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This page is based on the draft Years 1 to 10 content for Learning Languages, which is currently open for feedback. Schools are not required to implement changes until the consultation process is confirmed.
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About Learning Languages#
The Learning Languages area helps students speak, write, read, listen, sign, and interact in another language. As they learn, they begin to communicate with confidence and purpose in a range of real-life situations. Language learning builds cultural understanding by showing how people express ideas and make meaning in different ways.
Languages connect people in our communities, across New Zealand, and around the world. They link us to our history and open doors to new ideas and perspectives. In New Zealand, Te Reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) are our official languages. Pasifika languages are an important part of who we are.
Learning another language matters because it helps children to:
- understand their own culture more deeply and see how language shapes identity
- express themselves in new and creative ways
- discover how others think, communicate, and live
- build respect and understanding for people from different cultures
- strengthen cultural ties within whānau and the wider community.
By learning a language, children grow empathy, curiosity, and confidence. These skills are essential for connecting and thriving in an increasingly diverse and interconnected world.
Ko tōu reo, ko tōku reo, te tuakiri tangata. Tihei uriuri, tihei nakonako.
Your voice and my voice are expressions of identity. May our descendants live on, and our hopes be fulfilled.
This whakataukī | Māori proverb reminds us that our voices reflect who we are. When we share our languages, we pass on our hopes and stories to future generations. We help our descendants to thrive and feel connected to their culture.
The languages your child might learn#
The curriculum includes 5 language groups covering a range of 13 languages:
- Te Reo Māori.
- New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL).
- Asian languages: Chinese (Mandarin), Japanese, Korean.
- Pacific languages: Te Reo Māori Kūki 'Āirani, Gagana Tokelau, Vagahau Niue, Lea Faka-Tonga, and Gagana Sāmoa.
- European languages: French, German, Spanish.
Your child learns the language by actively communicating. For NZSL, they learn by signing, watching, and interacting. For all other languages, they learn by listening, speaking, reading, writing, and interacting.
Novice and emergent phases#
Children may begin learning a new language at different year levels and with varied prior knowledge. Unlike other curriculum areas, Learning Languages is organised along phases from Novice to Emergent rather than by year level.
While the curriculum outlines the general goals, your child's teacher will design learning experiences that respond to their interests, backgrounds, and contexts, making sure all tamariki | children can engage and succeed.
At the Novice level, children learn everyday expressions, greetings, and simple ways to talk about themselves and their surroundings. Depending on the language, this might include respectful forms of address, visual communication, or character-based writing systems. For learners of Pacific languages and te reo Māori, this stage is crucial for building a strong connection to identity and culture by focusing on expressions that reflect family, respect, and community values, such as manaakitanga and whanaungatanga.
As learners transition into the Emergent stage, they start engaging in brief conversations, sharing their opinions, and exploring how language reflects culture, identity, and relationships. Each language group offers unique cultural insights and ways of communicating. For te reo Māori, this means guiding tamariki to use longer sentences to express their identity and whakapapa | genealogy, while practising respectful ways of speaking and connecting with mātauranga | cultural knowledge and intergenerational stories.
Knowledge strands#
Learning Languages has 2 knowledge strands that together support the development of communication, enabling children to use language effectively and appropriately across diverse contexts.
Linguistic knowledge
Linguistic knowledge is all about how language works. This includes how to sign and how to correctly pronounce words, spell, use grammar, and build vocabulary. It’s about using language to help us communicate clearly.
Cultural and sociolinguistic knowledge
Cultural and sociolinguistic knowledge helps us understand the important customs and beliefs of the people who speak the language we are learning. It also looks at how people use language differently depending on their social groups and situations. This means we learn not just the words, but also how to behave and communicate respectfully in different cultures.
Ideas to help at home#
With your child, when they are at the novice level, you could:
- watch a short video in the language they are learning and spot simple words, like hello, yes, no, and colours
- write everyday words on sticky notes in the language they are learning and stick them on the matching objects
- start and end the day using simple greetings and farewells that your child has learned
- try a recipe, listen to a song, or look up a famous town or city from the country where the language is spoken
- ask your child to teach you 2–3 new words they have learned that week
- locate the countries on a map where the language is spoken, and find famous landmarks, buildings, or natural features and discuss them
- play songs or read short stories from the culture, and notice any instruments, dances, or customs that are the same or different to those in New Zealand or their own culture
- talk about how people greet each other, what they eat at different times, or how school life might differ in that culture
- mark a festival or national day with a small family activity, art, food, or a themed story.
