He Pitopito KōreroSchool Leaders Bulletin

Attendance, achievement and assessment

Supports to accelerate learning in literacy, te reo matatini and pāngarau released

Curriculum supports for schools and kura covering reading, writing, pānui and tuhituhi were recently announced:

Targeted supports to accelerate learning in literacy and te reo matatini – Tāhūrangi

These supports align with structured teaching approaches and Rangaranga Reo ā-Tā and will help schools and kura accelerate student learning by providing additional support aligned to the updated curriculum.

For schools using New Zealand Curriculum

Applications opened on 2 September for you to apply for resourcing to help meet student needs in Years 0 to 2.

Staffing resource for structured literacy support in years 0–2 – Tāhūrangi

Programmes for students have been extended for Years 3 to 8 and applications open on 20 September.

For settings using Te Marautanga o Aotearoa 

From 2025, schools and kura using Te Marautanga o Aotearoa will be able to access targeted and tailored support for ākonga identified by kaiako as needing extra support in te reo matatini and pāngarau. Applications will open in Term 1, 2025.

NCEA

From 14 October NCEA co-requisites in Years 9 to 13 will be available for schools and kura in settings where learning is through te reo Māori.

As always, supports will continue to be available from your local Te Mahau office and the regional learning support workforce for learners with unique learning needs, including the RTLit service.

Applications open for Cohort 2 PLD for structured approaches to literacy and te reo matatini

A reminder that applications will close on 13 September.

For more information on approved providers, key dates and how to apply visit:

PLD for structured literacy and te reo matatini approaches – Ministry of Education 

Curriculum days confirmed for 2025 for Years 0 to 8

The Minister of Education Hon Erica Stanford has approved two dedicated maths and pāngarau curriculum days for 2025 to support Years 0 to 8 kaiako | teachers as they start to embed new curriculum content from the start of next year. 
The purpose is to: 
•    provide Years 0 to 8 leaders and staff with protected time to participate in PLD focused on understanding the updated Year 0-8 maths or pāngarau curriculum and teaching practice expectations.
•    growing their knowledge, capabilities and confidence using the curriculum.

You will have flexibility over when in 2025 your school | kura closes for these days, with parents and caregivers to be given at least a term’s notice of the actual closure dates decided on. Because schools and kura are closed, it also means relief teachers can participate in PLD. 
Further information will be provided on how to access maths and pāngarau PLD and how to book facilitators to support the curriculum days.

Te Poipoi Kaiako | Mentor support programme

The programme provides guidance for mentors and mentees on their journey towards full certification and ongoing professional learning and development.

We’re offering a webinar and 13 funded in-person workshops from 16 October. Where appropriate, they will be facilitated in te reo Māori and English. To register and find out more visit:

Te Poipoi Kaiako | Mentor support programme – Tātai Aho Rau

Free sign language interpreters for Deaf parents

We contract Wordsworth Interpreting to provide free NZSL interpreters for Deaf parents attending parent-teacher interviews, assemblies, and other school events. This supports parents to participate in their child’s education. To read more about the service, and how to book an interpreter, visit:

Interpreters for Deaf parents at school – Ministry of Education

Beginning principals | tumuaki self-directed online resource

We are introducing a comprehensive resource consisting of 30 modules each in English and te reo Māori as well as 30 podcasts (25 in English and five in Te reo Māori).

Modules and podcasts will be released in batches and the first tranche, available from tomorrow, focuses on self-directed learning and the tumuaki | principal role. Use your Education Sector logon on Education Learning Management System to access these:

Education Learning Management System – New Zealand Government

Consultation on school board objectives and NELP provisions

The Government is proposing to make changes to the board objectives and National Education and Learning Priorities (NELP) provisions in the Education and Training Act. This includes making educational achievement the primary objective for boards and introducing new objectives on attendance and assessment. 

Consultation on these proposals is open until 14 October. Read more about the proposals and how to make a submission at:

Changes to school board objectives and NELP provisions – Ministry of Education

Health, safety and wellbeing

Measles update – looking ahead

Measles is dangerous and contagious, especially in communities with low vaccination rates. Although New Zealand continues to be free of measles, it could arrive at any time. We encourage everyone to check if they are immune to measles, especially those planning to travel overseas for the school holidays. The key message: if you aren’t sure, get vaccinated.

