What has changed#

Previously, school boards were required to consult with their communities at least every 2 years on how they deliver their health curriculum, including relationships and sexuality education. Changes have been made to this in the Education and Training Act 2020.

Under section 91, school boards must now inform their communities about the health curriculum at least once every 3 years or whenever the health curriculum changes, whichever occurs sooner. Schools and kura do not need to consult on their health curriculum anymore.

This means that instead of consulting with parents and whānau | families, schools and kura must tell them:

• about the content areas covered
• what the teaching approaches used are
• whether they will use any external providers or resources
• that they can ask the principal in writing to have their child released from any or all parts of sexuality education.

See the full legislative change.

Section 91, Education and Training Act 2020 – New Zealand Legislation

Why this change has been made#

The change reflects the shift to a curriculum where:

• there is more consistency in what knowledge and skills are being taught each year, so all young people have access to consistent teaching and learning
• expectations are clearer and set at a national level.

It reduces the work involved in formal consultation and sets out how schools and teachers communicate health education programmes to their communities.

It is intended to make sure that:

• parents and whānau get clear information about health education
• schools can focus on effective curriculum delivery.

What this means for parents and whānau#

Parents and whānau will:

• keep receiving information about their child's health education learning
• be clearer about what programmes and resources are being used
• continue to have the right to withdraw their child from all or any part of sexuality education.

We understand that some parents and communities may be concerned about no longer having a say in the health curriculum. We expect schools and kura will clearly communicate what students are learning, keeping parents informed and supporting trust between their community and the school or kura.

What this means for schools and kura#

Schools and kura will need to clearly communicate with parents and whānau and make sure to give them information that is:  

• accessible
• transparent
• specific about programmes, resources and providers.

There is no extra cost because schools already provide information about their health curriculum.

Guidance and examples#

We will give schools and kura guidance and examples to help talk with their communities about the health curriculum. This will help them communicate in a way that is right for their community.

We are planning to share this guidance alongside the finalised curriculum on 9 September 2026.

Planning for 2026 and 2027 #

Schools and kura that have already completed a health education consultation in 2026 do not need to do any more consultation. They can use the information they already shared with their communities and update it where needed to reflect changes to the curriculum.

Schools and kura that were planning to consult with their community this year no longer need to. Instead, give clear information to parents and whānau about what will be taught in the health curriculum and how it will be delivered. This will help parents make informed decisions about whether their child participates in sexuality education.

The refreshed Year 9 to 10 health education curriculum must be in place from 2027. Before teaching begins, schools and kura should let parents and whānau know:

• what the new curriculum includes
• how it will be taught
• what resources, programmes or external providers will be used to support learning. 

Schools and kura must do this regardless of when they last consulted with their school community. We encourage schools to publish this information on their school website to make it easy for families to access.