Big news for our little learners—Budget 2025 includes a $39.9 million investment to ensure all Year 0 to 8 students across the country get access to hands-on science kits.

That means every classroom, including those here on the Hibiscus Coast, will soon be equipped to bring science lessons to life.

The funding, spread over four years, will support the development and delivery of curriculum-aligned kits packed with experiments and equipment tailored to each year level.

Education Minister Erica Stanford says the move is designed to spark excitement in science and help students build strong foundations in STEAM—Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.

“We want students to love learning about science,” says Minister Stanford.

“Hands-on learning improves critical thinking and understanding, and that’s key to student success.”

Teachers won’t be left to figure it all out alone.

Alongside the kits, they’ll receive professional development modules to help confidently deliver engaging and practical science lessons.

The first kits are expected to roll out at the beginning of the 2026 school year, and bilingual resources—plus dedicated pūtaiao kits—will ensure all learners are catered for.

So, what does this mean for Coasties?

For our local schools—from Orewa to Red Beach, Gulf Harbour to Millwater—it’s a huge opportunity.

Practical science kits can turn the classroom into a mini lab, where kids can test, explore, question, and create. It’s not just about textbooks—it’s about discovery.

And that kind of learning can ignite lifelong curiosity.

The Government sees this as more than just education—it’s a strategic move to support the country’s future talent pipeline in fields like biotech, clean energy and agritech, where Kiwi innovation is already making waves globally.

With the world changing fast, this initiative helps ensure our Coastie kids grow up not only equipped for the future—but excited about shaping it.

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