Kia ora koutou
As May draws to a close, we acknowledge the significant progress across kura and schools as updated curriculum, assessment, and teaching supports move into everyday practice.
This update brings together recent announcements, newly available resources, and key updates to support your planning and practice.
Below you’ll find key highlights and links to Tāhūrangi to help you focus on what matters most for ākonga.
Ngā mihi nui
Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga | Ministry of Education
Key updates#
Budget 2026 investments in education#
The Government has announced a range of investments through Budget 2026 to support teaching and learning across Aotearoa New Zealand. These include funding to strengthen curriculum delivery, assessment, and supports for kaiako and ākonga.
Further detail on the education package and what it means for schools and kura is available on our website.
Pre-Budget commitment for Curriculum and Assessment#
As part of Budget 2026, the Government has pre-committed over $131 million to further support Literacy and Te Reo Matatini, Maths and Pāngarau for Years 0 to 10. This includes the implementation of a Foundational Learning Action Plan.
More information about the funding package and Action Plan is available on our website.
Further support for literacy and maths
Updated implementation timeframe for Years 0–8 curriculum#
The implementation timeline for the refreshed Years 0–8 national curriculum has been extended to give principals and tumuaki more time to lead change in schools and kura.
From the start of 2027, schools are expected to begin using the new Science, Social Sciences, Pūtaiao, and Pūmanawa Tangata learning areas, with full implementation phased across 2027 and 2028.
The remaining Years 0–8 curriculum will be implemented from 2029.
All Years 9–10 content for both the New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa must still be taught from the start of 2027.
New timeframe for Years 0-8 final National Curriculum – Tāhūrangi
Further details on new senior secondary qualifications#
The Government recently released further details about the new qualifications that will replace NCEA from 2028.
These subject-based qualifications are designed to be clearer, credible, and internationally comparable, and will align with the refreshed, knowledge-rich senior secondary curriculum currently being finalised.
From 2028:
- New Zealand Certificate of Education (NZCE) will be introduced for Year 12.
- New Zealand Advanced Certificate of Education (NZACE) will be introduced for Year 13.
- A new Foundational Award, focused on literacy and numeracy at a Year 11 benchmark, will also be available.
New senior secondary qualifications replacing NCEA – Tāhūrangi
Have your say#
Consultation open on first group of Years 11–13 subjects#
Consultation opened this month on the first group of 26 subjects for the new Years 11–13 curriculum, with feedback open until 15 June.
The subjects have been developed with input from more than 300 teachers and education leaders across Aotearoa New Zealand, alongside Subject Associations.
Consultation open on first group of Years | Tau 11–13 curriculum subjects – 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
Supports and resources#
Available now: 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
Supports available now to implement Te Marautanga o Aotearoa#
A range of supports are available, and more are coming, to help kaiako and kura confidently implement the refreshed curriculum.
Wāhanga ako learning kits (Tau 9–10)
Practical classroom examples, including teaching guidance, unit plans and activities (Pāngarau kit arriving this term, others follow in Term 3).
Wāhanga ako learning kits (Tau 9–10) – Tāhūrangi
Curriculum overview products
Wāhanga ako banners and professional learning activities to support shared understanding and sense‑making (Pāngarau and Te Reo Rangatira) are available, others follow in Term 3 with the release of the finalised curriculum.
Curriculum overview products – Tāhurangi
Existing Te Marautanga o Aotearoa resources
Available now to support planning and implementation.
Existing Te Marautanga o Aotearoa resources – Tāhūrangi
Available now: Reo Māori lessons (Term 3 EOIs open)#
Expressions of interest are open for Term 3 Ministry-funded online reo Māori lessons for kaiako and kaimahi (Years 0–13).
- Te Kura Raunui offers beginner (Rautahi) and foundational (Raurua) reo Māori lessons.
- Te Rākau Taumatua provides advanced reo Māori lessons for more proficient speakers.
Participants can use a self-assessment tool to find the right level and do not need to complete earlier levels before applying.
Find out more and submit an expression of interest – Tāhūrangi
For leaders: Curriculum leadership PLD (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
Apply now: Online writing acceleration tool for Years 6 to 10#
More than 450 schools have registered to use Scribo, the online writing acceleration tool. This accelerated support is for students from Years 6 to 10 who are not yet meeting curriculum expectations in writing.
You can still apply to be part of the programme via Salesforce, providing an indication of the numbers of students and teachers likely to access the tool. Applications for cohort 2 close 5 June.
Assessment, reporting and insights#
For your planning: New parent and whānau reporting statement#
A new statement is now available to support schools in introducing updated reporting approaches to parents and whānau.
The statement explains that schools will begin using the new reporting components during 2026, with full changes becoming more visible over time.
Reporting to parents and whānau – Tāhūrangi
SMART assessment window 1 has closed#
The first SMART reporting window has now closed. Thank you to schools and kura who completed assessments and submissions during this period.
For the 2026 school year, schools can choose between SMART, e-asTTle or PAT for twice-yearly progression monitoring. The second SMART reporting window opens in Term 4, running from 12 October to 13 November.
You can continue to access marking guidance, exemplars, rubrics, and reporting support on Tāhūrangi.
SMART Overview and access – Tāhurangi
Latest Curriculum Insights study results released#
The 2025 Curriculum Insights report is available, giving the strongest national picture yet of how students in English-medium settings are progressing in reading, writing, and mathematics.
The 2025 results show that student achievement has largely stabilised, with early upward shifts in maths and writing.
These early signs are encouraging, particularly given that most curriculum, assessment and professional learning supports have been in place for less than 4 school terms.
NZCER update#
NZCER releases interim mapping from PATs to progress descriptors#
NZCER has published interim mapping from PAT Pāngarau | Mathematics and PAT Pānui | Reading Comprehension to the progress descriptors, for reporting against the refreshed New Zealand Curriculum.
These tables build on interim mapping work for e-asTTle conducted by the Ministry and will be updated later in the year to reflect curriculum alignment work being undertaken for the SMART tool. NZCER will also be releasing similar mapping for PAT Tuhituhi | Writing.
Read more about the mapping, the methodology behind it and how to use this information in your reporting at the NZCER website.
Interim mapping of PAT results to Progress Descriptors now available – NZCER
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