New Zealand is to get its first Science Week, in May, aimed at encouraging primary school teachers to spend longer teaching science to students.
The Association of Primary Science Educators says numerous research papers published over the last five years show a significant decline in teaching science.
They show the average number of hours a year spent teaching science had reduced from 66 in 2002 to 45 in 2006.
The association's national co-ordinator, Chris Astall, says the worry is that children are being put off the subject and then not choosing it as a career.
He says just 2% of surveyed principals identified science as a curriculum area where teachers receive professional development.
