Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā Mātauranga Māori Science and Design Fair 2026

Apr 1, 2026 | Communications, Environment

Fostering Kaitiakitanaga since 2022

 

 

We are excited to be hosting Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā Mātauranga Māori Science and Design Fair for its 5th year in a row, and this year we are going bigger in our mission to enable youth voices to be heard in the context of mitigating environmental issues!

Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā Mātauranga Māori Science and Design Fair is a 3-day event where ākonga (students) from Years 0–13 share their projects, ideas, and creativity with kaiako, whānau, kura, industry experts, and the wider community.

​It’s more than a science fair. Tamariki and rangatahi explore solutions to pressing environmental challenges across contexts such as biodiversity loss, water health, climate change, and sustainability through both te ao Māori and western science. By weaving these knowledges together, Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā creates a platform to celebrate ways of thinking about te taiao (the environment). Fostering inquiry-based learning through practical discovery of real-life impacts, ākonga can place themselves in the shoes of decision-makers, and have their voices heard across an atmosphere that celebrates youth advocacy and determination to restore our environment for generations to come.

With four different submission areas, there is something for everyone!

  • Science/Mātauranga Project
  • Visual Art Project
  • Environmental Photography
  • School STEM Programme Exhibition (not assessed)

Categories this year include:

  • Biosecurity
  • Biodiversity and Conservation
  • Water Environments (marine and freshwater)
  • Mātauranga Māori
  • Sustainability
  • Climate Change Adaptation & Resilience

Join us from Wednesday 26th August to Friday 28th August at the Energy Events Centre (TBC). Judging will take place in the exhibitor room on the Wednesday morning from 9am-12.30pm, after which the event will be open for public viewing. Prizegiving will be held at 12pm on Friday 28th August.

Further Information: