Curriculum updates#

Updates to Tāhūrangi landing pages and refreshed content pages#

We’ve made improvements to the New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa landing pages and refreshed curriculum content pages on Tāhūrangi, so they’re easier to access and use.

The landing page, top menu and navigation options have been updated to connect you with the information you need, in fewer clicks.

The learning areas and wāhanga ako content for the Years 0 to 6 English and Te Reo Rangatira, and Years 0 to 8 maths and Pāngarau are also presented in new content pages that present progress outcomes and teaching sequences by phases, in a streamlined format.

A detailed outline of the changes is available on Tāhūrangi.

Updates to Tāhūrangi landing pages and curriculum content pages – Tāhūrangi

Teaching guidance for confident students in maths#

All students, including confident learners, benefit from opportunities to deepen their learning through rich tasks. Students who are exceeding year level expectations may also benefit from exposure to content beyond their year level.

Teachers are best placed to make evidence-informed judgements about what is best for their students to support engagement, progress and understanding.

A new guide is now available on Tāhūrangi to help you do just that, with practical strategies, examples, and tools you can use right away to extend confident maths learners.

Digging deeper: Guide for teaching confident maths students – Tāhūrangi

Tāhūrangi outage 29 August#

Note that Tāhūrangi will be unavailable on Friday 29 August for planned maintenance. During this time, you will not be able to access any content or download resources.

Updates for Years 0 to 8#

Lead curriculum change with confidence: Join the Curriculum roadshow for leaders#

To support education leaders to lead the significant changes to our national curricula, we are hosting a Curriculum Roadshow for Leaders of Years 0 to 8 learners in Term 4.

Up to 2 education leaders from each school or kura (Years 0 to 8, including area schools) are invited to attend and there is no cost to register. Events will be held in Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland, and Rotorua, with options to attend in person or online.

Highlights include an opening from Hon Erica Stanford and keynote speaker Dr Nathaniel Swain, plus panels on structured literacy, leadership, evidence-based practice, and the development and implementation of a knowledge-rich curriculum.

Come to the roadshow and learn more so that you can lead this change with clarity and confidence. Early registration is encouraged. Register now online.

Curriculum Roadshow For Leaders

Term 3 implementation checklists#

Term 3 implementation checklists for school and kura leaders are now available on Tāhūrangi. The checklists outline the activities available and actions for you to track for Term 3, and a list of suggested actions you can take now to prepare for Term 4.

New Zealand Curriculum implementation checklist – Term 3 – Tāhūrangi

Te Marautanga o Aotearoa implementation checklist – Term 3 – Tāhūrangi

Applications for 2026 Structured Literacy Approaches (SLA) FTTE staffing#

Schools teaching the New Zealand Curriculum can apply this term for 2026 Structured Literacy Approaches (SLA) FTTE staffing. This funding supports structured literacy interventions for Years 0 to 6 students (an expansion from Years 0 to 2 in 2025).

Schools already receiving SLA staffing in 2025 will be contacted in July and can apply from 28 July to 11 August. Schools not currently receiving SLA staffing can apply from 1 to 19 September. Decisions about staffing allocation will be shared by 30 September.

To be eligible, schools must use the Ministry’s Phonics Checks in Terms 3 and 4 and upload results to the secure data portal.

More information is available on Tāhūrangi.

Years 0 to 6 SLA staffing resource for 2026 – Tāhūrangi

Updates for Years 9 to 13#

Have your say on a proposal to replace NCEA#

The Minister of Education recently announced a proposal to replace NCEA with a new qualification pathway that is more credible, consistent, and easier for people to understand. Evidence has shown us that more work needs to be done to make sure our national qualification system keeps students engaged in their learning, and helps set them up for success in life after school.

We want your voice to help inform any final decisions, which is why we’re encouraging you to explore the proposal and provide your feedback. Consultation is open between now and 15 September. All of the information about the change, including how to have your say, is available on our website.

Consultation on proposal to replace NCEA

We are also holding a series of webinars from 11 August to help you understand the proposal and how it might impact your practice. You can sign up for those sessions here.

