18 May 2026
The Government’s decision to make science compulsory for year 11 students is a positive step towards tackling our infrastructure deficit, Engineering New Zealand says.
Our national infrastructure pipeline has almost 12,000 projects worth $275 billion.
Engineering New Zealand Chief Executive Dr Richard Templer says the scale of that cost usually prompts questions about how we’re going to pay for it and which projects should be prioritised.
“The question asked less often is who’s going to design and build it? The answer starts in the classroom.”
Not enough school students choose to continue with STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) subjects, Templer says.
“This means rangatahi miss out on career pathways into exciting fields where they can program robots, write software for major tech companies, develop incubators for premature babies, and design resilient infrastructure.
“We welcome Education Minister Erica Stanford’s announcement that science will be compulsory in year 11 from 2028. It’s a sensible and practical change to help keep these pathways open.
“Subjects like science are often put in the too hard basket which is why it’s also important to make learning engaging and relevant.”
To make this add up, the Government now needs to ensure schools receive the right support, including learning resources and more science teachers, Templer says.
Aotearoa needs up to 2300 additional engineers added to the workforce each year to meet future demand and support resilience, innovation and economic growth.
This long-term skills shortage has been compounded by the post‑Covid economic downturn, with job losses, fewer opportunities for graduates, and more people leaving for work overseas.
“We need strategic prioritisation across our infrastructure pipeline, regardless of economic conditions, to support consistent investment and the jobs we’re working to inspire future generations to pursue”, Templer says.
“If New Zealand commits to a consistent level of infrastructure investment every year, it will allow our industries, professions and education system to reliably plan for the workforce we will need going forward.”
