Mihi
Mānawa maiea te putanga o Matariki.
Mānawa maiea te ariki o te rangi.
Mānawa maiea te Mātahi o te tau.
Ko te tau hou tēnei te haramai nei.
Ko te karere a Te Poutāhū tēnei te haramai nei.
Ki te Whai Ao, ki Te Ao Mārama.
Tīhei Mauriora
Celebrate the rising of Matariki.
Celebrate the high chief of the sky.
Celebrate the New Year.
The New Year emerges.
The message from Te Poutāhū emerges.
Bursting through the twilight into the day.
It breathes, it lives!
Kia ora koutou,
Like many of you, I closely watched last month’s Budget 2025 announcements. This time of year often comes with changes, including new initiatives, and I’m proud of the funding packages that have been approved this year to support the education sector.
The initiatives in Budget 2025 build on the work we’re already doing to lift the achievement of students and ākonga, ensuring that we are on track for 80% of Year 8 students to be at or above their expected curriculum level by 2030. The funding provides additional support to teachers so that students’ learning gaps can be identified earlier – whether this means they need increased support to catch up, or additional enrichment activities for those who are further advanced in the curriculum.
I encourage you to read through the Budget 2025 article in this newsletter and visit the Ministry’s website to get full details on all of the initiatives.
Throughout the rest of the year, we will continue to roll out new resources to support the refresh of the New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa. These resources, including PLD and tangible classroom activities, complement the ongoing changes to the curriculum to ensure it is knowledge-rich and grounded in the science of learning.
Looking forward, I encourage you to regularly check Tāhūrangi, especially the Implementation Supports Hub, to help keep up to date with the latest information. We have started a new article series on the Implementation Supports Hub called “Information Updates” which aims to address the most frequently asked questions and feedback that we receive from across the sector about the curriculum refresh.
If you have any questions or would like to see future topics covered in these articles, please reach out to our Sector Engagement team, who will be happy to hear from you. You can contact them at: [email protected]
Once again, I wish to extend my thanks for your engagement and feedback on the draft learning areas to date and look forward to more collaboration next term.
Pauline Cleaver
(Acting Deputy Secretary)
Te Poutāhū | Curriculum Centre
Budget 2025 announcements#
The Budget 2025 education package totals $2.5 billion over the next 4 years, with a focus on transforming learning supports to lift student achievement and attendance.
There are a number of initiatives for curriculum and assessment in particular that will support our system-wide approach to raising achievement. This will be realised through PLD and frontline supports for teachers and kaiako, along with extended support for learners where it's needed most.
The curriculum and assessment package includes funding for:
A bilingual Assessment and Aromatawai tool for Years 3 to 10 in reading, writing, maths, pānui, tuhituhi and pāngarau
- Maths and pāngarau - Targeted staffing for Years 0 to 6.
- Maths and pāngarau tutoring for Years 7 to 8 students.
- Early maths and pāngarau check.
- Science and pūtaiao kits for Years 0 to 8.
- Structured literacy approaches – Intervention staffing expansion for Years 0 to 6.
- Twelve secondary Curriculum Advisors.
- Homework and tutoring services for those in Years 9 to 10 at schools with 50% or more Pacific learners, to meet NCEA co-requisites.
- Early oral language – Strengthening early learning.
- NZQA – NCEA and scholarship delivery.
- NZQA – Strategy technology enhancement project – Establishment phase.
As you know, the focus of Budget 2025 was investment in Learning Support. You can read more about it and the other Budget 2025 initiatives:
Curriculum updates#
Updated 5-year implementation timeline#
We recently published an update to the 5-year timeline on Tāhūrangi, which outlines what you can expect each term to support schools and kura to implement the strengthened National Curriculum.
5-year implementation timeline – Tāhūrangi
We have also published an article on the Implementation Supports Hub, which outlines the changes we’ve made in this update and our rationale for these changes.
June 2025 implementation timeline updates – Tāhūrangi
We will continue to update the timeline regularly, to ensure you have the latest information.
New information update section on Tāhūrangi#
Since the start of 2025, an Implementation Supports Hub has been available on the landing page of Tāhūrangi as a key channel for you to access information and resources related to the curriculum changes.
Implementation Supports Hub – Tāhūrangi
We’ve recently added a new section to the page called Information Updates (below the drop-down sections), where we will regularly share articles that respond to questions and feedback we receive from the sector about the curriculum refresh.
Our first article covers the FAQs we’ve received so far about our process for developing a new assessment and aromatawai tool.
Curriculum consultations update#
As part of our work to refresh the New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa, we’ve sought your feedback on several curriculum areas this year. Your feedback is important, and we thank you for your input to date.
Feedback on Phase 5 timelines
We have received feedback about the planned 2026 implementation for Phase 5 (Years 11 to 13), given that both the Phase 5 curriculum content and aligned standards are needed in order for you to prepare your senior secondary programmes.
In response to this feedback, we’re developing a comprehensive plan to improve how our senior secondary curriculum and qualifications work together to support coherent learning and meaningful post-school pathways.
