Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā Mātauranga Māori Science and Design Fair

26/03/2026

🤗Full circle moment!🤗

This week we visited Whaea Helen and her awesome class at Malfroy School to see how they were tracking in preparation for this years Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā.

Whaea Helen then mentioned to us that some of these ākonga were doing their 4th event, starting in year 5 and getting all the way through to year 8! Next year these year 8 students will be heading off to different kura, so it was a real full circle moment for Malfroy School and these kids as this will be their last time representing Malfroy at Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā (where fingers crossed next year they will be representing a new kura!).

Four years of consistent hard work, learning, experimentation, innovation and confidence building in science and mātauranga has enabled these tamariki to share their voice and ideas of our environment, and we are so proud of them and their growth over the last few years 🤩

Looking forward to seeing them showcase their awesome projects this year, their last time for Malfroy School!

Register your kura for Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā below, and join Malfroy School in providing incredible learning opportunities for years to come 🙌

Register now:
https://forms.gle/utn7D2ZH8hXps6B38

23/03/2026

Mā te mahi tahi ka ea ngā mahi | Through working together, the tasks are accomplished.

Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā allows tamariki to work together or projects, because we believe collaboration and the ability to share ideas creates the foundation of collective decision making toward a common desire; the protection and enhancement of our taiao for generations to come. 🌿

Sign up your kura or group to Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā 2026 below:
https://forms.gle/8G5T2PURE8UsVRw28

13/02/2026

Are you ready to display your kura's innovation, creativity, and passion for te taiao? Then bring your whakaaro to life because...

🎉REGISTRATIONS ARE OPEN! 🎉

Stage One (school registration) is now accessible through the link below, get your school or groups name in there quick!

We can't wait to see you in 2026 🤩

REGISTER:⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://forms.gle/uzxgboKjgBix6ixFA

02/10/2025

🌟 New for 2026; Everything you need to know about Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā is here 🌟

Are you wondering what Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā is all about, and how you can be involved?

Need some tips on how to get started, and a timeline to get a project done?

Keen to see some media coverage and highlights from past years?

Our mates from Bay Science have created a Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā dedicated page on their website in the Resources submenu, which includes all the information you need like how to get started, a Q + A section, and past projects to help provide some inspiration for the coming years.

Check it out here for your one-stop guide to Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā 2026 and beyond! 👉https://www.bayscience.nz/te-tukohu-ngawha

12/09/2025

Bay Science Teacher Cluster Hui 🤩

A HUGE thank-you to those kaiako and educational experts who attended the Bay Science Cluster held at Mount Maunganui College on Wednesday Afternoon.

This hui was an incredible opportunity to connect with passionate teachers and educational institutes from across the rohe, and to share our vision for Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā; how this event empowers our rangatahi to explore their taiao, investigate environmental challenges and design solutions through a Te Ao Māori lens. I was very privileged to present about this event to a very passioante group of educators; where we discussed the growth of the event, the benefits for our tamariki, how to get started in their kura and how we can support kaiako in guiding their ākonga through the project process.

We were also fortunate to hear from Janie Stevenson from Bay Conservation Alliance one of our long-standing judges, who shared valuable insights into what makes a student project shine, as well as practical tips for success.

Reaching wider across the motu enables more tamariki to have the chance for their ideas, aspirations and values heard, which is exactly what this hui was about. The desired outcome was that teachers left this hui with some ideas and extra confidence to get involved with their students for Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā 2026 and we're certain that was achieved!

Ngā mihi Lian and Vicki from Bay Science for their organization and hospitality in this hui, and to Mount Maunganui College for providing the space to host us.

Keep up to date with Bay Science events and information here:
https://www.bayscience.nz/

Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā 2026 is going to be EPIC!

08/09/2025

Mōrena e te whānau!

Just a reminder- if you’re a local kaiako keen to be involved with next years Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā, come along to our hui tomorrow afternoon to learn all about it!

📍Mount Maunganui College Staff Room
⏰ 3.30pm

Email [email protected] or fill in the form below to register now! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScFzt3nwGXKfZUsKRcVu8roX3S86GXfV7VQzKnVcJjbz2i4Fw/viewform

See you there!

🤩Free Professional Learning and Development Hui 🤩

Are you a kaiako interested in taking part of Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā 2026? Register and come along to the Bay Science PLD to learn more about Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā, Mātauranga Māori Science and Design Fair where we will be discussing how to get started, the benefits this event provides for your students, project ideas and more!

You'll be hearing from event coordinator Keeley Grantham, and 2024/2025 judge Janie Stevenson from Bay Conservation Alliance to answer your patai, provide insight to the event, and foster encouragement and support for you, your students and their whānau to get involved!

