Important actions#

• SMART assessments are now open and must be completed by 22 May.

SMART assessment window 1 begins

• Use the designation code S13 on your Learning Support Coordinator’s (LSC) job in payroll (see Reminder to use LSC designation code)

Reminder to use LSC designation code

Need-to-know | Me Mātua Mōhio#

Fuel support for schools#

You will be aware that on 20 April, the Government announced temporary and targeted fuel support for schools.

We are progressing variations with NZEI Te Riu Roa and PPTA Te Wehengarua to temporarily increase the transport assistance provided for relieving teachers in short-term positions.

The Government’s announcement included a $2,500 grant for state and state-integrated schools with fewer than 100 students (U1 and U2 schools), which will be paid directly to schools as a one-off payment via Pourato. Schools do not need to apply for this.

For schools that only have a diesel boiler for heating and no alternative heating sources, you will have received from your property advisor an email outlining the replacement process. If you believe that you should have received this email and haven’t yet, contact your local Ministry office.

From 20 April, all Ministry conveyance allowance rates will temporarily increase by approximately 30%.

More information on fuel support can be found at:

Fuel response information

Smart assessment window 1 begins#

SMART assessments are now open and must be completed by 22 May. Any assessments not completed and marked by this date will not be available for reporting.

It is not too late to get started with SMART. Data loading is now open again following the closure over the term break and can be completed using a simple upload process. You can find guidance at:

Getting started with SMART – Tahūrangi

There are a range of resources available to support assessment, marking and reporting, including rubrics, exemplars, marking guidance, and reporting information. Any patai, email us.

Email: [email protected]

SMART – Overview - Tāhūrangi

Pūmanawa Tangata released – Last TMoA wāhanga ako#

The last draft Years 0 to 10 wāhanga ako in Te Marautanga o Aotearoa is available for consultation until 5 June.

Pūmanawa Tangata replaces Tikanga ā Iwi in Te Marautanga o Aotearoa, and was previously known as Te Ao Māori.

This wāhanga ako will prepare mokopuna for learning in History, Geography, Social Studies, Classical Studies, Education for Sustainability, Economics, Business Studies, and wider social science and civic focused learning.

Draft Years 0–10 Pūmanawa Tangata released for consultation – Tāhūrangi

Accredited suppliers for asbestos-related services#

We have compiled a list of accredited suppliers for asbestos-related work to make sure asbestos-related activities at your school are managed safely, effectively and in compliance with health and safety regulations.

It is mandatory to use a supplier from the list for all asbestos-related services in schools.

Accredited suppliers for asbestos-related work

Reminder to use LSC designation code#

You must use the designation code S13 on your Learning Support Coordinator’s (LSC) job in payroll to accurately reflect your school’s LSC FTTE usage and ensure you receive the correct resourcing entitlement.

If your LSC has more than one job at your school, these must be added as separate jobs in payroll. For step-by-step instructions see:

Change pay details – Education Payroll

Heads-up | He Kupu Puaki#

Recording school closed days and reasons in SMS#

Since mid-February, any full-day closures during term time need to be recorded in your student management system (SMS) calendar. This makes attendance data more accurate and provides better insight into trends. If you need help or support recording this in your SMS, contact your SMS vendor.

All approved closed days already entered for 2026 should be updated to record the appropriate reason for closure. For emergency closures, please record the reason by selecting ‘emergency’. You can enter or amend closed days and reasons for future, current, or past days. For further information:

School opening and closing for instruction

Recording school closed-day reasons [PDF, 137 KB]

Attendance Service School Portal#

Most of you should now be familiar with the Attendance Service School Portal and using it to make referrals to the Attendance Service. Further improvements are planned, including new functionality that will allow you to view all cases currently under management by the Attendance Service. Continue to check the Attendance Service webpage for the latest guidance and updates as new features are introduced.

Attendance services

Upcoming attendance webinars#

The next webinars will be held on 12 and 14 May and will focus on the Attendance Service Case Management System (AS-CMS). You can find out more and register at:

Upcoming webinars

Each webinar session will be delivered twice to provide flexibility. A recording and transcript of these webinars will be made available. You can also view previous webinars here:

Attendance webinars

Information sharing with attendance service providers#

You can and should share relevant, accurate student information with attendance service providers to support their attendance work – even if the student no longer attends your school.

Ensure your privacy and information sharing policies allow appropriate sharing in these circumstances.

For support or advice, email [email protected] or [email protected].

New teacher support materials for teaching literacy#

We’ve developed new Teacher Support Materials (TSM) to support using recent School Journals, Junior Journals, and CHAPTERS confidently and effectively in the classroom.

