12 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1213 views
Ellen MacGregor-Reid has been appointed as the new Secretary for Education, a role she has been acting in since October 2024. She has a strong background in education leadership, having held senior positions at the Ministry of Education since 2015. The Education Minister, Erica Stanford, highlights MacGregor-Reid's role in driving the government's education agenda and expresses optimism about working together to improve outcomes for all students.
12 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1185 views
The Government marks one year since apologizing to survivors of abuse and neglect in care, acknowledging their suffering and emphasizing the need for remembrance and support. Survivor communities across New Zealand held events supported by the National Day of Reflection Fund, promoting healing and awareness. An additional $2.7 million is allocated for the Survivor Support and Recognition Fund to provide ongoing support services and efforts to prevent future abuse in care.
11 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1242 views
The Education and Training Amendment Bill (No 2) has passed its third reading in Parliament, focusing on lifting student achievement, improving education workforce governance, and upholding freedom of expression in universities. Key changes include prioritizing educational achievement for school boards, extending notice period for strike action, implementing attendance management plans, strengthening teacher education requirements, and requiring universities to develop freedom of expression statements. The legislation aims to improve outcomes for young people, enhance academic freedom, and promote critical thinking and diversity in universities.
03 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1193 views
The Government is addressing issues in Initial Teacher Education (ITE) to improve teacher quality and restore trust. Recent reports have highlighted deficiencies in teacher training, with many new teachers lacking confidence in subject content and teaching approaches. Legislative changes will transfer professional standard setting functions from the Teaching Council to the Ministry of Education to ensure stronger oversight and clearer policy direction in ITE.
28 Oct 2025
12 months ago
1345 views
Education Minister Erica Stanford announced the release of New Zealand's new Year 1–10 curriculum, emphasizing the importance of updating the curriculum after almost 20 years to provide a clear, knowledge-rich, and fair education system. The draft curriculum is open for consultation for six months to gather feedback from educators and stakeholders, with a focus on local relevance and global standards. The curriculum includes key updates in subjects like Social Sciences, Science, Health & Physical Education, The Arts, Technology, and Learning Languages to ensure a nationally consistent framework for essential knowledge and better outcomes for all students.
23 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1163 views
New Zealand and Iceland are strengthening cooperation in areas such as working holidays, taxation, and geothermal energy, as announced by Foreign Minister Winston Peters during his visit to Iceland. Initiatives like a reciprocal Working Holiday Scheme aim to enhance collaboration between the two island nations, fostering opportunities for young people to engage, learn, and contribute internationally. The Double Tax Agreement and exploration of geothermal energy aim to bolster economic ties and address future energy needs, with Mr Peters highlighting the importance of learning from Iceland's expertise in this field during his broader visit to the Nordic region.
22 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1311 views
Public Service Minister Judith Collins criticizes the proposed strike as unfair, unproductive, and unnecessary, urging for its cancellation due to the negative impact on patients with canceled appointments, students missing school, and upcoming exams for NCEA-level students. Education Minister Erica Stanford highlights the government's efforts to increase salaries for teachers, emphasizing the rejection of the latest offer by the PPTA. Health Minister Simeon Brown discusses the rejected offer for senior doctors, highlighting their current remuneration and proposed salary increases, while also mentioning the proposed fund for addressing workforce shortages.
21 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1187 views
The Government has passed the Responding to Abuse in Care Legislation Amendment Bill to enhance protection for individuals in state care, aligning with recommendations from the Royal Commission. Changes in the legislation include eliminating strip searches of young people in secure residential care, clarifying time limits for placements, introducing new search powers in youth justice facilities, and preventing individuals with overseas convictions from working with children. The amendments also address record-keeping challenges for survivors and extend monitoring powers to improve practices, with a commitment to further progress in safeguarding vulnerable individuals.
21 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1226 views
The Redress System for Abuse in Care Bill passed its first reading, focusing on recognizing abuse in care experiences and providing redress through financial payments, apologies, access to care records, and counseling services. The Bill introduces a framework for independent consideration of financial redress for survivors who have committed serious offenses, aiming to prevent the scheme from being brought into disrepute. The Bill has been referred to the Social Services and Community Select Committee for further review, encouraging input from survivors, advocates, and other stakeholders.
21 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1196 views
The Government is introducing the Expanded New Zealand Curriculum (NZC) to assist 12,000 students with high and complex additional needs starting from Term 1 next year. This resource aims to provide clear guidance and evidence-based practices for teachers in delivering curriculum-aligned teaching, particularly in English and Mathematics. Developed in collaboration with the Specialist Education Principals’ Association of New Zealand, the Expanded NZC ensures that learners' needs are recognized and supported for their progress and achievement.
20 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1204 views
Education Minister Erica Stanford has launched the Curriculum Roadshow for Leaders to support school leaders in leading curriculum change nationwide. The program emphasizes collaboration, leading through changes, and sharing best practices to implement a strengthened national curriculum effectively. The initiative includes expert insights, practical strategies, and resources to aid in implementing curriculum changes, with a staged release plan for different learning areas leading up to 2030's goal of 80% Year 8 students achieving at or above curriculum expectations.
19 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1147 views
The Government expresses regret over the impact of the planned strike by unions on patients, students, and families, noting the strike's apparent political motivation and disruption to education and healthcare services. The Government emphasizes its efforts to negotiate fair pay increases for teachers, doctors, and nurses, highlighting specific salary offers and benefits provided. Despite financial constraints and increased public debt, the Government seeks to resolve disputes through dialogue and urges unions to prioritize settlements over strikes to ensure the continuity of essential services.
17 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1278 views
The Government's focus on efficiency in school property has freed up $100 million for reinvestment in new classrooms. By utilizing offsite manufacturing and repeatable designs, the cost of delivering new classrooms has been halved. This investment includes new classrooms and learning support spaces in various schools, as well as funding for repairs and upgrades in schools nationwide.
16 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1271 views
The Government, led by Education Minister Erica Stanford, is implementing new curriculum updates, resources, and assessments to improve student achievement. The updated learning areas for English and Mathematics will be available from October 20, with other subjects phased in by 2028 to allow schools more time for planning. Additional support for teachers, including professional learning, resources, and assessment tools like SMART and PATs, will be provided to ensure student progress and parental awareness of their children's performance.
15 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1281 views
The Education Review Office (ERO) research confirms that the Government's decision to mandate structured literacy and mathematics has led to improved student engagement and ability. Teachers, parents, and students have reported better progress in English and maths, with new approaches like structured literacy improving attention and behavior in the classroom. The government's investment in teacher training and resources has resulted in 80% of teachers changing their teaching methods, with a focus on explicit teaching techniques benefiting all schools, particularly those in lower socio-economic communities.