ANNUAL REPORT 23/24
BRINGING ENGINEERING TO LIFE
The Wonder Project – inspiring young kiwis
New Zealand continues to face a long-term shortage of engineers. Despite needing 2,300 new engineers every year, New Zealand currently graduates only about 2,000. One of our key initiatives in response to the long-term skills shortage is the Wonder Project, which inspires Kiwi kids to pursue STEM subjects and careers.
The Wonder Project engages thousands of students annually, reaching over 24,000 students in 2024 across 464 schools. Feedback continues to be excellent, with 96 percent of teachers saying it increased their confidence in teaching STEM, and 50 percent of students saying it made them more interested in a STEM career.
We’re especially grateful to Wonder Project Ambassadors and their employers, with a record-breaking 513 STEM professionals volunteering in 2024. Many of these volunteers are Engineering New Zealand members and their time and expertise in mentoring students and igniting their interest in STEM fields is vital to the success of the initiative.
Despite its success, the Wonder Project faces significant challenges after the loss of government funding in 2023. Engineering New Zealand remains committed to the programme but has been forced to scale back activities while seeking alternative funding sources.
The Wonder Project’s future depends on partnerships with organisations that recognise the critical importance of STEM education to support the pipeline of engineers. We're grateful to the organisations already backing this important mahi and are looking to build on this support to ensure the programme can continue its impact.
Find out more about the Wonder Project