The difference we’re making

We’re committed to growing tech talent for New Zealand.

The Tait Foundation supports the entire journey through from early education into STEM careers. Our funding is open to schools, organisations and even passionate individuals who are delivering STEM initiatives at any level of learning. We are particularly focussed on activities in Christchurch and Canterbury.

The Tait Foundation is focused on addressing five key areas.

In order to ensure we achieve a positive impact that’s aligned with our purpose, we fund initiatives that address at least one of our five focus areas—particularly within Christchurch and Canterbury.

  • Building curiosity and confidence at the primary and intermediate level is key to increasing the number of STEM graduates in Aotearoa.

  • New Zealand’s education system and individual circumstances can make access to STEM education difficult and unequal. We believe STEM should be for everyone.

  • Good teachers create good students. We run programmes and provide funding to help develop teacher confidence and capability, so they can inspire their students in turn.

  • Students can drop away on their educational journey. We want to build the bridges required to move them through all levels of the education system and into the workforce.

  • General scientific literacy has declined, as has the appreciation of STEM subjects. We want New Zealand students to be inspired by our research scientists, doctors and engineers and to see STEM as a valuable career pathway.

Impact example:
Starting younger

  • We help fund The Imagination Station’s STEM based play and Lego education classes specialising in robotics, mechanics and movie making at Tūranga Library, Christchurch.

Impact examples:
Equal access

  • We fund the University of Canterbury’s Women in Engineering scholarships to help address the gender balance in engineering.

  • We funded Te Aratai College to provide students with chrome books, to help close the digital divide.

  • We funded The Tigers, Hillmorton High School’s robotics team, to travel to Dallas Texas, to take part in the 2023 VEX Robotics World Championship.

Impact examples:
Teacher ability & capacity

  • We have funded the development of SAT-STEP, to develop scientific confidence, capability, and leadership for teachers of years 1-8.

  • We fund the House of Science to provide schools with quality science resources and to support teacher professional development.

The Tait Foundation offers scholarship funding for university students

Impact example:
Building bridges

  • We fund the University of Canterbury’s Accelerator Scholarships to help transition high achieving UC Honours and Masters students into doctoral studies and post-graduate cutting-edge research.

Funding is now open.

We exist to support learning initiatives in science, technology, engineering and maths, and are especially interested in hearing from new applicants.

Tell us about your project, programme or service and where it fits with our five core focus areas.

We are particularly focussed on activities in Christchurch and Canterbury.