solvers, and innovators.

“We want students
to love learning about science. Hands-on learning improves
critical thinking and science understanding, which are
essential for student success in STEAM (Science, Technology,
Engineering, Arts and Mathematics). This investment will
help lift science engagement and achievement in classrooms
across the country and inspire our future meteorologists,
marine biologists and software engineers,” Education
Minister Erica Stanford says.

Budget 2025
is investing $39.9 million over four years into developing
and delivering science kits for schools nationwide. The kits
will be designed to support teachers to confidently deliver
practical science learning, aligned with the new science
curriculum. Teachers using the kits will also have access to
professional development modules to support the use of the
new resources in their
classrooms.

“These practical resources,
include hands on experiments and engaging equipment for each
year level of the Year 0-8 curriculum. The kits will help
students build their foundational knowledge and skills early
and help bring science to life.

The kits will undergo
development and begin to be available from the start of the
2026 school year. They will also be available in te reo
Maori, with dedicated pūtaiao kits and bilingual resources
available to meet the needs of all learners.

Advertisement – scroll to continue reading

“This
initiative directly supports the Government’s economic
growth agenda by investing in the future talent pipeline
that will drive productivity, boost wages and power a more
competitive and resilient economy. These benefits will
positively impact sectors like agritech, clean energy,
biotech and advanced manufacturing, where kiwi innovation
already leads the world.

“We want our children to be
excited by science, to be captured by hands on learning so
that we are inspiring the next generation of creators,
inventors and great problem solvers,” Ms Stanford
says.

© Scoop Media

Using Scoop for work?

Scoop is free for personal use, but you’ll need a licence for work use. This is part of our Ethical Paywall and how we fund Scoop. Join today with plans starting from less than $3 per week, plus gain access to exclusive Pro features.

Join Pro Individual
Find out more

_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}