We expect to be able to provide you with an update on this plan, including implications for existing timelines for the Phase 5 curricula, in the coming weeks.
Relationships and sexuality education (RSE)
The draft framework for the teaching of relationships and sexuality education (RSE) closed on 9 May. The Ministry is currently reviewing the feedback, which will be refreshed as part of the updated health and physical education learning area. Meanwhile, you can still view the draft framework for reference on Tāhūrangi.
Consultation on draft RSE (View only) – Tāhūrangi
Consultations for Years 7 to 13 English, Years 7-13 Te Reo Rangatira and Years 9-13 maths and Pāngarau have also closed. However, you can still view the draft content on Tāhūrangi:
Consultation on Te Reo Rangatira and maths and Pāngarau (View only) – Tāhūrangi
Consultation on Years 7 to 13 English (View only) – Tāhūrangi
Updates for Years 0 to 8#
Latest implementation checklists#
Implementation checklists for teachers and kaiako of Years 0 to 8 are available for this term, helping you plan your implementation approach for Terms 3 and 4.
In response to your feedback, we have included direct links throughout the checklists so you can easily access the content we’re referring to.
We have also added a QR Code if you wish to print this version but still have quick access to important links.
Te Marautanga o Aotearoa checklist – Tau 0 to 8
New Zealand Curriculum checklist – Years 0 to 8
We welcome further feedback on this checklist and any of our other tools designed to support you. Send any feedback to us.
Email: [email protected]
Ordering Ministry-funded maths resources for 2025 and 2026 #
As part of the ‘Make it Count’ maths action plan, schools can order Ministry-funded resources for their Years 0 to 8 students, aligned to the revised maths and statistics learning area.
Ordering of Ministry-funded maths resources for Years 0 to 8 is available on Salesforce from 14 July to 3 August 2025, for delivery in Term 4, 2025. Another opportunity to place orders will be available from 6 October to 24 October 2025, for delivery in Term 1, 2026.
For the 2026 school year, schools have the flexibility to make supplier changes per phase of learning. If you are thinking about changing suppliers, we strongly recommend reading through the change of maths resources supplier considerations document. More information and FAQs can be found on Tāhūrangi.
Ordering Ministry-funded maths resources – Tāhūrangi
Schools will also be able to order different level resources for learners requiring support or extension via. Down the Back of the Chair in Term 1 2026, once the school year has commenced and maths attainment levels are clearer.
Update on structured literacy approaches supports for teachers#
We’re continuing to expand our suite of literacy resources and will soon release 3 teaching manuals to support Years 0 to 8 teachers in implementing structured literacy approaches.
These new manuals will be available on Tāhūrangi and include:
- Structured Literacy in Years 0 to 3 – available end of June.
- Structured Literacy in Years 4 to 6 – coming in Term 3.
- Structured Literacy in Years 7 to 8 – coming in Term 4.
Additional resources already available on Tāhūrangi include:
- Quick guides for using structured literacy approaches with the Instructional Series (Ready to Read Colour Wheel, Junior Journal, CHAPTERS, and School Journals).
- Accelerating progress in literacy guidance – resources for teachers and leaders to support targeted teaching. See detailed article below for more details about this resource.
You can find this suite of resources on Tāhūrangi.
Teaching resources to support structured literacy approaches – Tāhūrangi
Other upcoming publications
We are also updating Teacher Support Materials for recent issues of the Junior Journal, CHAPTERS, and School Journals to align with structured literacy approaches and the refreshed English learning area.
New School Journals and a new Junior Journal will be available in November 2025, complete with Teacher Support Materials (TSMs) to help you make the most of these resources in your classroom. CHAPTERS will also be released in November. Stay tuned for more details, we’ll be profiling these resources closer to release.
You can also expect 2 sets of journals in 2026 - one in June and another in November, along with CHAPTERS 2026.
Accelerating progress in literacy guidance#
Teacher guidance for accelerating progress in literacy is available on Tāhūrangi.
Accelerating progress in literacy – Teacher guidance
The guidance is designed to help teachers identify students needing targeted (Tier 2) literacy support. It provides practical guidance on how to respond to student’s specific needs and accelerate their progress, so they have full access to the curriculum.
Support packs have now been sent out to Ministry-funded SLA intervention teachers of structured literacy approaches (SLA). The pack contains a dedicated copy of the Ready to Read Phonics Plus Games and sound and phonics cards teachers can use for targeted sessions to accelerate literacy progress.
Schools can order more of any of the Ready to Read Phonics Plus resources on the Down the Back of the Chair.
Website: Down the Back of the chair
Email: [email protected]
Freephone: 0800 660 662
Professional Learning and Development for SLA#
Professional Learning and Development (PLD) for SLA intervention teachers is also underway. Building on the initial SLA PLD, this will support the development of deeper knowledge and understanding of SLA in schools. Teachers engaged in this PLD will be able to deliver, or support colleagues to deliver targeted literacy support.
Updates for Years 9 to 13#
Reminder: Use of the 266 series#
This year, we shifted from an early implementation phase to tighter restrictions around the use of the 266 series of unit standards. As a reminder, we posted a clarification of the rules on our website, which includes information for students who are dual-enrolled.
