9(2)(a)
From: Chris Duggan <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, December 11, 2023 8:51 AM
To: Erica Stanford <[email address]>
Cc: Erica Stanford EA <[email address]>
Subject: House of Science next steps
Tēnā koe Erica,
Firstly, congratulations on your appointment as Minister of Education and Minister of Immigration. We at
the House of Science are delighted you are at the helm of these crucial portfolios.
We are thrilled to see science, along with reading, writing and maths, as a main focus within your ‘teaching
the basics brilliantly’ policy. Your education policy statements align strongly with House of Science’s vision
to raise the scientific literacy of our tamariki. House of Science is successfully empowering teachers to
deliver quality hands-on science lessons, in a manner which meets another goal - no tablets, computers or
phones required!
The recently announced PISA results only confirms the need to do something now to reverse the
continuing decline for kiwi kids in maths, reading and science competence. We believe House of Science
could be an amazing tool to make a significant positive impact.
We know children love the kits arriving in their school. We hear teachers say their students want to be at
school when the science resource kits arrive. A reason to attend, a tool to curb another issue of
absenteeism. We also know that the curiosity created by the kits, the experiments, the great teacher
manual, and now the PLD attached to the kits, all enhance learning. We also know from teachers that the
science kits allow teachers to extend the topics they teach, to include reading, writing and maths. As one
of our PLD facilitators said to me last week: "Schools with House of Science resources will find an hour of
reading, writing and maths easy, as science is the perfect context to get kids reading and writing.
Numeracy can also be incorporated through the science lens that the kits provide."
The House of Science board have met to discuss how our programme can help achieve the education
policies you are developing. Like you, we are 100% committed to return New Zealand students to the top
10 countries in the world in maths, reading and science and the science kit programme into all schools
would be a strong catalyst in achieving that.
House of Science is very keen to work with you and the Ministry of Education to support delivery of
science resource kits across all schools in New Zealand. We have systems already in place to measure
baseline competency and progress, which would support the policy requirement to measure and report
success.
Getting the details right is important too, and we would be keen to meet with you and your team to
explore what an aligned and funded programme might look like. We can come to Wellington or Auckland,
to suit your commitments. We are also happy to facilitate a visit to schools that use our kits so you and/or
officials from the Ministry of Education can see their impact first hand.
If there is additional information you or your team would like to see, please let me know. I look forward to
hearing from you.
Ngā mihi nui,
Chris Duggan
National CEO
House of Science NZ
Te Whare Pūtaiao
Ph: 0508 HOU SCI
Mb: 9(2)(a)
https://houseofscience.nz
Donate via our Give A Little page here:
https://givealittle.co.nz/org/house-of-science-nz
9(2)(a)
From: 9(2)(a)
@parliament.govt.nz>
Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2024 3:32 PM
To: [email address] <[email address]>
Cc: Erica Stanford (MIN) <[email address]>
Subject: RE: House of Science next steps
Kia ora9(2)(a)
Thank you very much for sharing the briefing paper, and confirming the attendees.
We look to forward to receiving the ImpactLab report in due course.
Please note 9(2)(a) has now departed the office, and I am providing interim cover. As such, please do not hesitate to
get in touch if you wish to discuss any aspect of the meeting.
With best regards,
9(2)(a)
Office of Hon. Erica Stanford
M.
9(2)(a)
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
From: Chris Duggan <[email address]>
Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2024 2:30 PM
To: 9(2)(a)
Cc: Erica Stanford (MIN) <[email address]>
Subject: RE: House of Science next steps
Kia ora 9(2)(a)
Please find attached a briefing paper for Minister Stanford ahead of our meeting with her on Monday 4th
March.
We are waiting for our ImpactLab report which has been completed but is currently with their graphic
designer. I will send that through as soon as it is available.
In attendance will be:
Chris Duggan, HoS Founder and CEO
9(2)(a)
9(2)(a)
From: 9(2)(a)
@parliament.govt.nz>
Sent: Wednesday, February 7, 2024 3:11 PM
To: Chris Duggan <[email address]>
Cc: Erica Stanford (MIN) <[email address]>
Subject: RE: House of Science next steps
Perfect, I will confirm this date and time in Minister Stanford’s diary.
If you have any briefing material you would like placed in front of the Minister ahead of this meeting, please send through to
me, as well as names of any one else that might be accompanying you.
Nga Mihi
9(2)(a)
| Office of Hon Erica Stanford
MP for East Coast Bays | Minister of Education | Minister of Immigration
M 9(2)(a)
Email:
@parliament.govt.nz | www.beehive.govt.nz
9(2)(a)
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
Disclaimer: The information in this email (including attachments) is confidential and may be legally privileged. If an addressing or transmission error has misdirected this
email, please notify the author by replying to this email and destroy the message. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, disclosure, copying or distribution is
prohibited and may be unlawful.
