At Physical Education New Zealand (PENZ), our journey is rooted in a passion for empowering educators and fostering environments where students thrive through physical activity. Since our inception, we have worked to ensure that physical education is valued as an essential part of every learner’s development—nurturing not only physical well-being but also social, emotional, and mental growth.
Our story is one of collaboration, advocacy, and impact. Guided by our Statement of Strategic Intent, we are committed to creating equitable access to resources and professional development for all educators. With a forward-thinking approach, we focus on sustainability, innovation, and future-proofing the education system to meet the evolving needs of both teachers and students across Aotearoa.
From supporting grassroots initiatives to shaping national policy, PENZ stands at the heart of the movement for inclusive, high-quality physical education. This journey is only possible with the collective efforts of our community—educators, students, partners, and members—who share our vision of empowering communities to embrace their world of movement through quality physical education.
WhakataukĪ | Our Guide
Rāranga Rautaki | Our Strategy
Our strategic framework provides a line of sight between our vision, our mission, and our strategic priorities. It charts a pathway for our intended direction and expresses our commitments. Underpinning this are our vales that are reflected in all that we do, along with the tikanga and kawa of Physical Education New Zealand (PENZ).
As our guiding whakataukĪ refers to, we are committed to actively gathering and leveraging all available resources, passion for physical education, and fresh ideas that drive innovation in our field.We aim to nurture the growth and potential of physical education in Aotearoa New Zealand, investing in professional development, curriculum enhancements, and advocacy. We recognise and celebrate the achievements of educators and advocates as part of our culture of success. Above all, we embrace the ethos that our collective efforts are key to advancing physical education in Aotearoa New Zealand. We also recognise the importance of being an honourable Treaty partner and operating in a way that minimises our impact on the environment.
At PENZ, we believe that the services and resources we provide should be readily available to all physical educators, not just those in a position to pay for them. This aligns with our core belief that the benefits of physical activity and quality physical education should be accessible to everyone.
By embodying these principles, we seek to promote growth and excellence in physical education across our nation.
Ngā Uara | Our Values
Values are the core beliefs that govern how PENZ organisation goes about its work - with educators, lwi, with whanau, communities with individuals, with staff and with
stakeholders.
Ngā Pou | Our Priorities
Te Kaupapa Ture | Our Constitution
The Physical Education New Zealand Te Ao Kori Aotearoa Inc. Constitution sets out the rights, powers and duties of the organisation, the Board, each director and each stakeholder.
Physical Education New Zealand Te Ao Kori Aotearoa is an incorporated society and registered charity.
- Incorporated Society Registration 215718
- Charities Registration CC23994
As our guiding whakataukī refers to, we are committed to actively gathering and leveraging all available resources, passion for physical education, and fresh ideas that drive innovation in our field.
We aim to nurture the growth and potential of physical education in Aotearoa New Zealand, investing in professional development, curriculum enhancements, and advocacy.
Ngā Mema | Our Members
Become a Member of PENZ - Support Our Vision for Physical Education in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Why Membership Matters
Our commitment, outlined in our Statement of Strategic Intent, centers on fostering inclusive, high-quality physical education accessible to every learner. As a member, you become part of a community driving forward these shared goals—working to ensure that every educator has the resources they need to thrive and that every student experiences the benefits of lifelong physical activity.
Membership enables us to:
- Strengthen Our Advocacy Efforts: We collaborate with stakeholders to ensure physical education remains a priority in education policy.
- Promote Equity and Access: Your support helps make our professional development programs and resources available to all educators, reflecting our commitment to equity in access and sustainability across the sector.
- Expand Our Reach: Members provide essential feedback, helping us align our initiatives with the evolving needs of educators and communities across New Zealand.
How You Can Make a Difference
Your membership contribution directly supports our mission to build a future-focused education system, enabling us to:
- Provide free and subsidised resources for educators.
- Deliver workshops, webinars, and events that enhance teaching practices.
- Build a collaborative network of educators dedicated to the development of their students.
What It Means to Be a Charity with Members
As a charitable organisation, PENZ relies on the collective support of members to achieve its vision. Your membership makes you an active contributor to our mission. Together, we work towards:
- Equity, Sustainability, and Innovation in physical education.
- Influencing positive change through a united voice in educational policy discussions.
- Ensuring long-term impact by building a system where every educator and student can succeed.
Join Us and Shape the Future
We invite you to become part of our journey. Together, we can ensure that quality physical education empowers every learner, every day.
About PENZ
Physical Education New Zealand Te Ao Kori Aotearoa is the national subject association for physical education. We support educators, connect the profession, strengthen teaching and learning, and advocate for quality physical education for every ākonga.
He Ao Kori, He Ao Mātauranga. A world of movement is a world of learning. This belief sits at the heart of our work and reflects the important contribution physical education makes to learning, identity, wellbeing, relationships, culture, and lifelong participation in movement.
Who we are
PENZ brings together physical education teachers, primary educators, school leaders, academics, researchers, students, sector organisations, and partners from across Aotearoa New Zealand.
We provide a national voice for physical education and practical support for the people who teach and lead it. Our work includes professional learning, curriculum support, advocacy, events, publications, resources, partnerships, recognition, and opportunities for educators to connect and learn from one another.
Our purpose
We exist to strengthen physical education across Aotearoa and support communities to embrace their world of movement through quality physical education.
We seek to ensure physical education remains meaningful, inclusive, culturally responsive, evidence-informed, and relevant to the lives of ākonga.
Explore PENZ
Ngā uara | Our values
Our values shape how PENZ works with educators, ākonga, whānau, iwi, communities, partners, and stakeholders.
Whanaungatanga
We build meaningful relationships founded on trust, connection, belonging, and shared responsibility.
Manaakitanga
We act with care, respect, generosity, and a commitment to uplifting the mana of others.
Rangatiratanga
We support leadership, agency, integrity, and the confidence to shape positive change.
Kotahitanga
We value collective action and recognise that lasting progress is achieved through shared effort.
Our story
PENZ has a long history of championing physical education and supporting those who teach it. Across generations, the organisation has evolved in response to changes in education, curriculum, society, and the needs of the profession.
The organisation is established to connect physical educators and strengthen the teaching of physical education in New Zealand.
PENZ develops conferences, publications, awards, professional learning, advocacy, and national networks for physical educators.
PENZ works across curriculum, capability, leadership, partnerships, research, policy, and organisational development to support the future of physical education.
What we do
We provide professional learning, advice, events, curriculum guidance, resources, and opportunities to connect.
We advocate for physical education in curriculum, policy, investment, and national education conversations.
We work with partners to build capability, improve alignment, and support long-term change across Aotearoa.
Reports and publications
Our reports and organisational documents provide transparency about our work, performance, governance, strategic direction, and contribution to physical education in Aotearoa.
Governance and legal status
Our organisation
Physical Education New Zealand Te Ao Kori Aotearoa is an incorporated society and registered charitable organisation. PENZ is governed by its Board and operates in accordance with its constitution and charitable purposes.
Recognising contribution
The PENZ Awards recognise the outstanding contribution of individuals, teams, schools, organisations, and leaders who strengthen physical education and support positive outcomes for ākonga.
Be part of the PENZ community
Membership connects you with a national community committed to quality physical education. It also strengthens our collective voice and helps PENZ provide advocacy, professional learning, events, advice, and resources for educators across Aotearoa.
Become a PENZ member