The Prime Minister's Science Prizes

The Prime Minister's Te Puiaki Kaipūtaiao Ānamata Future Scientist

This prize is worth $50,000. The Prize will be awarded to either a Year 12 or Year 13 student who has undertaken an outstanding science, technology, mathematics or engineering project.

The Prime Minister's Te Puiaki Kaipūtaiao Maea MacDiarmid Emerging Scientist

This Prize is worth $200,000. This Prize will be awarded to an outstanding emerging scientist who has had their PhD or an equivalent qualification conferred within the past eight years.

The Prime Minister's Te Puiaki Kaiwhakaako Pūtaiao Science Teacher

This Prize is worth $150,000. The Prize will be awarded to a registered primary, intermediate or secondary school teacher or kaiako who is teaching science, mathematics, technology, pūtaiao, hangarau or pāngarau learning areas of the New Zealand curriculum. Teachers must be teaching in a registered New Zealand school.

The Prime Minister's Te Puiaki Pūtaiao Matua a Te Pirimia Science Prize

This Prize is worth $500,000. This prize is for a transformative scientific¹advance, which has had a significant economic, health, social, political, cultural and/or environmental impact on New Zealand, or internationally. It will be awarded to a team or an individual instrumental in creating the impact.

The Prime Minister's Te Puiaki Whakapā Pūtaiao Science Communicator

This Prize is worth $75,000. The Prize will be awarded to either a practising scientist who can demonstrate an interest, passion and aptitude for science communication and public engagement, or to a person who has developed expertise in public engagement or communication of complex scientific or technological information to the public.

Ngā toa i mua Reflections from past winners

Ngā Tohu The Trophies

The design for the Prime Minister’s Science Prizes reflects scientific process in concept, form and production technology.

Science and mathematics both rely on a cyclical process of observation, hypothesis, prediction and experiment. This design – based on the Helix, or Mӧbius Strip – was the result of this thinking.

Aluminium was the chosen medium – for the numerous advances New Zealand has made with aluminium alloys, and for the frequency with which we use the metal as a nation.

The Prime Minister’s Science Prizes Secretariat is very appreciative to Callaghan Innovation and their advanced engineering protoshop who design and produce these trophies each year.

Te Karere News

“Volcano Dad” wins Prime Minister’s Science Communication Prize

MEDIA RELEASE: 2023 TE PUIAKI WHAKAPĀ PŪTAIAO SCIENCE COMMUNICATION PRIZE 2023 Prime Minister’s Science Communication Prize winner Professor Ben Kennedy says he has a responsibility to teach the wonder and the risks of volcanoes to people young and old. A volcanologist, Ben is a Professor at the University of … Read More

Winning science teacher prioritises making all her students feel valued and engaged

MEDIA RELEASE: 2023 TE PUIAKI KAIWHAKAAKO PŪTAIAO SCIENCE TEACHER PRIZE Making sure each student feels valued, and engaging their natural curiosity so they want to learn the science behind their observations and interests, are the teaching philosophies that guide this year’s winner of the Prime Minister’s Science Teacher Prize. Read More

Prime Minister’s science prizes recognise work in cancer genetics, psychology of music, communication of volcanic risk, student engagement, and soil science

An innovative partnership that led to discovery of the gene causing inherited stomach cancer, a scientist uncovering the psychological underpinnings of music, and a volcanologist communicating both the wonder and risks of volcanoes have been recognised in the latest Prime Minister’s Science Prizes. A science teacher who values each student … Read More

Supported by the New Zealand Government with funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Nā Te Hīkina Whakatutuki te mana hāpai.