This Prize is for a student in Year 12 or 13, for a science, technology, or engineering project related to space or advanced aviation.

The winner will receive NZ$50,000 to use towards their tertiary education in Aotearoa New Zealand.

 

Eligibility:

You must be:

  • in Year 12 or Year 13 (or equivalent)
  • studying in New Zealand, with at least 3 years of schooling in New Zealand
  • a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
  • eligible to enrol at a New Zealand tertiary institution.

 

Criteria:

Our expert judges will look for the quality of your:

  • literature review and objective-setting
  • design and planning of the investigative process
  • experimental or investigative process (the way you follow your planned methods and justify any changes needed, and how well you collect and record data)
  • analysis and interpretation of data and results
  • conclusions (the way you relate your findings back to the original objective or hypothesis and reflect on potential applications, wider significance, or direction for further work).

 

Apply now

 

Panel Members:

The Society has appointed six experts to review applications in 2026:

Professor Sergei Gulyaev (Co-Chair), Director of the Institute for Radio Astronomy and Space Research, AUT

Associate Professor Sarah Kessans (Co-Chair), Biotechnologist and Microgravity Researcher at the University of Canterbury

Dr Morgan Cable, Senior Lecturer in Space Science at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington

Samuel Leske, Space Science Communicator and Educator, Milky-Way Kiwi

Jenny Pollock CRSNZ, Earth and Space Science Educator

Miranda Satterthwaite, Education Manager, Aotearoa Space Academy

We aimed to find people from around Aotearoa New Zealand, with a range of backgrounds, expertise, and experience.

 

Conflicts of Interest

If you would like to apply, but you know a member of our expert panel, please just fill out the question on the application form to explain how you know them, and the Society will manage the situation to avoid any potential conflict of interest.

All panel members will also be asked to advise the Society if they know any of the applicants. In general, if there could be perception of bias, we will ask the panel member not to assess or discuss that specific application.

If you have any questions during the process, please contact the Society. Do not contact any of our experts. All applicants, nominees, and their supporters must agree not to contact any of our Panel Members during the assessment process – and vice versa.

 

Confidentiality:

Note that we will interview a shortlist of applicants for the Prize, based on initial scores, but we will not publish or disclose any information on ranking, shortlisted applicants, or the names of unsuccessful entrants.

 

Recommendation and final announcement of winners:

The final winner for this Prize be decided by the relevant Minister based on the recommendation of the expert Panel members.

The panels will meet in August and September, and make recommendations to the Minister soon afterwards. However, since 2026 is an election year, the Prizes may be announced and awarded in early 2027.

 

Need help?  Have other questions?

The Secretariat for The Prime Minister’s Space Prizes is the Royal Society Te Apārangi.

For any questions, contact us at:

PO Box 598
Wellington

(04) 470 5762

pmspaceprizes@royalsociety.org.nz

 

Supported by the New Zealand Government with funding from the New Zealand Space Agency and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.