These materials support planned, purposeful literacy teaching and are aligned with the refreshed English learning area. We’ve refreshed the way the materials are set out so they’re easier to navigate and help teachers make clear decisions about which texts to use and how to sequence learning.

The TSM are designed to be used alongside the instructional series, which remain core literacy resources for everyday classroom use.

Teaching resources to support structured literacy approaches – Tāhūrangi

New Ready to Read Phonics Plus books available#

Earlier this month we released five new Ready to Read Phonics Plus student books that are being delivered to primary schools and kura using the New Zealand Curriculum.

This release adds to the instructional reading resources already available to support structured literacy approaches in Years 0 to 2. The new titles are designed for regular classroom use and support students to become confident, capable readers and writers.

Further information is available at:

New Ready to Read Phonics Plus resources available now – Tāhūrangi

Years 7 and 8 Maths and Pāngarau Acceleration Programmes – Cohort 3 – applications#

Spaces are still available for cohort 3 for these programmes, which provide small-group acceleration for Years 7 and 8 students who need additional support in Maths and Pāngarau. You can apply for cohort 3 funding until 15 May (extended deadline). Decisions will be notified by 29 May.

For more on how to apply, go to:

Maths and Pāngarau Years 7 and 8 intervention – Tāhūrangi

Progress on new Years 11 to 13 curriculum#

Work is underway on the detailed draft of the new senior secondary curriculum for Years 11 to 13, with subject associations, education leaders, and over 200 subject advisors from schools and kura across the country contributing to its development.

Subject advisors work with us to create detailed subject content, with some advisors serving as content reviewers to ensure quality, clarity, and national consistency.

The detailed draft curriculum will be released for consultation in three tranches, starting in mid-May. You can find out more at:

Over 200 teachers collaborating on new senior curriculum – Tāhūrangi

2026 Roadshow: Curriculum and assessment for Years 11 to 13 leaders#

Registrations are now open for the Term 2 Curriculum and Assessment Roadshow.

Designed specifically for Years 11 to 13 secondary, kura and area school leaders, the Roadshow provides the clarity, tools, and practical guidance you need to confidently lead upcoming curriculum, assessment, and qualification changes. Hear from expert speakers, learn from real school examples and gain clarity on implementation timelines. Register and find FAQs at:

Curriculum and Assessment Roadshow – MOE Events

Reporting to parents and whānau – Rubrics and leadership guidance released#

Rubrics to support teachers making judgements about student progress against the curriculum, for use when reporting to parents and whānau, are now available:

Rubrics, progress markers and progress descriptors – Tāhūrangi

The rubrics have been designed to work alongside the progress markers, helping to determine which progress descriptor should be used in reports to parents and whānau. Additional guidance covering reporting expectations, implementation, moderation and talking about the reports to parents and whānau is also available.

Reporting to Parents and Whānau – Tāhūrangi

New curriculum resources released#

We're continuing to release new teaching resources to help you to start planning and teaching the draft and updated curricula.

Bookmark these webpages so you know what’s available and what’s coming:

Teaching resources to support the updated New Zealand Curriculum – Tāhūrangi

Teaching resources to support the updated Te Marautanga o Aotearoa – Tāhūrangi

PLD workshops and webinars registrations#

Additional workshops and webinars are now open for registration across the following initiatives:

• Maths and Statistics Years 9–10 – MOE events
• Maths Knowledge Building Years 7–8 – Professional Learning and Development
• English Years 9–10 – MOE events
• Assessment and Aromatawai – MOE events

New webinars for Te Poipoi Kaiako Mentor Support are open for registration now:

• 4 and 5 May, 3:30–4:15pm: Effective mentoring practices
• 9 and 10 June, 3:30–4:15pm: Observations and feedback.

For more information on individual PLD, visit:

Strengthen teaching practice through PLD – Professional Learning and Development

Curriculum leadership online PLD resources (self-directed)#

School or kura leaders can access new PLD resources (self-directed) to support implementation of curriculum changes from 6 May.

Curriculum Leadership PLD resources for English Medium – Tāhūrangi

Curriculum Leadership PLD resources for Māori Medium – Tāhūrangi

New teacher-only day resources#

New resources have been added to Tāhūrangi to support planning for teacher-only days in Term 2 for Years 0 to 10. These sit alongside the existing resources that support implementation of the New Zealand Curriculum, with a focus on unpacking the curriculum, English, mathematics, and broader curriculum implementation.

More resources will continue to be added as they become available.

