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The Ministry of Education is working to support schools, kura and kaiako to understand and put into practice new rules and guidelines to minimise the use of physical restraint.

This is in response to changes to the framework for using physical restraint in the Education and Training Act 2020.

In 2020 we consulted on new draft rules and guidelines for minimising physical restraint in schools. 

The consultation period ended on 31 March 2022. Please visit the Minimising Physical Restraint page on our website for more information.

Below you can download and read the feedback reports from that consultation and the initial consultation documents. We’ll be using the feedback to clarify the draft rules and reshape the draft guidelines for publication in early 2023.

Keep updated on next steps here: Minimising physical restraint in New Zealand schools and kura – Education in New Zealand.

Feedback reports

Short version of the summary of submissions: Short version of summary report [PDF, 2.7 MB]

(We’re currently developing translations and accessible formats of this report.)

Long version of the summary of submissions:

Consultation Submission Summary [DOCX, 2.8 MB]

Consultation Submission Summary [PDF, 1.3 MB]

Findings from our research [PDF, 6 MB] into what helps tamariki feel safe and included at school, and what supports tamariki when they’re upset and distressed.

Initial consultation documents

Consultation Document [PDF, 573 KB]

Rules [PDF, 583 KB]

Guidelines [PDF, 1.17 MB]

Translations of consultation initial document

Te Reo Māori [PDF, 536 KB]

Cook Islands Māori [PDF, 127 KB]

Fijian [PDF, 173 KB]

Kiribati [PDF, 175 KB]

Niuean [PDF, 136 KB]

Rotuman  [PDF, 236 KB]

Samoan [PDF, 144 KB]

Tokelauan [PDF, 136 KB]

Tongan [PDF, 165 KB]

Tuvaluan [PDF, 138 KB]

Easy Read

Physical restraint draft rules and guidelines - Easy Read [PDF, 1.9 MB]

Physical restraint draft rules and guidelines - Easy Read [DOC, 5.9 MB]

Large Print

Consultation on the draft rules and guidelines on physical restraint - Large Print [PDF, 212 KB] KB

Consultation on the draft rules and guidelines on physical restraint - Large Print [DOCX, 118 KB]

Consultation on Physical Restraint in NZSL

Captioning is available in both Te Reo Māori and English. 

To select, click on the cc icon underneath the video.

Audio

Physical Restraint Consultation audio [MP3, 5.33 MB]

Braille

Physical Restraint Consultation Braille Reading Format in Zip file [ZIP, 5 KB]

 

More information

If you have any questions about the Physical Restraint Consultation, you are welcome to email us at physicalrestraint.convo@education.govt.nz.

For updates on the physical restraint programme of work, please visit Minimising physical restraint in New Zealand schools and kura – education.govt.nz.