Earth and Space Science Educators of New Zealand

Ngā Kaiwhakaako Pūtaiao ā-Papa, ā-Rangi o Aotearoa

Welcome to the ESSENZ website
Nau mai, haere mai ki te pae tukutuku a Ngā Kaiwhakaako Pūtaiao ā-Papa, ā-Rangi o Aotearoa

Earth and Space Science Educators of New Zealand (ESSENZ) is the national subject association supporting and promoting Earth and Space Science (ESS) education, both the full ESS courses and Science courses that contain ESS standards (SciESS - our abbreviation).

Our aim is to make sure that ESS is well resourced and that PLD workshops are run and 1on1 help is available throughout New Zealand. The range of help that ESSE provides can be found here. The contact details for the ESSE office holders plus the regional representatives can be found here.

This website provides links to resources, notifications about PLD workshops, regional meetings and webinars, job vacancies, notices of conferences and other events such as field trips and information on how we are using our Network of Expertise funding.

For all inquires please contact us at earthspacenz@gmail.com .

Latest news

ESSENZ has just heard that they have received Networks of Expertise funding for 2021/22.

We couldn't plan many PLD opportunities until we knew we had continued funding.

Look out for workshops, webinars and other PLD opportunities from the beginning of Term 2 onwards.

Meanwhile, we have found that 1on1 Zoom meetings work very well if anyone needs substantial help.
If you would like such help please email Jenny and she will set up a Zoom meeting for you with the appropriate person.


The Ministry of Education has released the materials for L1 Ag/H, Biology/Chemistry and ESS/Physics.

You will find a learning matrix, an assessment matrix, a Teaching Learning & Assessment Guide and course outlines at NCEA Level 1 development - go to Subjects (tab at the top).

Have your say by 19 April at https://consultation.education.govt.nz/ncea/public-engagement-survey-phase-1-english/

It is really important that you have your say - we want to get the best for ESS out of this process.



Up-to-date ESS Scholarship resources are available - see Scholarship page.

Culturally responsive resources for 90954/90955 and 91189 are available.