Teacher-only day resources – Tāhūrangi

Immunisation records during an outbreak#

Changes to the Health (Immunisation) Regulations 1995 mean schools are no longer required to keep immunisation records at enrolment.

Health (Immunisation) Regulations 1995 – New Zealand Legislation

In an outbreak (like measles), the public health response remains unchanged. Medical Officers of Health can access the Aotearoa Immunisation Register (AIR), to confirm immunisation status and guide next steps. Public health services continue to work directly with schools to provide advice and support.

Anyone vaccinated overseas (including school staff) should ensure their immunisations are recorded on the AIR to enable public health to quickly check records and provide advice.

Get a copy of your immunisation record – Health New Zealand

New PLD for learning support coordinators#

New PLD is available to strengthen confidence and capability in specific practice areas, for learning support coordinators (LSCs) who are:

• in school or cluster based
• seeking to build understanding of neurodiversity and trauma informed practice
• supporting learners with complex learning, behavioural or regulation needs.

LSCs can register now for courses developed by Autism New Zealand and FASD CAN (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder – Care Action Network).

Full details are in the LSC PLD factsheet:

LSC PLD factsheet April 2026 [PDF, 592 KB]

LSCs can also access three LSC induction courses in the Learning Management System (LMS). Comprehensive PLD is being developed for introduction from Term 3 and into 2027.

KiwiSaver default contribution changes#

From 1 April, the default KiwiSaver contribution rate increased to 3.5% (from 3%) for KiwiSaver members and their employers.

KiwiSaver members might choose to apply for a temporary rate reduction because they can’t afford the rate increase, or if they want to save in other ways.

Members can apply for the rate reduction for a 3- to 12-month period and can apply as many times as they like in myIR.

Inland Revenue – MyIR

Members will also need to show their employer a certificate confirming their temporary KiwiSaver rate reduction. More information is available at:

Inland Revenue – KiwiSaver changes

Collective agreements for primary teachers, support staff, kaiārahi i te reo and therapists#

Circulars are now available about the recent collective agreement settlements for primary, support staff, kaiārahi i te reo and board-employed therapists.

The circulars provide information about pay increases and other changes to terms and conditions.

Individual employment agreements for employees who are not covered by the collective agreements are linked in these circulars.

Circular 2026/08 Settlement of Support Staff in Schools’ and Kaiārahi i te Reo and Therapists’ (NZEI) collective agreements

Circular 2026/09 Settlement of the Primary Teachers’ Collective Agreement

Any pātai, contact Te Whakarōpūtanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa | NZ School Boards Association Advisory Support Centre.

Phone: 0800 782 435

Email: [email protected]

Primary Principals’ Collective Agreements (PPCA)#

Following the settlements for the Primary Principal Collective Agreements, variations were agreed and have been published. Details of the variations are outlined in the Circulars:

Circular 2026/06: Variation of the Primary Principals’ Collective Agreement – Primary Principals Collective Bargaining Union (PPCA-PPCBU)

Circular 2026/07: Variation to the Primary Principals’ (NZEI) Collective Agreement

Any pātai, contact Te Whakarōpūtanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa | NZ School Boards Association Advisory Support Centre.

Phone: 0800 782 435

Email: [email protected]

Action Plan for Pacific Education Progress Report 2023 to 2024#

The second biennial APPE Progress Report 2023–2024, highlighting progress across the education system to support Pacific learners is available.

Highlights:

• Growing support for Pacific languages and culturally grounded learning.
• Increased use of culturally responsive teaching practices.
• Stronger collaboration with Pacific communities and organisations.
• Continued focus needed to make sure Pacific learners feel valued and supported.

These insights are relevant for leaders, teachers and educators working with Pacific learners and their families. To read the report and summary, see:

Action Plan for Pacific Education Progress Reporting 2023-2024 [PDF, 3.9 MB]

Summary of progress report 2023–2024

Property Maintenance Grant one-off top-up survey#

All maintenance projects funded through the Property Maintenance Grant (PMG) top up should now be finished. If you haven’t already, please complete the survey at:

Property Maintenance Grant top-up survey – Survey Monkey

Responses will be used to inform future initiatives.

To read about the grant, visit:

Property Maintenance Grant (PMG) top-up

Any patai, email us.

Email: [email protected]

Waste removal and minimisation services#

You can now join and purchase waste removal services through the new syndicated contract. This includes the removal of general waste, recyclable materials, organics waste, and more. The syndicated contract offers preferential pricing and contract terms for schools. The contract’s supplier is Waste Management NZ Limited.

This syndicated contract has been set up by Department of Corrections. For more information, email [email protected].