Teacher Professional Development Programme

The purpose of this programme is to build conservation science understanding and skills in Auckland secondary teachers, so they feel confident in incorporating zoo-based wildlife conservation science in their teaching practice and supporting students in exploring conservation science career pathways.

Applications for the Teacher Professional Development Programme have now closed.

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Learning Objectives

  • Build knowledge, understanding, and literacy of wildlife conservation science and how Mātauranga, Tikanga and Te Ao Māori weave into New Zealand species conservation.
  • Explain the role of modern zoos and how they contribute to conservation of wildlife and wild places.
  • Understand the complexity of conservation issues both locally and around the world and develop confidence in engaging their students in the subject.
  • Recognise the range of careers in zoo-based wildlife conservation science and develop the confidence to advise their students about them.
  • Develop a conservation project with their students and implement it at their school or in their community.

Programme Elements

Online Learning

  • Participating teachers will complete self-paced online learning modules focusing on wildlife conservation science topics, Auckland Zoo native species conservation projects (tara iti, kiwi, awakōpaka), and careers in conservation. They will also have opportunities to interact, network, and share ideas with each other and Auckland Zoo Conservation Learning staff virtually through the online learning platform.

1-Day Workshop at Auckland Zoo

  • Auckland Zoo staff will host a full day workshop for teachers in the programme. Workshop sessions will include hands-on and experiential learning opportunities, presentations from staff leading native species conservation projects around New Zealand, and an opportunity for teachers to workshop ideas for their conservation challenge projects.

Visit to Your School

  • Auckland Zoo Conservation Learning Facilitators will provide outreach support for participating teachers by visiting their school. This will be an opportunity to receive tailored support from Auckland Zoo staff either through teaching alongside the Conservation Learning Facilitators to practice skills or develop teaching content or by working together on the conservation action project.

Conservation Challenge

  • Utilising the knowledge and skills the participating teachers have gained through the programme, they will lead their students in a conservation challenge. Each teacher will support their students to implement a conservation action project in their school or community. Guidelines for the project and ideas/suggested projects as well as support and guidance will be provided by Auckland Zoo staff.
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Criteria for Eligibility to Participate and Expectations

  • Must be a secondary school teacher with an interest in wildlife conservation science.
  • Must be interested in incorporating wildlife conservation science into their lessons and willing and able to implement a conservation project within their class or school.
  • Priority will be given to teachers in lower decile/high equity index Auckland schools.
  • Participants will be expected to:
  1. participate in all program elements (online, outreach, onsite workshops)
  2. contribute to discussions with fellow participants
  3. share updates on how they are implementing their learnings
  4. share updates on their conservation projects
  5. offer peer feedback through the online platform
  6. implement a conservation project within their class or school
  7. complete a programme evaluation to provide Auckland Zoo with feedback on their experience after the programme

2026 Programme Timeline

  • 9 February – Applications open
  • 19 February at 4:30pm – Attend information session held virtually or watch recording after
  • 8 March – Applications close
  • 10 March – Selected participants notified about their acceptance
  • 17 March at 4pm – Selected participants attend virtual orientation/welcome session (live and recorded)
  • March-May – Participants complete Self-paced Online Learning Modules
  • 15 May – 1-Day Workshop at Auckland Zoo, Conservation Challenge kicks off
  • July-September – Auckland Zoo staff visit participating teachers’ schools
  • October-December – Participants continue to work on their Conservation Challenge projects, additional Self-paced Online Learning Modules
  • December – Conservation Challenge celebration, wrap up, evaluation

Teacher Professional Development Programme FAQs

Expected Time Commitment

  • 1-2 hours of online learning in Term 1 (could be more if the teacher chooses to do more self-paced modules)
  • 6-hour workshop at Auckland Zoo in Term 2 on Friday 15 May 2026
  • 1-2 hours outreach opportunity in Term 3
  • 1-2 hours of online learning in Term 4 (could be more if the teacher chooses to do more self-paced modules)
  • Conservation Challenge Project - time varies depending on project

We are currently limiting this programme to only secondary school teachers.

Yes, any secondary teacher in the Auckland area is eligible to apply, but priority will be given to teachers at high equity index schools.

Yes, we would encourage multiple teachers from the same school to apply and, if selected, participate in the programme together.

Selected participants are expected to participate in all programme elements.

Participants who successfully complete the programme will receive an official Certificate of Achievement from Auckland Zoo. If needed, we can also provide a formal statement of professional development hours completed.