Standards approved for NCEA Co-requisite during the transition period (2024-2027) – NCEA
We encourage you to review this guidance, especially for dual-enrolled students. If you have any questions that are not covered in this article, please reach out to your regional Ministry contact.
Te Marautanga o Aotearoa#
More Rangaranga Reo ā-Tā and Poutama Pāngarau resources#
This term, we sent a collection of different resources out to all primary kura to help you bring structured approaches to learning into the classroom. We will soon have Tūāere 2 to 3 Poutama Pāngarau packs as well, which build on the Tūārere 1 content you’ve already received. These resources are aligned to the updated Te Marautanga o Aotearoa, and include kaiako guidance, lesson plans, and activities for each year level and Mata Ako.
You can find more information, including the online versions of the resources, here:
If you missed any of the other resources, you could check them out on Tāhūrangi or email our team for any delivery issues.
Email: [email protected]
Tīrewa Mātai – the first national monitoring study for ākonga learning through te reo Māori #
This term, we released a Request for Proposal to secure a provider for Tīrewa Mātai – the first national monitoring system for those learning through te reo Māori – measuring progress against the redesigned Te Marautanga o Aotearoa.
Tīrewa Mātai will join the equivalent Curriculum Insights and Progress Study (which measures against the NZC) to give us a more complete picture of how students are learning across the motu.
Like Curriculum Insights, Tīrewa Mātai will collect data at Years 3, 6, and 8 to inform future curriculum design, policy decisions, and content development. We expect to deliver it in two parts, aligned with the implementation of the redesigned Te Marautanga o Aotearoa:
- Phase 1, which involves a report on the Te Reo Rangatira and Pāngarau wāhanga ako that we expect to deliver by the end of March next year. What we learn from that report will help shape the continued development of Tīrewa Mātai.
- Phase 2, which begins in 2026 and will gradually include all other wāhanga ako of the redesigned Te Marautanga o Aotearoa.
We’ll be working with the sector throughout the development of Tīrewa Mātai to make sure it’s designed and implemented effectively.
Update from ERO#
The Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Education Review Office (ERO) continue to work to understand the successes and challenges schools and kura are having as you implement the refreshed learning areas for The New Zealand Curriculum (NZC) and wānanga in Te Marautanga o Aotearoa (TMoA) and structured literacy approaches, mathematics and statistics, te reo matatini and Pāngarau.
To make sure implementation goes well, MoE and ERO will continue to work together to gather information about what is helping, and what more needs to happen. This will be gathered by ERO in some schools and kura, and the same information will be gathered by MoE staff in other schools and kura.
The information gathered will be collated by ERO to form a system-wide picture of how implementation is going. We’ll look for examples of schools doing it well and highlight where there are opportunities to strengthen implementation. This insights report will be shared with the Ministry and the Minister responsible.
We know that effective implementation and sustainable change won’t be achieved overnight – it's a shared and ongoing commitment. That’s why the Ministry has established an Implementation Supports Hub on Tāhūrangi to make sure you have access to high-quality professional learning and development opportunities, frontline help, and resources and guidance wherever you’re starting from.
Implementation Supports Hub – Tāhūrangi
MOE and ERO are working together to make sure schools and kura experience clear and consistent communication from both agencies, ensuring shared understanding of what each agency is responsible for and how we are working alongside you.
Further resources and support#
New info sheets#
New info sheets are available on Tāhūrangi for the following topics. These info sheets contain FAQs and links to key resources.
We encourage you to read these and share them with your colleagues:
New toolkit to support gifted learners#
A new toolkit addressing common myths and misconceptions about gifted education is now available online.
Developed by a team of Learning Support Coordinators (LSCs) for LSCs, the toolkit provides practical strategies for creating an inclusive and nurturing learning environment with a range of videos, frameworks and templates.
By debunking myths, recognising the complexities of giftedness, and offering practical guidance, this toolkit serves as a comprehensive resource for LSCs, teachers, and all those committed to supporting the diverse needs of gifted learners.
Supporting Gifted Learners: A Toolkit for Learning Support Coordinators (LSCs) – Tāhūrangi
Parent portal#
In May, the Ministry launched a new and informative webspace for parents and whānau called the Parent Portal. It’s designed to support every child’s learning journey by strengthening the relationship between families, schools and kura, and offering tools and resources to make it easier to help with their child’s education at home.
It includes:
- Year-by-year Curriculum Learning Guides: parent-friendly versions of both The New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa, detailing what children are learning, why it’s important, and when they’ll be learning it.
- Practice activities: activities that parents and whānau can use to support their child’s learning at home, such as phonics cards with audio files to model correct sounds.
- Informative videos and resources: videos explaining new assessments like the Phonics Checks and Hihira Weteoro, which help identify additional support a child might need, and resources to help parents prepare for the first day of school and parent-teacher interviews.
We encourage you to share the Parent Portal with your community. You could do this by:
- Providing the link to families of new school starters.
- Adding a link to your website and/or Facebook page.
- Including a link in your school newsletter.
- Mentioning the portal at parent/teacher interviews.
