The Prime Minister's Science Prizes

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 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.

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 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.

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

Remembering Distinguished Professor Richie Poulton 2016 Prime Minister’s Science Prize Winner

The Prime Minister’s Science Prize Secretariat has been deeply saddened to learn of the death of Distinguished Richie Poulton CNZM FRSNZ. Richie directed the The Dunedin Study, which has contributed tremendous insights into the human condition and has had a global impact on scientific theory, research, policy, and best-practice. Richie … Read More

Stroke rehabilitation set to be revolutionised thanks to 2022 Prime Minister’s Science Prize Winner

The rehabilitation of stroke victims around the world is set to be revolutionised thanks to a New Zealand-based charity and AUT Professor Valery Feigin FRSNZ. Professor Feigin, who is also the founder and managing director of the NZ Stroke Charitable Education Trust and a Fellow of the Society, has … Read More

Podcast with Professor Valery Feigin & Dr Barb

Late in August 2023 Valery was in Dunedin giving a lecture on The Burden of Stroke and the Solutions. He took some time out on a very cold winter day to talk with Dr Barbara Anderson to make a postcast. Listen here … 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.