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Timeline of the Draft HPE Curriculum

Date: 12 Nov 2025

This timeline is an attempt by PENZ to outline key events, communications, and decisions that have shaped the development of the draft Health and Physical Education (HPE) curriculum as it relates to Physical Education.

Prepared by PENZ, it provides a record of how the process has unfolded from our perspective.

Purpose

The purpose of this timeline is not to assign blame, but to clarify a process that often lacked transparency. It draws on PENZ' correspondence, Ministry communications, public statements, and Official Information Act (OIA) responses. The timeline highlights divergence from the historically open, collaborative curriculum approach in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Key Observations

  • Shifting priorities, limited subject-matter representation, and increasing centralisation of decision-making.

  • Changes to timelines, personnel, and expectations impacted contributions.

  • Foundational concepts such as hauora, learning in/through/about movement and mātauranga Māori were marginalised, reframed or removed.

  • Our efforts to seek clarification and accountability through correspondence and OIA requests often were unsatisfactory.

Our Commitment

  • Support a curriculum grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

  • Centre hauora and holistic wellbeing.

  • Incorporate mātauranga Māori.

  • Ensure coherence, inclusivity, and knowledge richness.

Timeline of Key Events

2020 - 2023: Early Curriculum Refresh Work

  • The curriculum refresh process began under the previous government, aiming to revise all learning areas of The New Zealand Curriculum (NZC).
  • Writing groups were established for early learning area development (English, Mathematics & Statistics, Te Reo Rangatira, Pāngarau).
  • The initial approach emphasised “understand, know, do” (UKD) structures and local curriculum flexibility.

December 2023: Establishment of the Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG)

  • Minister Erica Stanford appointed a Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG) to review English and Mathematics & Statistics for Years 0–10.
  • The MAG was tasked with:
    • Advising on the Common Practice Model and teaching sequences.
    • Embedding the “science of learning.”
    • Creating knowledge-rich, well-sequenced curriculum documents.

  • This marked a philosophical shift away from local autonomy toward a centrally prescribed, evidence-based model.

March 2024: MAG Initial Report & New Direction

  • The MAG delivered its initial report recommending:
    • The amalgamation of curriculum, teaching sequences, and the common practice model into one prescriptive document.
    • Replacement of progress steps with “checkpoints” for reading, writing, and mathematics.
    • Curriculum to be structured around cognitive psychology (“science of learning”) principles.

  • These recommendations directly influenced the design and sequencing of future learning areas, including HPE.

June 2024: Cabinet Decision and National Curriculum Direction

  • Cabinet approved the new national direction, a knowledge-rich curriculum grounded in the science of learning.
  • The confirmed design principles included:
    • Underpinned by the science of learning.
    • Knowledge-rich.
    • Inclusive of evidence-informed teaching practices.
    • Clear and easy to use.
    • Internationally comparable.
    • Supportive of key competencies and Māori-medium contexts.

  • Cabinet timelines included:

    • English & Maths (Years 0–10): required by 2025–2026.
    • HPE and remaining learning areas: drafts due Term 4, 2025, required from 2027.

November 2024: Internal Review of Curriculum Development Processes

  • The Ministry revised its internal approach to improve representation and alignment, introducing phased development stages for each learning area:

    1. Why: Position paper and rationale.
    2. What: Progression frameworks and knowledge base.
    3. How: Teaching guidance and sequencing.
    4. Check: Review and coherence across learning areas.
    5. Testing: School trials before gazetting.

  • The Education Review Office (ERO) was assigned to provide quality assurance and international benchmarking.

18 December 2024: HPE Contributor Process Initiated

  • The Ministry of Education approached PENZ to nominate members for the HPE contributor group.
  • Scope for contributors was for Year 1-13.
  • The role was to focus on the “why,” “what,” and “how” phases.
  • The Ministry indicated that the HPE curriculum would be expected to be completed in Term 1, 2025 (or by the end of April).

January - February 2025: Representation and Transparency Concerns

  • By 13 January, PENZ confirmed Dr. Susannah Smith’s involvement, with contributor names expected to be published on 10 February.
  • PENZ raised concerns about insufficient PE representation on the HPE contributors’ group (PENZ had one representative vs. two each for EONZ and NZHEA).
  • The Ministry responded that early stages focused on a “broad foundational framework” before adding subject-specific expertise, and that group composition would evolve.

March - July 2025: Continued Development and OIA Requests

  • By April, the coherence group began reviewing documentation, and the curriculum development timeline was extended until the end of June.
  • PENZ continued to express concerns about transparency and sector representation.
  • On 21 July 2025, PENZ formally submitted an Official Information Act (OIA) request seeking all materials and communications related to the PE component of HPE development.
  • The Ministry applied an additional contract extension for Contributors until 26 September 2025, although contributions for Physical Education had effectively ceased.

24 April 2025: Focus Group Call for Nominations

  • A Ministry email invited nominations for Primary and Secondary Focus Groups across learning areas, including HPE, with an 8-day turnaround.
  • PENZ submitted nominations, but no formal acknowledgement followed until October 2025.

Mid-2025: Consolidation and Review Phases

  • The coherence group and academic review groups began reviewing draft frameworks, and the HPE curriculum entered its “Check” phase.
  • The Ministry reiterated that the HPE contributor group’s membership would be periodically updated, but no updates were provided from the end of July.

17 September 2025: OIA Response 1351305

  • The Ministry confirmed:
    • Draft HPE materials (Years 0-10) would be released early Term 4 2025, with Years 11-13 to follow in Term 1 2026.
    • In-class testing of Years 0-10 material would occur in Term 1 2026.
    • Fourteen internal emails and eleven attachments were identified but withheld under sections 9(2)(f)(iv) and 9(2)(g)(i) of the Act.
    • No ministerial advice or decisions specific to the PE component existed yet (refused under s18(e)).

22 September 2025: Joint Subject Associations’ Letter

  • 27 subject associations, including PENZ, sent a joint letter to the Minister raising concerns about consultation practices, who is writing Phase 5 and VET subjects, and NEX funding/roles.

10 October - November 2025: Draft Curriculum Released and Escalating Concerns

  • 10 October 2025: The Ministry circulated updates on draft English materials and responded to the Joint Subject Associations letter, committing to including subject associations in Years 11–13 development.
  • 16 October 2025: Stakeholders were invited to preview sessions; the HPE drafts were still under internal review.
  • 24 October 2025: PENZ letters signalling escalating concerns:
    • Open Letter to the Minister requesting a pause on the HPE release and a meeting to address divergence from a knowledge-rich, evidence-informed PE.
    • Email to the Ministry forwarding “Concerns About Curriculum Process.”

  • 28 October 2025: The draft HPE curriculum was released.
  • 30 October 2025: PENZ submitted another OIA request about the development of the HPE curriculum.
  • 2 November 2025: PENZ submitted another formal request for an urgent meeting with the Ministry, citing loss of confidence in the consultation process.
  • As of 4 November 2025:

    • The Minister has not responded to PENZ's request for a meeting.
    • The Ministry has responded to the request for a meeting, and they will work with PENZ.
    • The list of HPE contributors has been removed from the Ministry’s Tāhurangi website.
    • The full make-up of the focus groups and the curriculum writers remains unknown.