With your child, during the emergent level, you could:
- ask your child to describe their day or how they are feeling in the language they are learning
- create birthday cards for family members using the target language and cultural imagery
- make a school timetable in the language they are learning, including after-school activities
- ask your child to do the weekly grocery shopping with you, using the language they’re learning to name items and say simple prices
- cook a simple dish, watch a travel video, or read about a festival from a country where the language is spoken, and talk about how it’s similar or different from what you do
- choose some family photos (grandparents, siblings, significant events) and ask your child to use the language they are learning to describe who is in the photo and their relationship to them, for example, “Ko taku kuia tēnā”, “O lo’u tuafafine.”
- choose a simple, well-known whakataukī or Pacific language proverb, display it, and talk with your child about what it means.
Learning Te Reo Māori#
Learning te reo Māori connects children to identity, culture, and the Māori worldview. As one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s official languages and a taonga | treasure, te reo Māori strengthens belonging and honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Novice level#
At Novice, tamariki learn through everyday communication and cultural practices that reflect values such as manaakitanga | care and whanaungatanga | relationships. They discover that language can vary between iwi and begin using greetings, introductions, and polite expressions in natural ways.
Emergent level#
As their learning develops during Emergent, tamariki use pepeha and mihi to share who they are and where they come from. They explore kīwaha | sayings and whakataukī and engage with the maramataka | Māori lunar calendar to deepen their understanding of how language, culture, and environment are woven together. Through te reo Māori, they gain confidence and a deep sense of belonging, empowering them to connect with their own whakapapa, culture, and identity.
Learning New Zealand Sign Language#
Learning New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) opens learners to a new, visual way of communicating and helps build a more inclusive society. As one of Aotearoa’s official languages and a taonga, NZSL celebrates the identity of Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Māori Turi communities.
Novice level#
At Novice, learners learn to use their face, hands, and body to convey meaning instead of relying on voice. They begin with greetings, introductions, and everyday classroom communication, developing awareness of Deaf culture and respectful ways to interact.
Emergent level#
During Emergent, as their confidence grows, learners take part in group conversations and presentations using a wider range of signs, including Māori concept signs. They learn about regional variations and cultural conventions, such as turn-taking and eye contact. Through NZSL, learners develop empathy, connection, and an appreciation for the rich diversity of how people communicate.
Learning Pacific languages#
Learning Pacific languages such as Te Reo Māori Kuki ‘Āirani, Gagana Tokelau, Vagahau Niue, Lea Faka-Tonga, and Gagana Sāmoa helps tamariki strengthen their sense of identity, culture, and belonging. These languages are central to the wellbeing of Pacific peoples and help keep Aotearoa’s rich language diversity alive.
Novice level#
At Novice, tamariki start by learning greetings, introductions, and simple everyday expressions that reflect family, respect, and community life. They use language in familiar contexts, such as home, school, and celebrations, and begin to see how values shape their communication.
Emergent level#
During Emergent, as they progress, tamariki use longer sentences to describe routines, preferences, and experiences. They learn respectful ways of speaking and explore how language is used in bilingual and ceremonial settings. Through these languages, tamariki connect to cultural knowledge and intergenerational stories that foster pride and a deeper sense of identity.
Learning Asian languages#
This group of languages includes Chinese (Mandarin), Japanese and Korean, which have character-based writing systems using symbols different to the English alphabet. Learners studying these languages are immersed in rich language and cultural exploration. They develop flexibility in their thinking, problem-solving, and visual literacy by learning to use a new writing system.
Novice level#
At Novice, learners will build both foundational language skills and an appreciation of cultural practices through everyday communication and classroom activities. They will learn how language reflects social relationships, respect, and identity, as well as behaviour, such as the act of bowing and using different greetings for people of different status.
Emergent level#
During Emergent, learners will engage in short conversations and simple texts using the writing system of the language being studied. They will deepen their understanding of how politeness and respect are reflected in the language itself, and build confidence to engage with more complex conversations, texts, and cultural perspectives.
Learning European languages#
Learning French, German, or Spanish opens a window to new cultures and ways of communicating. These languages share the same alphabet and have many words that sound or look similar to English, for example, animal, hotel, and music. This makes them a great starting point for learning another language.
Novice level#
At Novice, learners are immersed in language through everyday communication. They learn how to greet others, discuss themselves and their families, and describe familiar things such as home, school, and hobbies. They begin to express likes, dislikes, and needs, and to use polite language for real-life situations.
Emergent level#
During Emergent, as their confidence grows, learners use a wider range of words and phrases to describe people, places, and routines. They start to talk about past and future experiences, and practise using language in authentic contexts such as ordering food, shopping, or travelling, building confidence, curiosity, and global connections along the way.
