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Read the New Zealand Gazette notice:

Mātauranga (He Anga Marau Kōhungahunga) Pānui 2023 / Education (Early Learning Curriculum Framework) Notice 2023 - gazette.govt.nz

Read the updated Early Learning Curriculum Framework:

Early Learning Curriculum Framework | He Anga Marau Kōhungahunga 2023

Public consultation

In July and August 2022, the Ministry of Education publicly consulted on updating the legal curriculum framework for early learning.

Along with the principles and strands of Te Whāriki, we consulted on including the goals and learning outcomes and full te ao Māori interpretations of the four parts of Te Whāriki in the legal framework.

The feedback we received highlighted overall support for including the goals and learning outcomes of Te Whāriki.

Following strong early learning sector feedback, we’re also pleased to include te ao Māori interpretations of the full framework of Te Whāriki developed by Brenda Soutar and Dr Lesley Rameka for services to use in their local curricula and programmes.

You can read a summary of consultation feedback at:

Gazetting Te Whāriki consultation summary 

What’s included in the new legal framework?

The new Early Learning Curriculum Framework reflects the two pathways for early learning set out in Te Whāriki (2017).

For early childhood services and playgroups, it includes:

  • the principles, strands, goals and learning outcomes of Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mō ngā mokopuna o Aotearoa early childhood curriculum (Te Whāriki)
  • te ao Māori interpretations of the principles, strands, goals and learning outcomes of Te Whāriki – in te reo Māori and English.

For kōhanga reo affiliated to Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust, it includes:

  • ngā kaupapa whakahaere, ngā taumata whakahirahira and Te Tauira Whāriki | Te Katoa o te Mokopuna of Te Whāriki a te Kōhanga Reo.

When will the expanded curriculum framework become a legal requirement?

The expanded early learning curriculum framework will come into effect from 1 May 2024. This will give services and playgroups time to understand and implement the new requirement before comes the into effect from 1 May 2024.

Where can I find more information and support?

The national early learning curriculum documents, Te Whāriki and Te Whāriki a te Kōhanga Reo, and the online portal Te Whāriki Online continue to provide the best guidance for helping services and playgroups ensure their curricula and programmes are consistent with the legal framework.

In the coming months, we will be curating current resources on Te Whāriki Online to support services that want assurance they are complying with the new requirements.

The Ministry of Education is also providing:

  • professional learning and development opportunities for services that want to implement te ao Māori interpretations of the goals and learning outcomes of Te Whāriki, which are now part of the early learning curriculum framework
  • videos with Brenda Soutar and Lesley Rameka about te ao Māori interpretations of the goals and learning outcomes
  • e-learning modules about te ao Māori interpretations of the goals and learning outcomes
  • guidance and support for playgroups about the expanded legal curriculum framework.

Will services need to implement the bicultural and te ao Māori interpretations of Te Whāriki together?

No. The updated early learning curriculum framework will require all licensed services (except ngā kōhanga reo affiliated with Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust) and certified playgroups to implement either the bicultural framework of Te Whāriki or te ao Māori interpretations (but not both) to meet regulated standards from 1 May 2024.

If your service chooses to use te ao Māori interpretations to meet regulated standards, you can still use the full suite of resources on Te Whāriki Online to support local curriculum implementation. If your service does not use te ao Māori interpretations to meet regulated standards, you can still use the interpretations to strengthen your bicultural practice and local curriculum.

What will be the legal curriculum requirements for ngā kōhanga reo?

The part of the legal curriculum framework that applies to ngā kōhanga reo affiliated with Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust (the Trust) includes Te Tauira Whāriki (a component unique to Te Whāriki a te Kōhanga reo) along with ngā kaupapa whakahaere, and ngā taumata whakahirahira. The inclusion of Te Tauira Whāriki will ensure a sound Kaupapa Māori approach in ngā kōhanga reo that will strengthen the learning and development needs of mokopuna.

Ngā kōhanga reo affiliated with the Trust will be required to implement the full framework of Te Whāriki a te Kōhanga Reo from 1 May 2024.

If you are a kōhanga reo affiliated with the Trust and have any questions about Te Whāriki a te Kōhanga Reo, please contact the Trust at:

info@kohanga.ac.nz or

Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust, PO Box 38741, Wellington.