Articles tagged with School
Education Minister Appoints Debbie Francis to Revitalize Teaching Council Board
1 week ago | 129 viewsEducation Minister Erica Stanford has announced Debbie Francis's appointment to the Teaching Council board to support the organisation through significant challenges. Francis, with extensive experience in organisational change and strategy across public and private sectors, is expected to help address pressing issues and restore trust in the council. Her background includes leadership roles at PwC, educational institutions, and a Masters in Public Policy, highlighting her capability to contribute effectively to the council's renewal.
Tags: Erica Stanford Debbie Francis Teaching Council PwC New Zealand Correspondence School UCOL Lincoln University Education Minister organisational change public policyNgāti Whātua Ōrākei to Open Innovative Charter School in 2026
1 week ago | 108 viewsAssociate Education Minister David Seymour announced that Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei will open a charter school, Te Kura o Ngāti Whātua ki Tamaki, in Term 3 of 2026, offering innovative, iwi-led, real-world learning with digital tools and cultural integration. The charter school model provides the same funding as state schools but with greater flexibility and stricter accountability to better meet diverse student needs. This new school will be among 20 charter schools opening in 2026, with more expected as the government encourages both new openings and conversions from state schools.
Tags: David Seymour Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Te Kura o Ngāti Whātua ki Tamaki charter schools Māori iwi education Charter School Agency Authorisation Board kapa hakaTe Kura Awhitu: New Tūhoe Charter School Opening Term 2, 2026
1 week ago | 143 viewsAssociate Education Minister David Seymour announced that Te Kura Awhitu, sponsored by the Tūhoe Charitable Trust, will open as a charter school by Term 2, 2026, offering a full Māori immersion education rooted in Tūhoe traditions and the Te Urewera environment. The charter school model provides autonomy for Tūhoe to embed their language, values, and cultural identity into the curriculum while maintaining strict accountability and using NCEA achievement standards. This initiative reflects a significant step in the Crown-Tūhoe relationship and is part of a broader expansion of charter schools in New Zealand, with 19 schools planned by 2026 and more expected to open or convert.
Tags: David Seymour Te Kura Awhitu Tūhoe Charitable Trust Tūhoe Te Urewera NCEA Charter School Agency Authorisation Board New ZealandTe Kura Awhitu: New Tūhoe Charter School Opening Term 2, 2026 with Māori Immersion
1 week ago | 177 viewsAssociate Education Minister David Seymour announced that Te Kura Awhitu, sponsored by the Tūhoe Charitable Trust, will open as a charter school by Term 2, 2026, offering full Māori immersion education rooted in Tūhoe culture and using Te Urewera as a learning environment. The charter school model provides autonomy, flexibility, and strict accountability, enabling communities like Tūhoe to embed their language, values, and traditions into the curriculum while meeting NCEA achievement standards. This school will be among 19 charter schools opening in 2026, reflecting the government's commitment to innovative education options driven by community ideas and strict performance measures.
Tags: David Seymour Te Kura Awhitu Tūhoe Charitable Trust Tūhoe Te Urewera NCEA Charter School Agency Authorisation Board New ZealandGovernment Allocates Land for New Kumeū Secondary School in North-West Auckland
2 weeks ago | 297 viewsThe Government is prioritizing land for a new secondary school in Kumeū, North-West Auckland, to support the rapidly growing community, with the Notice of Requirement now lodged with Auckland Council. Education Minister Erica Stanford highlighted the government's efforts to deliver more school property efficiently, including halving classroom construction costs, funding new schools, and investing heavily in maintenance. Local MP Chris Penk welcomed the move as a vital step for families, and further school property announcements are expected this year to meet future educational needs.
Tags: Erica Stanford Chris Penk Kumeū Huapai District School Kaipara ki Mahurangi Education Minister Government Resource Management Act 1991 Auckland CouncilNew Flat Bush School Opens with Modern Design and Learning Support
3 weeks ago | 171 viewsThe Government has opened a new primary school, Te Kura Rau Iti, in Flat Bush to accommodate the suburb’s rapid growth, featuring 30 flexible teaching spaces and modern facilities with a $41 million build cost under budget. The school uses a repeatable design to ensure quality and cost-efficiency, avoids large barn-style classrooms, and includes plans for future expansion and learning support initiatives funded by a $746.7 million investment. Local officials highlight the school’s role in relieving pressure on nearby schools and advancing the Government’s commitment to building a world-leading education system.
Tags: Erica Stanford Rima Nakhle Te Kura Rau Iti Flat Bush Ahutoetoe School Brookfields School Te Pae School Takanini Education Minister GovernmentNew Charter School Te Whare Kounga to Open in Wairoa Term 3 2026
3 weeks ago | 219 viewsAssociate Education Minister David Seymour announced that Te Whare Kounga, a new charter school in Wairoa, will open in Term 3, 2026 to address the high rates of youth disengagement by offering a hands-on, locally relevant curriculum tailored to students' needs. The charter school model provides the same funding as state schools but with greater flexibility and stricter accountability, enabling innovative community-driven education solutions. Te Whare Kounga joins five other new charter schools opening in 2026, bringing the total to 18, with more expected as the government encourages both new establishments and conversions from state schools.
