Home About

Almost 50,000 New Zealanders have participated in the Kōrero Mātauranga | Education Conversation so far.

Our vision

From the rich conversations we have had the Government has released its vision for the future of New Zealand education:

Whakamaua te pae tata kia tina – take hold of your potential so it becomes your reality. 

We are descendants of explorers, discoverers and innovators who used their knowledge to traverse distant horizons. Our learning will be inclusive, equitable and connected so we progress and achieve advances for our people and their future journeys and encounters.

Whaia te pae tawhiti kia tata – Explore beyond the distant horizon and draw it near. 

This vision reflects the overwhelming aspirations of New Zealanders, as expressed in the kōrero, for a more inclusive, equitable, connected and future focussed New Zealand learning system.

Our future objectives and actions

A strong sense of what New Zealanders want education to do, for every learner, their whānau, our communities, and our nation, has also emerged from the kōrero.

Reflecting these aspirations, the Government has decided on five objectives to help shape a stronger education system with all New Zealanders. It has also set out a series of actions, over 10 years, to achieve these objectives, and to realise the vision for the future of education. 

These objectives are:

  • Learners at the centre of education – learners with their whānau at the centre of education
  • Barrier-free access –great education opportunities and outcomes are within reach for every learner
  • Quality teaching and leadership – quality teaching and leadership make the difference for learners and their whānau
  • Future of learning and work – Learning that is relevant to the lives of New Zealanders today and throughout their lives
  • World-class inclusive public education – New Zealand education is trusted and sustainable.

You can read more about these objectives, and the actions we are taking to achieve them in this document:

Consulting on our educators' future priorities

Much of the power for educational change sits with places of learning, working in partnership with their students and local communities. We will achieve more if we are working towards shared priorities and people can share insights and expertise, and imagine and problem solve together through our networks.

To help us all achieve our vision, and the objectives we have set for the future of education, we have consulted on the draft priorities for education providers, set out in the statement of National Education and Learning Priorities (NELP) in the early learning and compulsory schooling sectors, and the Tertiary Education Strategy (TES) in the tertiary sector.

Setting shared priorities does not mean that every place of learning needs to focus improvement on the same things at the same time, or in the same way, but it will ensure that, the things that matter most are not left to chance.

Consultation on the NELP and the TES began on 17 September 2019. TES consultation concluded on 25 October 2019 and NELP consultation concluded on 25 November 2019.

Submissions and survey responses will now be analysed, along with the feedback we received from public and stakeholder hui. Feedback on the NELP and TES will be analysed and will be published in an upcoming report.

NELP and TES summary document

NELP and TES discussion document

You can find more translations of the summary document in other languages on the Resources page

We think these priorities reflect what you have told us matter most to making a difference to the progress, success and wellbeing of all our ākonga/learners, and particularly to those most disadvantaged by our current system. However, what we have heard during the consultation process will be considered as we draft the final NELP and TES priorities.

Email contact

Any questions about the NELP or the TES can be directed to: NELP.TES@education.govt.nz.

Timeframes

Consultation on the NELP and the TES began on 17 September 2019. TES consultation concluded on 25 October 2019 and NELP consultation concluded on 25 November 2019.