Kaihautū Whakahaere Update: February 2026

Tēnā koutou katoa,

Welcome back to the year ahead. If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that the start of each year often arrives with both momentum and complexity. This year is no different. The pace of curriculum change remains high, the processes have not always been as clear or as well sequenced as they should be, and expectations on the profession continue to grow. My thanks to you for the work you are doing in schools and kura. The steadiness of practice on the ground matters, particularly in times of reform.

Below is a short update on what’s coming up for Physical Education this term, where PENZ is focusing its effort, and how you can engage constructively with what’s ahead.

Curriculum timelines and consultation

This is the final year of teaching Years 0–10 under the 2007 New Zealand Curriculum, with the new curriculum due to be finalised later this year and in place from 2027. Schools are being encouraged to trial aspects of the new curriculum with Year 9 cohorts, given these learners will be the first to encounter the new assessment system in 2028.

PENZ continues to hold concerns about the pace, sequencing, and coherence of the curriculum development and consultation process. We are engaging directly with the Ministry to seek greater clarity, stronger alignment between curriculum and assessment development, and more transparent quality assurance of supporting resources.

We strongly encourage departments and teams to provide feedback on the draft curriculum. Take the time to prepare responses that are grounded in practice and focused on what will support high-quality learning in Physical Education. PENZ will continue to provide language and framing to support constructive, principled feedback.

Senior secondary (Years 11–13) developments

Work on the senior secondary phase is underway, with subject descriptors released late last year and development now in progress. While this work is at an early stage, PENZ’s position is that senior secondary Physical Education must retain clear disciplinary integrity and coherence across pathways. We will continue to advocate for clarity of purpose, progression of knowledge, and alignment between curriculum intent and assessment design as Phase 5 materials are developed and released for feedback.

NCEA and assessment

NCEA remains business as usual this year, with only minor changes to standards and assessment materials. While this stability is helpful in the short term, it also reinforces the need for careful sequencing between curriculum change and assessment change. PENZ will continue to advocate for realistic transition timelines and for assessment design that reflects the intent of Physical Education as a learning area, rather than narrowing it to easily assessed fragments of practice.

Tuia ki Tawhiti 2026 (6–7 July, Auckland)

This is a combined conference year for Health, Physical Education, and Outdoor Education. The call for abstracts is open and registrations are live. If you have been trialling new approaches, rethinking programmes, or navigating curriculum change in your context, I strongly encourage you to consider presenting. Tuia ki Tawhiti remains one of the few spaces where practitioners can engage in professional dialogue that is grounded in practice, not just policy.

Networks of Expertise (NEX) PLD in 2026

Subject associations, including PENZ, are contracted to deliver Networks of Expertise PLD for the next three years. The funding model is more constrained and tightly scoped than in previous cycles, with a clear focus on supporting the new curriculum and assessment system.

This has implications for the level of in-person support that can be provided and reinforces the importance of being deliberate about how PLD is prioritised across regions. PENZ’s focus will be on supporting Physical Education departments and teachers to make sense of curriculum change in ways that preserve disciplinary integrity and support coherent programme design, rather than chasing short-term compliance.

Resources and professional learning

As curriculum materials continue to be released, there will be a steady flow of supporting resources. PENZ’s focus will be on quality, coherence, and usefulness for practice. Where we have concerns about the clarity or quality of released resources, we will say so, and we will also provide alternative framings or guidance where this is helpful. Our intent is to support professional judgement, not replace it.

A note on membership and support

This transition period is demanding on the profession. Membership continues to be one of the ways PENZ sustains advocacy, professional voice, and support beyond contracted PLD. If you have moved schools or changed roles, please ensure your school’s membership details are up to date and that newsletters are reaching the right people. Staying connected helps ensure PENZ can continue to represent the profession with credibility.

Looking ahead

Our focus this term is on disciplined advocacy, supporting meaningful engagement with curriculum change, and maintaining spaces for professional learning that are grounded in practice and professional knowledge. The aim is not to add noise, but to hold a clear line on what matters for Physical Education and the young people we serve.

Thank you again for the work you do. Please look after yourselves and each other. We will continue to share updates as material becomes available and as key milestones approach.

Ngā mihi nui,
Heemi