Tags: David Seymour Te Whare Kounga Te Papatipu Matihiko Wairoa Charter School Agency Authorisation Board NCEA Associate Education Minister New Zealand Charter SchoolsGovernment Supports Northland and Gisborne Schools Amid Severe Weather Disruptions
1 month ago | 204 viewsThe Government is providing support to schools, kura, and families in Northland and Gisborne to minimize disruptions caused by severe weather, including restoring transport services, maintaining school lunch programs, and setting up an Education Hub at Whangaruru School for displaced students. Some schools in Gisborne have postponed start dates or are exploring alternatives like online learning and shared teaching spaces to ensure continued education. The Ministry of Education is actively assessing school damages, offering helplines for concerns, and working closely with schools to provide ongoing assistance and support.
Tags: Erica Stanford Northland Gisborne Whangaruru School Te Araroa Hicks Bay Ministry of Education Healthy School Lunches Education Hub school transportNew Day Specialist Schools Open in NZ for Children with Complex Needs by 2028
1 month ago | 277 viewsThe New Zealand Government is establishing two new day specialist schools in Palmerston North and South Auckland by 2027-2028 to support children with high and complex needs, marking the first such development in nearly 50 years. This initiative addresses long-standing demand for specialist education, expanding the total number of specialist schools to 29 and providing families with more tailored learning options. Funded through recent budgets, the schools will feature purpose-built, accessible facilities designed to foster inclusion and help students unlock their potential.
Tags: Erica Stanford Nicola Willis New Zealand specialist schools education high and complex needs Palmerston North South Auckland Government learning supportOver 500 New Doctors Start Work in New Zealand Boosting Healthcare Access
1 month ago | 320 viewsOver 500 newly graduated doctors have begun working across New Zealand, marking the start of their careers as House Officers providing frontline care. The government is investing in increasing medical school places by 100 annually to build a sustainable health system with more home-grown clinicians. Health Minister Simeon Brown emphasizes that this growth in the medical workforce will improve access to care for patients and communities nationwide.
Tags: Simeon Brown New Zealand Post Graduate Year 1 PGY1 House Officers medical school doctors healthcare government medical trainingEducation Minister Erica Stanford Announces New Pay Deal for Area School Principals
2 months ago | 431 viewsEducation Minister Erica Stanford announced the successful renewal of the Area School Principals’ Collective Agreement, which benefits over 140 principals with improved pay and conditions. Key enhancements include a 4.7% pay increase, a $6,000 NCEA Change Implementation Allowance, phased increases to principal payments, and a $5,000 mentor allowance. The settlement reflects a commitment to professional development, student achievement, and productive negotiations supporting rural school leadership.
Tags: Erica Stanford Area School Principals Education Minister pay negotiations collective agreement rural communities professional learning student achievement NCEA Change Implementation Allowance Career Structure paymentsGovernment-Backed KidsCan ECE Food Programme Boosts Child Development and Wellbeing
2 months ago | 376 viewsThe Ministry of Education’s ECE Food Programme Kōhanga Reo Survey Report highlights strong support for KidsCan’s delivery of taxpayer-funded meals to up to 10,000 early childhood education (ECE) children, with high ratings for reliability, food safety, communication, flexibility, and professionalism. The report shows significant improvements in children’s physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development linked to the programme, including better energy, concentration, mood, and social interactions. With $4 million in annual government funding and expected taxpayer savings of $145 million in 2026, KidsCan’s programme continues to expand, supporting more children’s nutrition and learning outcomes.
Tags: KidsCan Mr Seymour Sir Peter Gluckman Ministry of Education Associate Education Minister ECE Food Programme Kōhanga Reo Healthy School Lunch Early Childhood Education taxpayer funded mealsGovernment Boosts School Maintenance Funding with 50% Increase from 2026
2 months ago | 310 viewsThe Government is significantly increasing school maintenance funding for the first time since 2010, raising the Five Year Agreement (5YA) base rate by 50% and doubling the minimum allocation for small schools starting July 2026. This investment aims to ensure classrooms are safe, warm, and dry, allowing schools greater certainty and flexibility to plan essential upgrades and modernizations over the long term. Additionally, a $58 million package has already provided over 2,400 schools with one-off grants to address urgent maintenance needs, receiving positive feedback from school communities.
Tags: Erica Stanford school property maintenance funding 5 Year Agreement school capital funding classroom upgrades small schools government investment school maintenance taxpayer moneyWaikato Medical School Construction Begins to Boost Regional Healthcare and Training
2 months ago | 408 viewsConstruction has begun on the Waikato Graduate School of Medicine, supported by over $230 million in funding, to train more doctors and improve primary care access in regional New Zealand. The new graduate-entry program, starting in 2028, aims to create a diverse medical workforce with a focus on rural and regional clinical placements, enhancing healthcare in underserved communities. This initiative complements the Government’s broader investment in the primary care workforce and supports regional development by providing local medical education and strengthening healthcare infrastructure.
Tags: Simeon Brown Shane Reti University of Waikato Waikato medical school New Zealand Graduate School of Medicine primary care rural health medical education Government funding healthcare workforceGovernment Cell Phone Ban in Schools Boosts Student Focus, Achievement, and Behavior
3 months ago | 373 viewsNew research from the Education Review Office shows that banning cell phones in schools has improved student focus, behaviour, achievement, and reduced bullying. Despite these positive outcomes, about a third of senior students still break the rules, mainly to message parents, highlighting the need for parental support and updated school guidelines. The government is considering expanding the ban to include smartwatches and continues to support schools in implementing policies that enhance student learning and wellbeing.
Tags: Education Review Office Erica Stanford cell phone ban student achievement bullying reduction student behaviour secondary schools digital distractions school policy technology in education