• Monday 11 August, 1pm–2pm (principals and tumuaki – English)
• Monday 11 August, 4pm–5pm (principals and tumuaki – te reo Māori)
• Wednesday 13 August, 4pm–5pm (assistant principals and deputy principals – English)
• Thursday 14 August, 4pm–5pm (assistant principals and deputy principals – te reo Māori)
• Wednesday 20 August, 4pm–5pm (teachers and kaiako – English)
• Thursday 21 August, 4pm–5pm (teachers and kaiako – te reo Māori)
• Wednesday 27 August, 4pm–5pm (teachers and kaiako – te reo Māori)
• Thursday 28 August, 4pm–5pm (teachers and kaiako – English).

You and your students will be provided with the time, resources, supports, and guidance you need to make the change confidently once final decisions are made.

Curriculum timeline change responds to feedback from senior secondary teachers#

We want to ensure that senior secondary teachers and kaiako have enough time to implement new national curriculum changes for Years 11 to 13 (Phase 5). Following sector feedback, we are updating expectations for Phase 5 to create a phased roll-out of senior secondary subjects.

The Years 11 to 13 curricula will be available in Term 1, 2026 to invite wider feedback and help build familiarisation and readiness. There will be no formal requirement to use this content until 2028 (for Year 11 content), 2029 (for Year 12 content), and 2030 (for Year 13 content).

Timeline details and an overview of an implementation package to support teachers and kaiako is available on Tāhūrangi.

Curriculum timeline changes – Tāhūrangi

Te Marautanga o Aoetaroa#

Gain confidence implementing Poutama Pāngarau#

To help kaiako confidently implement Poutama Pāngarau, we offer Professional Learning and Development (PLD) tailored to your needs.

Poutama Pāngarau PLD includes:

• in-school support: personalised guidance to strengthen teaching practice
• communities of practice: connect, collaborate, and grow alongside other kaiako
• hands-on help with using the Poutama Pāngarau resources effectively in your classroom.

Visit the PLD website for more information and to register.

Poutama Pāngarau – Professional Learning and Development

Ngā Āhuatanga reo He Puka Aratohu – The Linguistic Mapping Handbook#

Ngā Āhuatanga reo He Puka Aratohu is a beautifully designed guidebook and a powerful new resource for kaiako.

It provides a visual framework of key linguistic elements, morphology, syntax, and semantics aligned to Tau 4 to 8 of the Rangaranga Reo ā-Tā programme.

It maps where these features appear in Te Tautoko journal series, supporting explicit teaching of linguistic knowledge essential for progression in Te Reo Rangatira, especially in pānui, tuhituhi, and linked to kōrero.

Key features include:

• Interactive Google Slides: Clickable book covers link directly to each resource for easy access.
• Seamless Navigation: Tiles connect this handbook with Te Ara Tohu Rangaranga Reo ā-Tā and Te Tautoko, creating an integrated learning experience.

A digital version is now available on Tāhūrangi.

Ngā Āhuatanga Reo - He Puka Aratohu – Tāhūrangi

Keep an eye out for printed versions that will be delivered to kura later in Term 3.

New assessment and aromatawai tool#

Following a competitive tender process, we have selected Janison Solutions Pty Ltd as the preferred supplier to deliver our new assessment and aromatawai tool for students in Years 3 to 10.

Parents to know more about child’s school progress – Beehive

The new tool is named SMART (Student Monitoring Assessment and Report Tool). It will replace e-asTTle, have up-to-date technology and be aligned with the National Curriculum.

SMART builds on the new suite of classroom tools helping teachers and kaiako, and parents and whānau to understand more about a learner’s progress, including phonics checks, Hihira Weteoro, and in 2026, the Year 2 maths and pāngarau checks. 

SMART will support learner progress and be responsive to the needs of all Years 3 to 10 students and mokopuna across New Zealand. It will also help teachers and kaiako carry out twice-yearly assessment of reading, writing, maths, pānui, tuhituhi and pāngarau, providing them with the information they need to support a learner through their next steps of learning, and giving parents and whānau confidence about their child’s progress.   

Training and implementation activities will become available in Term 4, 2025 ahead of the tool being made available to all schools and kura in Term 1, 2026.

