Curriculum release dates confirmed for Years 0-10

The updated National Curriculum for Years 0–10 will be released by 9 September 2026, following consultation with the education sector and the public, Education Minister Erica Stanford says.

Science and Social Sciences will be released first, on 12 August, because schools must begin using them in 2027. This will give schools more time to consider the changes and prepare for implementation.

Pūtaiao and Pūmanawa Tangata, the corresponding wāhanga ako in Te Marautanga o Aotearoa, will be released on 26 August following final quality assurance of the content in te reo Māori.

More than 3,900 submissions were received across six learning areas and seven wāhanga ako. 
The Ministry invited the sector and wider New Zealand public to take part in the consultation, and ran in-person workshops, online webinars, surveys, and in class trialling to encourage participation.
It also engaged with education organisations, subject associations, education experts and sector review groups to seek further advice on the drafts.  

“I want to acknowledge the time, and effort people took to engage with both the New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa,” Ms Stanford says.

“The Ministry has committed to reviewing every submission and has adapted the timeline to ensure feedback is considered and appropriately reflected in the final curriculum.

Ms Stanford says it has been almost 20 years since the National Curriculum was last fully updated, and it needs to reflect the changes that have taken place in New Zealand and around the world.

“There has been significant variability and inequity across the system. A strong curriculum is one of the ways we can help address these issues,” Ms Stanford says.

“The purpose of the curriculum refresh is to provide clearer guidance on what students should learn at each year level, in a way that is coherent, age-appropriate and workable for schools across Aotearoa New Zealand.”  

Updating the Years 0–10 content and frameworks is part of the Government’s wider programme of curriculum, assessment and qualifications work to lift achievement for all New Zealand students.

The draft curriculum for Years 11–13 is currently in consultation and will be finalised later this year.

“Changes made through the Education and Training Amendment Bill will help avoid future major curriculum overhauls that cause disruption. We are moving toward a planned approach to curriculum review and updates, and the Ministry is working through what regular review cycles will look like for each learning area and wāhanga ako.

“When the full curriculum frameworks and Years 0–10 learning areas and wāhanga ako are released in September, the Ministry will also provide details of the supports available to help schools and kura use the updated National Curriculum successfully,” Ms Stanford says.

“This will include classroom resources, professional learning and development, and engagement opportunities such as webinars and in-person hui.

“I strongly encourage schools and kura that are ready to begin earlier to do so. 

“I am looking forward to all schools and kura seeing the final curriculum for Years 0–10. 

“We all want to deliver a high-quality, inclusive curriculum that supports teachers and kaiako to enable all New Zealand kids to thrive. 

“We want to ensure schools and teachers have the time and resources to deliver the new curriculum. It has been written specifically for Kiwi kids — it is engaging and rigorous, and it celebrates who we are as a nation.

“Finally, I want to acknowledge the New Zealand Rural Schools Leadership Association and the Auckland Primary Principals’ Association for their advocacy and constructive engagement.”

Editors’ notes

The National Curriculum is made up of the New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa.

Years 0–10 English, Mathematics and Statistics, Te Reo Rangatira, and Pāngarau are already required to be used, except for some specified kura which have until 2027.

Schools and kura are required to start using the curriculum from the following dates:

2027: Years 0-8 — Science, Social Sciences, Pūtaiao, and Pūmanawa Tangata. Years 9-10 — all learning areas and wāhanga ako. 
2028: Year 11 — all learning areas and wāhanga ako. 
2029: Years 0-8 — all remaining learning areas and wāhanga ako: Health and Physical Education, The Arts, Technology, Learning Languages, Waiora, Toi Ihiihi, Hangarau, Te Reo Pākehā, and Ngā Reo. Year 12 — all learning areas and wāhanga ako. 
2030: Year 13 — all learning areas and wāhanga ako. ...