Kaihautū Whakahaere Update: September 2025

As we settle into the final part of the year, I want to acknowledge the layered challenges the education sector continues to navigate.

Across Aotearoa, schools and educators are facing significant shifts, including the most recent debate surrounding NCEA and its potential successor. Recently, 89 secondary school principals urged a pause on the timetable, citing concerns about equity and clarity for rangatahi, especially Māori and Pasifika students, once the foundational skills and new qualifications come into force.

Meanwhile, within PE and the broader HPE domain, persistent challenges in attracting and retaining teachers, demonstrating value to schools, and adapting to emerging technologies like AI continue to surface. Add to this the known risk of engagement barriers, competing PLD priorities, staff turnover, and confidence gaps, and we find ourselves holding steady through what can feel like quite challenging circumstances.

Despite this turbulence, the role of physical education in enhancing student wellbeing, engagement, and achievement remains clear and compelling. Research underscores that integrating movement can add meaningful learning gains, boost attendance, and bolster mental health outcomes.

This gives us reason to breathe, pause, and find strength in what we continue to know: that PE isn't just a nice-to-have, it is fundamental to learning and the wellbeing of our tamariki and rangatahi.

We have been fielding a few questions about the HPE curriculum and it's current status. The best we can provide at the moment is that it's coming. While this offers little comfort I would encourage you to hold the line. Don't get too far ahead, plan as you usually would, and hold space for uncertainty, while making room for learning.

In the months to come, PENZ will continue advocating for PE’s vital place in an evolving curriculum, supporting kaiako through tangible resources and PLD, and holding forums where voices can be shared, concerns voiced, and wisdom built together. At this stage, we know what you know.

Thank you for your aroha, resilience, and commitment to our profession and to the many young lives you touch. After all, it’s in these spaces of patience and presence that meaningful, lasting change really takes hold.

A final shoutout from me.

Sometimes it's a tough job being an advocate for what's important. Over the last few weeks you will have noticed a strong piece of advocacy by EONZ for Outdoor Education as a senior secondary subject. This has demonstrated the power of a collective voice and the importance of standing up for what matters. Well done EONZ whānau! If you want to find out more about how you can support this kaupapa, head over to https://eonz.org.nz/Home/NCEA-Outdoor-Education-Proposed-Changes.