Te Puiaki Kaiwhakaako Pūtaiao The Prime Minister’s Science Teacher Prize

20 May 2025  –  Applications open

19 August 2025  – Applications close

 

ABOUT THIS PRIZE

When you have real all the material below apply here 

Eligibility

• Teachers can apply directly for this Prize and do not have to be nominated.
• This Prize will be awarded to a qualified and registered teacher who is teaching science¹  (in a primary, intermediate or a secondary New Zealand registered school or kura kaupapa) currently employed in a permanent capacity.
• The teacher should have been in the same role for at least 12 months prior to their application.
• The teacher must be either a New Zealand citizen or a New Zealand permanent resident.
• The teacher must have had five years of science¹ teaching experience in New Zealand.
• In the case of secondary school teachers, the majority of their teaching time must have been devoted to teaching science¹ subjects which are taken to include teaching relevant to any of the science, mathematics, technology, putaiao, hangarau or pangarau learning areas of the National Curriculum.
• The recipient of the Prize is expected to remain in the teaching profession for at least the year following the presentation of the Prize.
• Re-application by teachers from previous years is encouraged and welcomed, as long as the eligibility criteria continue to be met. However past winners of the Prize will not be eligible to enter a second time.

¹ Taken to include teaching relevant to any of the science, technology, mathematics, pūtaiao, hangarau or pāngarau learning areas of the National Curriculum.

 

Criteria

Judging of applications will be based on evidence or significant achievements in Science¹ education within five years of the date of application. 

1. What is your high quality pedagogical approach that sits behind your teaching and learning of your students?   (25%)
2. Provide a range of evidence that your actions have led to improved outcomes in science¹ for the students you teach in your classroom.  (30%)
3.  Your influence on engagement and awareness and delivery of science¹ in your school and school’s community. (20%).
4. Your contribution to the awareness and appreciation of science¹ education at a national or regional level. (25%)

 

Each application will be assessed in the context in which the applicant is teaching (relative to the opportunities reasonably available to a primary, intermediate or secondary teacher). Assessment will include consideration of referees’  statements.

The applicant will also have the opportunity to submit a further 10 pages as their Evidence Portfolio.  This should cross reference and support the application.

Value

• Valued at $150,000. The recipient can use $50,000 at own discretion.
• The recipient’s school will receive $100,000 which must be used for the development of science¹ in their school.

Referees

This Prize requires two referees. One of these has to be the applicant’s Principal and the other referee should also have an excellent understanding of the applicant’s pedagogy and their contribution to their school and community.

Confidentiality 

The secretariat gives no undertaking to keep confidential any information provided in the on-line entry form unless this is identified as information that should be treated as such. Information may, for example, be used to prepare promotional material for the Prize in future years.

Please note that information submitted on the entry form may be subject to the Official Information Act.

Navigating the portal

• Everyone must register in the portal (this includes applicants, referees, mentors etc). The only exception is if you have registered in the portal previously.
• The application forms and referee forms can only be downloaded from the portal.
• Everyone must first set up a profile where some compulsory questions need to be answered but other questions are optional.
• The applicant will be prompted by the portal to supply referee details and this will trigger an email which is sent to the referee which contains a unique link for referees to lot into the portal.
• An application cannot be submitted until referees have submitted their referee reports.

Contents of application must include

1. Completed application template and evidence portfolio
2. Two completed referee forms  (one must be from the Principal)
3. Applicant CV.

Selection Panel 2025

(still to be confirmed)

Panellists are appointed by the Chief Executive of the Royal Society Te Apārangi based on the recommendation of the panel Chair and Secretariat. Appointments are made on a year-by-year basis for each calendar year. Panellists must be experienced in an appropriate field or community and may be drawn from outside Aotearoa New Zealand if necessary.

The panel will consist of established leaders and researchers in their field and communities.  We will also aim to bring emerging people to panels to ensure diverse views and allow for the development of people and new talent.

In considering the suitability of potential panellists, the following requirements for panel composition should be considered as appropriate:

• Mix of discipline/expertise
• Sector and institutional balance
• Geographic representation
• Ethnicity
• Gender balance

Royal Society Te Apārangi is committed to following best practice in being inclusive of diversity within our activities.

It is recognised that occasionally members of the selection panel will know applicants, or have other conflicts of interest. They will be expected to declare all conflicts of interest when these situations arise. In the case of knowing an applicant, the Chair of the selection panel will rule if this is significant enough for the judge to be stood down from the committee for that applicant. (In the case of the Chair having a conflict of interest the decision will be made by another member of the Panel who has been identified in this role at the beginning of the process).

The selection panel will not enter into any correspondence concerning its deliberations. All inquiries should be directed to the Secretariat. The Secretariat will not disclose information on matters such as ranking, or names of nominees.

The Secretariat for the Prime Minister’s Science Prizes is the Royal Society Te Apārangi, If you have any questions then please make contact with pmscienceprizes@royalsociety.org.nz

Expectations

• The school will use the $100,000 for the development of science in their school.
• The winner may be expected to be involved in promotional opportunities appropriate to receiving The Prime Minister’s Science Teacher Prize.
• An shortlisted applicants may be expected to attend an interview.

Announcement

• The winner is expected to make themselves available for half a day January/February 2026 to meet with the Prime Minister’s Science Prize media liaison personnel in preparation of media material and photos.
• The announcement will be made in March/April 2026.  (date to be confirmed) and the winner will be expected to make themselves available.

Timeline

20 May 2025  –  Applications open

19 August 2025  –  Applications close

August/Sept  –   Online judging

October   –  Selection panel meetings take place

January 2026  – All applicants notified

Closing

Applications close at midday on 19 August 2025.  Late applications will not be accepted.

 

NEED HELP?  HAVE OTHER PĀTAI QUESTIONS?

Ko te Kaiwhakahaere the Secretariat for The Prime Minister’s Science Prizes is Royal Society Te Apārangi.  Contact details are:

Te Kaiwhakahaere the Secretariat
The Prime Minister’s Science Prizes
Royal Society Te Apārangi
PO Box 598
Wellington

Tel: (04) 470 5762

If you require any other information the please email pmscienceprizes@royalsociety.org.nz.