A Bay of Plenty education success story is set to go national after House of Science secured a major government contract to deliver hands-on science and pūtaiao kits to primary and intermediate classrooms across the country.

Founded in Tauranga, the organisation has been selected as the supplier for the nationwide rollout of curriculum-aligned science kits to every state and state-integrated school for Years 0-8.

The initiative forms part of the Government’s wider push to lift achievement in maths, literacy and science.

Chief executive and founder Chris Duggan, MNZM, described the contract win as a significant milestone for the organisation and its supporters.

“House of Science has been awarded the contract for this work, and I am incredibly excited to be in a position to provide curriculum-aligned, hands-on science kits for Years 0-8 learners in all state and state-integrated schools and kura, helping teachers bring science to life in classrooms across the country,” Duggan said.

A real credit

“This is a significant milestone for our organisation and a real credit to the dedication of our team.

“It also reflects the encouragement, advocacy and goodwill of our wider House of Science community, including friends and supporters, and we’re very grateful for the role they’ve played in helping us get here.”

One of the House of Science kits. Photo / Supplied

Education Minister Erica Stanford announced the nationwide rollout while visiting Stanhope Road School in Mount Wellington, Auckland, on Tuesday.

“New science kits are now rolling out across schools,” Stanford said. “These will be hands-on and curriculum aligned, supporting teachers with bringing science to life in classrooms.

“We’re focused on ensuring every child is inspired and engaged with their learning. The new kits will support strong science from an early age and support teachers to deliver practical, interactive lessons.”

The science kits are part of a broader package that also includes new writing and maths resources for Year 6-10 students. Through a $40 million government investment, full national coverage of the science kits is expected by early-2027, aligning with the implementation of the refreshed science curriculum.

Dramatic scale-up

For House of Science, the contract represents a dramatic scale-up.

Currently supplying more than 700 schools nationwide, the organisation will expand to reach about 2100 schools. Duggan said while that is a threefold increase in the number of schools, it represents a tenfold increase in the number of students impacted.

“From a current reach of 50,000 students every three weeks, we need to scale up to reach 500,000,” she said. “We will also need four times the number of staff to manufacture and deliver the kits.”

Prime Minister Chris Luxon and Minister of Education Erica Stanford with one of the House of Science kits Photo / Supplied.

The growth will see the organisation move into larger premises in Judea, Tauranga, to accommodate increased production and operations.

“The emails from schools asking to be included haven’t stopped since the initial announcement early-February.” Duggan said.

Kit delivery will continue in selected regions based on House of Science’s current reach, with additional schools and regions phased in throughout the year. Full national coverage is expected by early to mid-2027.

Recognised

In another boost for the Bay-founded initiative, House of Science has also been named in the HundrED Global Collection 2026 – recognised as one of the top 100 education innovations worldwide from more than 3000 entries.

Minister of Education Hon Erica Stanford, House of Science Founder and CEO Chris Duggan and Stanhope Road school principal Jesse Lee. Photo/ Supplied.

The initiative also includes development of an entirely new suite of science kits for Māori medium education, with purpose-built resources aligned to Te Marautanga o Aotearoa.

Refining model

As Duggan acknowledged, while the opportunity was exciting, significant work lay ahead.

“We are in the process of refining our operating model to allow us to scale up effectively and deliver the contract with excellence,” she said. “We’re also considering how we can continue working with our valued supporters and partners as we move into this next phase, and we look forward to exploring what that might look like in the months ahead.”

From its beginnings in the Bay of Plenty to a presence in every primary classroom in the country, House of Science’s journey reflects both local innovation and national ambition – with thousands more young Kiwi scientists set to benefit.