From: Chris Duggan <[email address]>
Sent: Wednesday, February 7, 2024 3:02 PM
To: 9(2)(a)
@parliament.govt.nz>
Cc: Erica Stanford (MIN) <[email address]>
Subject: RE: House of Science next steps
Kia ora 9(2)(a)
Thank you for this meeting request from Hon Erica Stanford.
I am available at that time and will look forward to seeing her then.
Ngā mihi nui,
Chris Duggan
National CEO
House of Science NZ
Te Whare Pūtaiao
Ph: 0508 HOU SCI
Mb: 9(2)(a)
https://houseofscience.nz
Donate to our Global Giving project, ‘bringing science to al NZ kids’
https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/science-for-all/
From: 9(2)(a)
@parliament.govt.nz>
Sent: Wednesday, February 7, 2024 2:41 PM
To: Chris Duggan <[email address]>
Cc: Erica Stanford (MIN) <[email address]>
Subject: FW: House of Science next steps
Kia ora Chris
On behalf of Hon Erica Stanford, thank you for your email and request to meet. Please also accept our apologies for the delay in
response.
Minister Stanford is very happy for a meeting to be arranged and is available on Wednesday 21 February, 9.30 – 10.15am for a
meeting here in her Parliamentary office.
Please let me know if this date and time suit at your end.
Thanks and look forward to hearing from you.
Nga Mihi
9(2)(a)
| Office of Hon Erica Stanford
MP for East Coast Bays | Minister of Education | Minister of Immigration
M: 9(2)(a)
Email:
@parliament.govt.nz | www.beehive.govt.nz
9(2)(a)
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
Disclaimer: The information in this email (including attachments) is confidential and may be legally privileged. If an addressing or transmission error has misdirected this
email, please notify the author by replying to this email and destroy the message. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, disclosure, copying or distribution is
prohibited and may be unlawful.
From: Chris Duggan <[email address]>
Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2024 1:58:26 PM
To: Erica Stanford <[email address]>
Cc: Erica Stanford EA <[email address]>
Subject: House of Science next steps
Tēnā koe Erica,
Here’s the email I sent on 11 Dec, just in case it’s slipped through the cracks.
Firstly, congratulations on your appointment as Minister of Education and Minister of Immigration. We at
the House of Science are delighted you are at the helm of these crucial portfolios.
We are thrilled to see science, along with reading, writing and maths, as a main focus within your ‘teaching
the basics brilliantly’ policy. Your education policy statements align strongly with House of Science’s vision
to raise the scientific literacy of our tamariki. House of Science is successfully empowering teachers to
deliver quality hands-on science lessons, in a manner which meets another goal - no tablets, computers or
phones required!
The recently announced PISA results only confirms the need to do something now to reverse the
continuing decline for kiwi kids in maths, reading and science competence. We believe House of Science
could be an amazing tool to make a significant positive impact.
We know children love the kits arriving in their school. We hear teachers say their students want to be at
school when the science resource kits arrive. A reason to attend, a tool to curb another issue of
absenteeism. We also know that the curiosity created by the kits, the experiments, the great teacher
manual, and now the PLD attached to the kits, all enhance learning. We also know from teachers that the
science kits allow teachers to extend the topics they teach, to include reading, writing and maths. As one
of our PLD facilitators said to me last week: "Schools with House of Science resources will find an hour of
reading, writing and maths easy, as science is the perfect context to get kids reading and writing.
Numeracy can also be incorporated through the science lens that the kits provide."
The House of Science board have met to discuss how our programme can help achieve the education
policies you are developing. Like you, we are 100% committed to return New Zealand students to the top
10 countries in the world in maths, reading and science and the science kit programme into all schools
would be a strong catalyst in achieving that.
House of Science is very keen to work with you and the Ministry of Education to support delivery of
science resource kits across all schools in New Zealand. We have systems already in place to measure
baseline competency and progress, which would support the policy requirement to measure and report
success.
Getting the details right is important too, and we would be keen to meet with you and your team to
explore what an aligned and funded programme might look like. We can come to Wellington or Auckland,
to suit your commitments. We are also happy to facilitate a visit to schools that use our kits so you and/or
officials from the Ministry of Education can see their impact first hand.
If there is additional information you or your team would like to see, please let me know. I look forward to
hearing from you.
