Educators representing 34 organisations have slammed the direction, pace, and lack of genuine consultation in the Government’s rushed, wholesale curriculum changes.
In a joint statement concluding a hui organised on Tuesday, 24 March, by the New Zealand Principals’ Federation (NZPF) and education union NZEI Te Riu Roa, educators noted that the direction of the changes, including the structure and content for Te Mātaiaho | The New Zealand Curriculum and Te Matauranga o Aotearoa, fails to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
They criticised the lack of engagement, consultation, and co-design in developing these sweeping changes, saying they have been “driven by the narrow ideological interests of a small group.”
“The pace of curriculum change is unreasonable, has layered multiple demands on schools and kura, and has created huge workloads on the sector,” they said. “This will have significant negative impacts, including impacting on the recruitment and retention of teachers.”
The educators warn that the curriculum framework and six draft curriculum documents are not fit for purpose, fail to meet the Ministry’s own standards, and represent a profound, unworkable narrowing of curriculum scope.
NZPF President Jason Miles said the sheer breadth of organisations signing the joint statement highlights the unprecedented level of concern across the education sector.
“When principals, teachers, subject experts, and academics all stand together to issue a warning like this, the Government must stop and listen. We are the professionals who have to make this work in the classroom, and the sector is united in saying this rushed approach is unworkable,” Mr Miles said.
NZEI Te Riu Roa President Ripeka Lessels encouraged educators, parents, and school boards to make their voices heard through submissions to the Ministry before consultation closes on 24 April.
“If we do not act now, we risk letting a narrow ideology rewrite the future of our tamariki. I urge every educator and school community to make a submission and demand a curriculum that is workable, evidence-based, and honours Te Tiriti of Waitangi,” Mrs Lessels said.
Attending the hui were teachers, academics, and representatives from 34 education organisations, such as peak bodies, unions, principals’ associations, and subject associations.
ENDS
Note to editors:
Joint statement on curriculum
We, the undersigned, agree that:
The direction of national curriculum change, including the structure and content of draft learning areas and framework for Te Mātaiaho | The New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa currently out for consultation, does not honour te Tiriti o Waitangi, nor does it support giving effect to te Tiriti o Waitangi in our schools and kura.
The current process taken for curriculum development has not met the expectations of the sector in terms of engagement, consultation, and co-design. As such, it has ignored the wisdom and input of young people, education experts including teachers, iwi, hāpū, and whānau. Rather, it has been driven by the narrow ideological interests of a small group.
The pace of curriculum change is unreasonable, has layered multiple demands on schools and kura, and has created huge workload pressures on the sector. The sector has not been adequately resourced, nor has it been given enough time, to consider or implement the expected change. This will have significant negative impacts, including impacting on the recruitment and retention of teachers.
As they stand, the current draft curriculum documents and framework are not fit for purpose and do not meet the Ministry's own stated standards. They represent a profound narrowing of curriculum scope, which in many cases is unworkable in particular education settings.
Signed by and dated 25 March 2026:
Ripeka Lessels, Te Manukura, NZEI Te Riu Roa
Bruce Jepsen, Manukura, Te Akatea
Megan Collins, Aotearoa Social Studies Educators' Network (ASSEN)
Alicia Poroa, Aotearoa Social Studies Educators’ Network (ASSEN)
Therese Ford, Te Akapūmau
Heemi McDonald, Physical Education New Zealand
Maria Perreau, Aotearoa Social Studies Educators’ Network (ASSEN)
Sophie Hoskins, on behalf of Fiona McDonald, Education Outdoors New
Zealand (EONZ)
Dr Paul Heyward, Teacher Education Forum of Aotearoa New Zealand (TEFANZ)
Associate Professor Naomi Ingram, University of Otago and TEFANZ member
Jason Miles, President, New Zealand Principals' Federation
Lynda Stuart, Aotearoa Educators Collective
Annette Thomson and Samantha Wehipeihana, Whakaari Aotearoa Drama NZ