Responsibility for setting teaching standards#

Together with the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025, the Education and Training (System Reform) Amendment Act 2026 introduces a range of reforms designed to clarify key roles and responsibilities across the education system, and to improve the regulation of the workforce, curriculum and attendance. 

A key change for the teaching profession is that responsibility for setting, maintaining and reviewing teaching standards transfers from the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand to the Secretary for Education.

What has changed#

• Responsibility for setting teaching standards now sits with the Secretary for Education.
• The Teaching Council continues as the independent professional regulator.
• There are no immediate changes to existing teaching standards.

Roles and responsibilities#

We are responsible for setting the standards that define what teachers must know, understand and demonstrate across their careers. This includes standards for teaching practice, initial teacher education, registration and practising certificate criteria and the Code of Professional Responsibility. 

The Teaching Council continues to regulate the teaching profession. This includes teacher registration, practising certificates and conduct and competence processes.

What this means#

There are no immediate changes to current teaching standards or requirements. Teachers, schools and initial teacher education providers will continue to work with the Teaching Council as they do now. 

Any future changes to teaching standards will be developed with the education sector and introduced in a planned and clearly communicated way.

Read more on our teaching standards and regulations.

Regulation of the teaching workforce