Ngā mihi nui,
Chris Duggan
National CEO
House of Science NZ
Te Whare Pūtaiao
Ph: 0508 HOU SCI
Mb: 9(2)(a)
https://houseofscience.nz
Donate via our Give A Little page here:
https://givealittle.co.nz/org/house-of-science-nz
Briefing to the Hon Erica Stanford
meeting with House of Science representatives on 4th March 2024: Chris Duggan
(CEO), 9(2)(a)
Contents
• Executive Summary
• House of Science background
• Primary school science education challenges
• House of Science Resource kits
o Knowledge-rich content & consistent high standards
o Distribution model delivers equitable access
o enable the basics to be taught brilliantly
• Professional Learning and Development (PLD) builds teacher confidence and capability
• Evidence of impact
o Social Value
o Student Achievement data
o Teacher PLD survey data
• Current funding model
• Opportunities
Executive summary
House of Science has successfully enabled teachers to provide engaging, hands-on science lessons across
700 schools (circa 170,000 students). The arrival of one of 42 different science kits in schools excites the
children, and provides bilingual, well researched teaching instructions and science equipment for YR 1-8
learning environments.
Science provides an engaging and relevant context for reading, writing and maths. The resource kit
library is supported by bespoke PLD in the classroom meaning teachers deliver curriculum based,
knowledge-rich lessons consistently in all schools.
Data is collected and available. A recent and very positive ImpactLab report stated that House of Science
improved student mental health, increased academic achievement and increased STEM achievement. A
CoVE report noted that “The hands-on nature of the kits aids in retention and understanding of
information, as they remember and grasp concepts better when they can see and interact with them.”
House of Science is delivering on its mission to see all New Zealand children become scientifically literate.
The model has been proven over ten years and could now scale up to provide science kits and PLD to all
New Zealand schools. With strong support and investment from the Ministry of Education, every student
would enjoy hands-on, engaging science lessons, consistently delivered by empowered teachers.
Outcomes across the country would be lifted, backed by increased data collection across schools and
students.
House of Science background
For the last 10 years, House of Science has been delivering high quality science resources and teacher
support to YR1-8 classrooms. In the 2023 school year our science kits were used 10,301 times, resulting
in 750,000 student sessions.
House of Science was established in 2013 to build confidence and capability in science learning. We aim
to see every child in New Zealand become scientifically literate. This means they have a clear
understanding of science concepts and processes encountered in their every day lives. Improving science
literacy will have a huge economic and social benefit to New Zealand.
In the last 10 years we have grown to 20 branches with over 700 member schools.
Every fortnight 40,000 students participate in science education using our kits.
Primary school science education challenges
• NZ students show declining literacy, numeracy and science scores on international tests.
• Only 20% of year 8 students in NZ are achieving at curriculum expectation (NMSSA 2017) making
science one of the worst taught subjects in our schools.
• Many of our schools are not well equipped to provide resources for children to learn basic science
principles.
• Many primary and intermediate teachers lack the confidence to teach science.
• 80% of future jobs are forecast to require science and maths skills but both enrolments and
achievement are in decline.
• The world-wide shortage of suitably qualified employees means we must grow our own talent.
• There is a lack of graduates and diversity in the STEM workforce.
House of Science Resource kits – Knowledge-rich content & consistent high standards
Every school that uses a HoS kit receives the same high quality materials. Our kits are relevant,
comprehensive, bilingual science resources complete with teacher manuals, student worksheets and all
the materials needed to carry out engaging science lessons.
Our science kits are fully aligned to the NZ curriculum and developed with input from the scientific
community to reflect current NZ research and priorities.
The nature of the experiments enable ‘hands-on’ learning which is designed to spark curiosity and
empower all students to enjoy, regardless of their learning style. The resource kits are a great way to
engage students with science in a meaningful, exciting and interactive way.
We have 42 different topics in the library, every kit covers Curriculum Level 1-4 (Year 1-8). All focus on
science knowledge and the science capabilities (skills).
House of Science Resource kits deliver equitable access
Reducing inequity is important: our kits are produced in te reo Māori and English and are delivered to
schools using a loan based system, no matter how small or remote the school.
Scaffolding the learning: Kits are delivered, collected and replenished fortnightly, allowing students to
connect with 20 different topics throughout the school year. Students revisit a topic every 2-3 years to
build on previous learning.
All our branches follow strict guidelines to ensure every kit is replenished to the same high standard,
ensuring consistency across all regions and schools.
House of Science Resource kits enable the basics to be taught brilliantly
Science provides an engaging and relevant context for reading, writing and maths.
Along with the physical resources in each kit, HoS has comprehensive online teacher support materials.
These include starter discussion ideas, extension activities, answers to common misconceptions, MoE
publications linked to the kit and cross-curricular suggestions. Our ‘Start with Science’ poster in each kit
gives teachers ideas on how to incorporate those and other subjects into the science learning.
HoS is an approved MoE Enriching the Local Curriculum (ELC) provider, delivering in-class experiences for
students that supplement the learning in the kits.
Professional Learning and Development (PLD) builds teacher confidence and capability
HoS helps teachers develop their pedagogical and science content knowledge and their ability to monitor
student progress in science.
