PENZ Statement on the new HPE Curriculum

Date: 24 Sep 2026

There has been clear progress from the draft released for consultation, and we are pleased to see a number of the concerns raised by PENZ, kaiako and the wider Physical Education community reflected in the final curriculum. In particular, the Physical Education content now has a stronger sense of the breadth and intent of our learning area and provides a much better foundation for meaningful learning through, in and about movement.

We also want to acknowledge the more authentic engagement that occurred during the later stages of the revision process. PENZ appreciated the opportunity to contribute our expertise and the perspectives of our community, and we believe that engagement has strengthened the final curriculum.

As people begin working through the detail, they may notice some areas that still require clarification or refinement. We have identified a small number ourselves. We will continue to work constructively with the Ministry of Education to understand these and, where appropriate, seek practical solutions before implementation.

The timing of the final release also warrants reflection. We recognise that curriculum development at this scale is complex and that taking additional time can be appropriate when it results in a stronger curriculum. However, when timelines change, particularly where substantive revisions are occurring late in the process, clear and timely communication with the sector is important.

For kaiako and schools preparing for implementation, knowing what is changing, why it is changing, and when final material will be available is not simply a matter of process. It affects planning, professional learning and confidence in implementation. As the curriculum moves from development into implementation, we hope there is an ongoing commitment to transparency and meaningful engagement with the people who will ultimately bring it to life.

Overall, we are encouraged by the direction of the final Physical Education curriculum. It is stronger than the draft we responded to, and there is much here that we can now build from.

Our focus at PENZ now shifts to supporting kaiako to make sense of the curriculum and translate it into high-quality Physical Education programmes and learning experiences for ākonga across Aotearoa.

Ngā mihi nui,

Heemi McDonald

Kaihautū Whakahaere | Chief Executive