Measles immunity – Te Whatu Ora

Guidance for creating social cohesion

We have received a number of requests for support in creating environments that welcome and celebrate diversity. To promote our schools as safe and inclusive spaces for all, you may find the following resources helpful:   

Defining diversity activities – TKI

Resources – Unteach Racism 

Social cohesion for schools – Human Rights Commission

Home – Bullying free NZ

Contact your local Te Mahau office if you require additional support.  

Local Ministry offices – Ministry of Education

Workforce and resourcing

Schools payroll remediation payment

On 3 September, we began contacting around 8,000 former employees who are due remediation for the short-term relief teacher two-hour minimum contractual entitlement.

Around 330 employees who were not identified as current for the payment on 25 June, but who were identified as current on 20 August, will receive any top-up they are owed for the short-term relief teacher two-hour minimum on 17 September.

Further details are available at:

Two-hour minimum entitlement for short-term relief teachers – Ministry of Education
No action is required from current school employees, principals or administrators/payroll authorised users to support the payment.  

For questions not covered on our webpage, use our query form or email [email protected], or phone 0800 439 333 (8am–5pm, Monday–Friday).  

Schools payroll remediation – Ministry of Education

Request for annual holiday records for secondary principals  

Today we will contact secondary school board chairs to ask for their principals’ historic annual holiday records. Leave records, if available, will tell us when principals have taken annual holidays and feed into our calculation for remediation of secondary principals’ annual holidays. This work involves addressing areas of non-compliance so school employees receive what they’re owed.

Any queries, contact us by:
•    emailing [email protected]   
•    calling 0800 439 333 (8am–5pm, Monday–Friday).  

To find out more, visit:

Request for annual holiday records for secondary principals – Ministry of Education  

Estimated pay equity and collective agreement funding – 1 October

On 1 October, you will receive the next instalment of the estimated funding for non-teaching pay equity settlements and collective agreements.

Schools | kura that have employees covered by the Therapists’ Pay Equity Settlement will receive funding through this instalment, including backpay to 25 May 2023.

Further details can be found here:

Therapists' Pay Equity Claim – Ministry of Education

The 1 October pay instalment will be made via Pourato under the payment type ‘Non-teach support PE and CA funding.’ A letter detailing this funding will be available on the Secure Data Portal (SDP) late September.

If you wish to retain a copy of your funding letter you can download it, as the letter will only be available on the SDP for a 6-month period. 
For more information, visit:

• Pay equity funding – Ministry of Education 
• Non-teaching staff – Ministry of Education

Any queries, please email [email protected].

Relief teacher web resource

We have developed new web resources with the Teaching Council to support you and people you know who want to become relievers.

• Looking for a relief teacher – Education Workforce
• Relief teaching – Education Workforce

Update: Classroom release time for permanent unit holders

From the beginning of 2025, teachers covered by the Primary Teachers’ Collective Agreement (PTCA), and teachers covered by the Area School Teachers’ Collective Agreement (ASTCA) who predominantly teach Years 1 to 6, and who hold one or more permanent salary units, will receive an additional 10 hours of classroom release time (CRT) per term.

We acknowledge the concerns raised by some school leaders about the calculations for the additional CRT for permanent unit holders. You will receive your correct entitlements, and we will continue to provide updates through the bulletin.

Governance, planning and infrastructure

Reporting enrolment annulments

Boards are required by the Education and Training Act 2020 (clause 12 of schedule 20) to report annulments of enrolment to us.

Education and Training Act 2020 – Parliamentary Counsel Office

Full guidance on determining genuineness and the process for annulments can be found in the Guidelines for the development and operation of enrolment schemes for State Schools:

Guidelines for the development and operation of enrolment schemes [PDF, 498 KB]

A board may annul enrolments only in specific circumstances relating to genuineness of in-zone addresses or false information.

If an enrolment is annulled, report this to your local Te Mahau contact, including the date of annulment and name of the student.

Update to toilet and changing space design standards

There have been minor changes to the toilet and changing space design standard released in August. Boards determine how the toilets in their school should be labelled. The update clarifies that providing both single sex and gender-neutral options for ākonga | students should be considered, especially in co-educational schools.

The updated information is available at:

Toilet and changing space design for schools – Ministry of Education

Solar panel installation requirements

If you are considering installing solar panels please read the updated guidance on our website and contact your property advisor to assess the proposal and seek approval of the installation.  

Solar panels – Ministry of Education

A structural and an electrical report need to be sent to us before any installations can be approved.

If the solar panels are owned by a third party, an energy service agreement (ESA) needs to be approved by us before negotiations between the provider and your school can begin. If the third-party provider does not already have an approved ESA, an ESA template can be requested via your property advisor.