HoS is an MoE approved Regionally Allocated PLD provider. Our ‘Growing Science | Whakatipu Pūtaiao’
facilitators work with teachers in their classroom. The programme is co-constructed and tailored to the
unique needs of the teacher(s), the school and the community.
HoS also makes the science resource kits available to several Teacher Training Institutions.
Evidence of impact – Social value
(Ref: ImpactLab GoodMeasure Report February 2024, to be supplied separately)
“HoS is extremely cost effective compared to similar programmes.”
Direct outcomes for students include improved mental health, increased academic achievement (L3
NCEA), increased STEM achievement. These lead to increased employment, improved critical thinking
and increased science capital.
Outcomes for teachers include improved mental health, leading to transferrable skills and increased
confidence and quality in teaching science.
Estimated lifetime social value generated for participants in 2023: $25,496,086
Social value per participant: $397
Social return on investment (SROI) $1 : $10.20
Evidence of impact - Student Achievement data
A CoVE report noted that “The hands-on nature of the kits aids in retention and understanding of
information, as they remember and grasp concepts better when they can see and interact with them.
Students have the opportunity to conduct a variety of experiments, from creating lava lamps to
understanding chain reactions, making science tangible and relatable.”
Current HoS funding model
We rely heavily on the business community to sponsor the programme.
HoS depends on grants, donations and sponsorship to keep the cost to schools at a minimum. We also
have many volunteers helping restock and deliver kits in our 20 branches.
Currently our cost per student is $37 per annum.
There are some national sponsors but most are local businesses that will sponsor one kit. Finding
sustainable funding is very hard in some regions e.g. the Far North.
Many of our staff and some volunteers are involved in sourcing funding.
Opportunities
With support from MoE, all students can enjoy hands-on, engaging science lessons. We have evidence
that students will come to school when they know a HoS kit is coming, and their teachers feel
empowered and confident to deliver great lessons. Outcomes across the country will be lifted and NZ will
once again be in the top 10 countries on the international science achievement statistics.
While Te Poutāhū, the Curriculum Centre, sets expectations for what and how students are taught, the
science resources and curriculum products have to date been purely electronic. Evidence shows science
needs to be hands-on to be effective. Schools struggle to resource this curriculum area which is a huge
barrier for teaching science. Our kit library provides a proven solution.
If you are looking to adopt initiatives that are proven to be effective, that are well resourced and
implemented well, then HoS is a logical option. A centrally funded comprehensive science programme
that includes physical resources and teacher professional development will reduce the current high levels
of variability of teaching practice and outcomes for learners.
A centrally funded model will provide long term assurance to teachers and help populate the STEM
career pipeline so desperately needed.
Secure funding will allow HoS to:
• Increase the kit library to reduce the pressure on the maintenance teams, and allow the
distribution team to collect and drop off kits in one trip, reducing transport time, cost and
environmental impact.
• Secure multi-year premises to operate out of in each region, removing the reliance on schools
with short term spare space.
• Employ staff to maintain and distribute kits, removing the reliance on volunteers.
• Focus wholly on delivering an excellent service, removing the time-consuming aspect of grant
applications and chasing sponsors.
• Incrementally roll out the programme to every classroom, in every school, in every part of
Aotearoa New Zealand.
Supporting documents:
ImpactLab Report Feb 2024 to be provided as soon as it is available.
Contact:
Chris Duggan
[email address]
Ph 9(2)(a)
9(2)(a)
From:
9(2)(a)
Sent:
Wednesday, 10 December 2025 12:30 PM
To:
Chris Duggan
Subject:
RE: MoE comms re procurement process for Science and Pūtaiao kits
Hi Chris,
Sorry that I was unable to provide an update due to the active procurement processes underway.
Best wishes,
9(2)(a)
9(2)(a)
| Office of Hon Erica Stanford
Minister for Education
Minister for Immigration
DDI:9(2)(a)
| M: 9(2)(a)
Email: 9(2)(a)
@parliament.govt.nz Website: www.Beehive,govt.nz
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
From: Chris Duggan <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, 10 November 2025 2:25 PM
To: 9(2)(a)
@parliament.govt.nz>
Subject: MoE comms re procurement process for Science and Pūtaiao kits
Hi 9(2)(a)
Thanks for the call earlier. Here is the last comms from 9(2)(a)
(Procurement Specialist),
received on 31 Oct:
“There has been a delay in the sign o process of the Recommendation Report for Science and
Pūtaiao Kits. We are endeavouring to get this progressed as quickly as possible and will be in touch
regularly with updates, when possible.”
The indicative timeline on the RFP stated the expected start date of the contract would be 10 Oct.
The delay in a decision is resulting in significant stress for us. I appreciate your support.
Ngā mihi,