Read more about the Tool on Tāhūrangi.

Exciting step forward for new assessment and aromatawai tool – Tāhūrangi

Hihira Weteoro data submissions#

We are encouraging kura and schools to share their results for the 20-, 40- and 55-week checks through the Secure Data Portal. Although it is not a requirement, these results will help us understand achievement within Hihira Weteoro at a national level and identify areas that require further support or resources.

Kura and schools that upload their Hihira Weteoro data to the Secure Data Portal will be sent a pack of printed Rangaranga Reo ā Tā resources, and receive assistance with administering, collecting and collating data for submission. Each kura who submits will also receive an infographic of their own data against the baseline.

Data will be required for the second tier support, Hāpai Ākonga, the programme designed specifically to accelerate those mokopuna who need support at Tau 0 to 2.

Resources and guidance to administer the checks and upload data are available on Tāhūrangi.

Hihira Weteoro He Kete Aromatawai - Rangaranga Reo ā-Tā – Tāhūrangi

NZCER releases PAT tuhituhi | PAT writing#

The NZ Council for Educational Research (NZCER) has added to its suite of PATs with a new writing assessment, PAT tuhituhi.

PAT tuhituhi | PAT writing – New Zealand Council for Educational Research

PAT Tuhituhi is an online-only, standardised writing assessment for ākonga in Years 5 to 10. It includes a suite of persuasive, narrative, recount, and informative writing tasks, with further tasks to be developed. It uses automated scoring to provide teachers with immediate results and holistic feedback, drawing on a set of genre-specific rubrics adapted specifically for the Aotearoa context.

As with the other PATs, the primary purpose of PAT Tuhituhi is to offer to kaiako and kura a standardised tool for low-stakes, formative assessment that supports teaching and learning.

Schools can access PAT Tuhituhi by logging into or signing up for the NZCER Assist platform.

NZCER Assist platform

More resources and supports#

Hui ā-Tau a Ako Panuku#

23 September 2025 | Online

E Pao, Tōrea! An Opportunity to return to the basics.

Nau mai ki te Hui ā-Tau a Ako Panuku. Seize the opportunity to gather as the tide breaks. Reflect on where the tide is taking us, as we focus on the fundamentals that empower our ākonga, and ourselves as Māori.

Hear inspiring speakers, share ideas, and explore how we create learners who are:

• Strong in identity and wellbeing
• Confident in te reo Māori and English
• Literate, numerate and grounded in te ao Māori
• Inspired by the future and anchored in whakapapa.

All face-to-face spots are now full. Online registrations remain open:

Kāinga | Ako Panuku

Ako Panuku members were sent unique registration links via email during the week of 30 June. If you have not received your link, contact us for assistance.

Email: [email protected]

Tai timu, tai pari. He poto noa iho te wā. Kotahi atu ana!

Kahu Pūtoi#

Kahu Pūtoi provides just in time support for te reo Māori and Māori medium kaiako and leaders. Members are provided with targeted support in areas such as curriculum and accelerated learning, via masterclasses, symposiums and online forums.

Recent specialist sessions have delved into:

• Rangaranga Reo ā Tā: exploring linguistic structures in te reo Māori.
• Rangaranga Pāngarau: deepening understanding of mathematical concepts in Māori-medium contexts.

These initiatives equip kaiako with practical, culturally responsive strategies that reflect the unique realities of Māori-medium education.

For more information and to join, visit the website.

Kahu Pūtoi

Coming soon#

Refreshed Hopukina! to be released in Term 3#

The refreshed Hopukina! is nearly ready and will soon be supporting the delivery of the redesigned Te Reo Rangatira wāhanga ako for Tau 3 to 8 and integrated with Rangaranga Reo ā Tā.

Hopukina! is an aromatawai oral language tool designed to give kaiako a clear snapshot of mokopuna oral language proficiency.

Hopukina! has been updated to align with the refreshed curriculum and now aligns with pānui and tuhituhi to provide a more holistic view of mokopuna language development.

With its refreshed design, it will offer even greater support for kaiako to assess and strengthen oral language skills.

The updated Hopukina! will be distributed to all kura and released on Tāhūrangi during Term 3.