Email [email protected] or fill in the form below to register now! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScFzt3nwGXKfZUsKRcVu8roX3S86GXfV7VQzKnVcJjbz2i4Fw/viewform

When: Wednesday 10th September, 3.30pm
Where: Mount Maunganui College Staff Room

All kaiako welcome!

Give your students the opportunity to get creative, innovative, and inspired through sharing their solutions to environmental issues by being part of Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā 2026 💚

27/08/2025

🤩Free Professional Learning and Development Hui 🤩

Are you a kaiako interested in taking part of Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā 2026? Register and come along to the Bay Science PLD to learn more about Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā, Mātauranga Māori Science and Design Fair where we will be discussing how to get started, the benefits this event provides for your students, project ideas and more!

You'll be hearing from event coordinator Keeley Grantham, and 2024/2025 judge Janie Stevenson from Bay Conservation Alliance to answer your patai, provide insight to the event, and foster encouragement and support for you, your students and their whānau to get involved!

Email [email protected] or fill in the form below to register now! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScFzt3nwGXKfZUsKRcVu8roX3S86GXfV7VQzKnVcJjbz2i4Fw/viewform

When: Wednesday 10th September, 3.30pm
Where: Mount Maunganui College Staff Room

All kaiako welcome!

Give your students the opportunity to get creative, innovative, and inspired through sharing their solutions to environmental issues by being part of Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā 2026 💚

07/08/2025

A huge thank you to Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Scott Kusabs (Team Leader- Land Management) for supporting Te Tūkohu ngāwhā since its’ inception in 2022.

Scott was part of the judging panel and had the tough job of selecting the Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council Te Mana o Te Wai Enhancement Supreme Award which was presented to Pāpāmoa Primary School. These incredible tamariki were able to confidently explain the function and importance of wetlands in our environment- with some of them being as young as 8 years old! If our kids understand the importance of these precious filter systems now, imagine how much they can help protect them for generations to come. This is what this science fair is all about 🫶🏻

04/08/2025

Malfroy School Student Participation and Success ⭐️

Yesterday I had the privilege of attending the Malfroy School assembly to present the students of Room 13 with some certificates of participation for Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā Mātauranga Māori Science and Design Fair- and also to thank their amazing kaiako, Whaea Helen.

We have been working with Whaea Helen and some of these students since 2021; where they joined the Catfish Killas kaupapa, netting and eradicating catfish from Lake Rotorua. Since 2023, they have also participated in the science fair, where over the years they have developed knowledge, innovation, research capabilities and their creative arts across all of the taiao categories. With a number of category awards and supreme awards under their belts, these tamariki have shown capacity in their capability building of their understanding of our taiao’s most pressing issues and how to mitigate them.

Driving and inspiring them is Whaea Helen who I know works her hands to the bone to support and enable these kids- the epitome of a committed teacher who continues to provide incredible opportunities for her kids.

Ka rawe ō koutou mahi.

“Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi | with your food basket and my food basket the people will thrive.”

…Everyone has something to offer- and by doing so, we all thrive. ✨🌿

30/07/2025

Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā: Day One Excitement 🤩

📸: Chanelle Murphy

28/07/2025

⭐️ TE TŪKOHU NGĀWHĀ JUDGES ⭐️

It’s not easy to judge over 100 absolutely incredible projects that cover a variety of aspects across our taiao, and these incredible people spent over 3 hours (with a wee break for a false alarm fire evacuation!) engaging with our tamariki, learning about their projects, while simultaneously making our kids feel confident and comfortable to have a kōrero about their mahi.

This rōpū were kind, empathetic, encouraging and enthusiastic while carrying out this incredibly difficult task- watching the interaction between the kids and the judges was truely inspiring, watching knowledge being shared between them and seeing the impact these judges had on the confidence of our young people was an experience we are so grateful for. A huge thank you to our judges for your contribution, we can’t run these events without you 🫶🏻

Judges- main section:
Megan Kusabs (Rotorua Trust)
Janie Stevenson (Bay Conservation Alliance)
Mark Hayden (Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand
Nuki Nicholson (Te Arawa Lakes Trust)
Scott Kusabs (Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council
Sylvia Tapuke, Ki-Taurangi Bradford, and Sierra De La Croix (New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science LTD)
Hinepau Peka (Te Puni Kōkiri)
Chris Duggan (House of Science NZ)
Te Rika Temara-Benfell and team (Te Puna Ariki Charitable Trust)

Extra awards and presenters:
Belinda Cridge (Water New Zealand)
Michelle Elborn (Bay Conservation Alliance)
Katerina Pihera-Ridge (New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science LTD)
Juliet Ramson (Envirohub Bay of Plenty)
Siobhan Nuri (Te Kopu New Zealand LTD)

Ngā mihi Chanelle Murphy for the images