Te Mana Tūhono

We strive to connect schools to the world with a fit-for-purpose centralised ICT system that is reliable, resilient, safe and secure. Te Mana Tūhono (the power of connectivity) is our long-term programme to support schools to monitor, maintain and manage their networks.

About Te Mana Tūhono

Te Mana Tūhono is our opt-in ICT network and cyber security support programme for schools.

Schools can opt-in to have their ICT network equipment replaced when it’s reaching the end of its life, access support to manage cybersecurity, and access help and support from N4L for ICT network issues (0800 LEARNING).

In September 2020, the Government announced a $49 million expansion of the Te Mana Tūhono programme, allowing the Ministry to offer all state and state-integrated schools the opportunity to upgrade their ICT network equipment and access cybersecurity support by 2024.

Government announcement of expansion of Te Mana Tūhono – Beehive(external link) 

This funding will also expand the support Te Mana Tūhono offers schools by covering new cybersecurity upgrades and support through a Security Operations Centre.

We’re focusing on allowing small and remote schools, schools with the oldest equipment, and schools who choose to offer NCEA exams online, the opportunity to opt-in to receive equipment replacements first.

Partnering with Network for Learning

For the past 15 years, we have been upgrading schools’ ICT network equipment and structured cabling.

Since 2013, we have contracted crown entity Network for Learning (N4L) to deliver the managed network, which is a managed internet service for schools.

All state schools are now connected to the managed network and more than 825,000 students and teachers use it every day, consuming more than 5.2 million gigabytes of data monthly.

Te Mana Tūhono extends the reach of this service to provide additional support within each school. You can find out more about these services below. 

A 'master services' agreement exists between the Ministry of Education (‘the Ministry’) and Network for Learning (N4L). This agreement enables N4L to act on behalf of the Ministry for the purpose of delivering the Te Mana Tūhono programme of work.

A practical example of where N4L are acting on our behalf is contract signing, where a principal opts into the programme by signing N4L’s electronic web order form. (As such, the school is entering into a contractual arrangement with the Ministry.)

What’s included in Te Mana Tūhono

Help and support lies at the heart of Te Mana Tūhono, which is made up of 3 distinct phases:

  1. Equipment support.
  2. Equipment replacement.
  3. Secure access.

 Diagram of the 3 phases of the upgrade process

More information on what’s included can be found in the Te Mana Tūhono information brief and N4L's website. 

Te Mana Tūhono information brief [PDF, 319 KB]

School network – N4L(external link)

Information for contractors and others involved in delivering the programme can be found in the Te Mana Tūhono service guide.

Te Mana Tūhono service guide [PDF, 672 KB]

Terms of service for participating in the programme can be found below.

Te Mana Tūhono terms of service [PDF, 170 KB]

Please visit the N4L website for additional N4L terms.

We need you

The help and support you receive through Te Mana Tūhono is designed for you and your school.

At each phase of Te Mana Tūhono, your input will be really important in different ways.

You can find out more about when we will need your input and what we’ll need from you in our Te Mana Tūhono information brief.

Te Mana Tūhono information brief [PDF, 319 KB]

Help and support

As part of Te Mana Tūhono, schools have access to help and support provided by N4L.

This service is specific for ICT network issues and is separate from the 0800 CALLICT(external link) (0800 225 542(external link)) helpdesk, which covers other aspects of ICT in schools.

More details on that service can be found on our ICT Helpdesk webpage.

ICT Helpdesk

This is designed to supplement the service offered by your ICT support provider or ICT staff, not replace it. The help and support N4L can offer includes:

  • remote assistance for network issues classified as moderate impact or above
  • coordination of warranty support claims
  • helping link schools to a trusted ICT support provider if they don’t have one.

Please note, any work that involves an onsite visit is not covered by the service.

Your ICT support staff or provider remains your primary escalation point for any troubleshooting. They provide integral support for onsite servers, applications, devices and AV classroom technology.

Schools can find out more about where to seek support with ICT issues on the N4L website.

What support can N4L provide? – N4L(external link) 

Where a school has a contracted ICT support provider, N4L will work with them to help resolve issues assessed as having a moderate or greater impact. 

For schools who do not have access to an ICT support provider and the issue cannot be fixed remotely, N4L can recommend one or more of the ICT panel providers in your area and help you to engage them for onsite support.

Cyber security

In a world that is experiencing an increase in cyber-attacks, we are conscious of the need to ensure our schools are cyber-resilient and secure.

The changing digital landscape and adoption of cloud technologies provides an opportunity to achieve and promote cyber resilience.

The $49 million expansion of Te Mana Tūhono announced in September 2020 allows us to offer all state and state-integrated schools the opportunity to access new cyber security upgrades and support.

The 'secure access' phase of the Te Mana Tūhono programme is designed to make school networks more secure and will be supported by the establishment of a Security Operations Centre to offer more protection from cyber security threats.

Te Mana Tūhono privacy statement

The Ministry of Education (we/us) does not obtain personal information directly through Te Mana Tūhono, except in limited circumstances.

We manage any personal information we receive in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020 and our general website privacy statement.

Privacy Act 2020 – Privacy Commissioner(external link)

Ministry of Education website's privacy statement

We work closely with Network for Learning (N4L) to deliver Te Mana Tūhono.

As part of this relationship, N4L acts on behalf of us to provide schools with ICT network support. Schools that opt-in to Te Mana Tūhono will be asked to give N4L access to their data in accordance with N4L’s privacy statement.

Collecting personal information

We may receive personal information directly from schools and their representatives.

We may also receive personal information from N4L to assist with maintaining or upgrading school ICT infrastructure and to support schools in using ICT infrastructure.

In most cases, we will only receive personal information about people working on the school’s ICT network (such as contractors, school ICT support staff, etc), but in some cases it could include personal information about users of the school’s ICT network, such as school staff and students.

Personal information could include names and contact information, computer and network information, the content of communications with us or N4L (emails, call notes, etc) and other information needed to investigate service and access issues.

We will keep personal information secure in accordance with our standards for information security.

Using personal information

We use personal information collected under the Te Mana Tūhono programme to help us maintain and upgrade school ICT infrastructure, support schools in using ICT infrastructure (including responding to issues raised with us by schools), and as otherwise permitted by the Privacy Act 2020 or other legal authority.

Disclosing personal information

We will only disclose personal information to third parties where that is connected to a purpose for which it was collected (eg to N4L to help resolve network issues), as authorised by the person concerned, or where otherwise consistent with the Privacy Act 2020 or other legal authority.

Right to access and correct personal information

You have the right to ask for access and to correct any personal information that we hold about you.

We will respond to requests in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020.

To request a copy of the personal information we hold or to have it corrected please contact our Privacy Team:

The Privacy Officer
Ministry of Education
PO Box 1666
Wellington 6140

Alternatively, you can email health.safety.security.privacy@education.govt.nz.

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