Kaihautū Whakahaere Update
Date: 4 Jun 2025
“Matariki hunga nui, Matariki ahunga nui.”
Matariki – the gatherer of people, Matariki – the bringer of abundance.
As Matariki rises once again in our skies, we are reminded of the importance of reflection, renewal, and collective aspiration. This time of year invites us to honour those who have passed, celebrate the present, and plan for the future—values that resonate deeply with our mahi in physical education. It is also a time to pause and recognise the contribution of our teaching and learning communities who, every day, support young people to thrive in and through movement.
Conference 2025
We are quickly coming up to our Conference for 2025. The workshop offering is excellent and we are grateful to everyone that has signed up to share their knowledge with others. Our event management team is piecing the last bits and pieces together ready for those who are able to attend. If you haven’t already registered, you can still get in on the action and we have extended the early-bird rate right up until the event. Don’t forget to get your costume sorted, and for the brave, there is an on-the-night discount for anyone wanting to jump or zip-ride!
Traditionally, the PENZ Conference is our biggest annual event, but in recent years, we have made efforts to reach out to more regions and connect on a local level. We are grateful to everyone who has hosted us and have been heartened by the number of people who are supporting the physical education kaupapa.
Serving Local
As we progress through the second half of 2025, we are looking forward to continuing to connect with you and are always open to working with you to develop local opportunities that might support the delivery of quality physical education in your area. If you have an idea, we’d love to hear from you.
Another way we have been working to support our community is through the development of resources. We have a few new resources on the boil, but we are keen for your help!
An Epic Weekend
In November, we will be holding an inaugural PENZ Resource Writing Camp. This will be an opportunity for a small group of educators to come together and produce some resources for our community. This is a chance to collaborate on high-quality teaching resources that reflect Aotearoa’s unique contexts. All costs will be covered for selected participants. If this sounds like you, you can complete the expression of interest form.
New Resource
In addition, and as a part of our efforts to expand our resource offerings, we’re excited to launch our new Maramataka in PE – Principles of Training poster. It is A0 (84.1 x 118.9 cm), so it’s big! This beautifully designed resource helps connect physical education with mātauranga Māori, aligning training approaches with lunar phases, energy patterns, and atua Māori.
It’s ideal for your school gym, staff workroom, whānau space, or professional learning display. If you are keen on getting your hands on this poster, they are available for $75 (+GST). To place your order, complete the pre-order form https://forms.gle/thmUjC9CF3YuLVYU7. Once we reach the minimum number of orders, we’ll confirm payment, printing and delivery.
Value Proposition
By way of update, we are continuing to work on our new Value Proposition for Physical Education. With the Curriculum being redeveloped, and the prioritisation of some subjects, it is increasingly important for a balanced approach to learning which includes a strong focus on movement.
Developed in consultation with sector experts and grounded in the science of learning, it outlines how PE supports wellbeing, engagement, achievement, and life readiness. This statement will soon be shared with our advisory groups for initial feedback before going out to all members.
Thanks!
Finally, thank you to everyone who submitted nominations for the 2025 PENZ Awards. The calibre of submissions has been inspiring, and we look forward to celebrating this year’s recipients at our conference at the end of this month.
We’d also like to acknowledge the many teachers, facilitators, schools and organisations who have hosted, attended and partnered with us for a significant number of events across the motu in recent months. From regional PLD days to our kaupapa-led wānanga and teacher workshops, your presence and contribution are the lifeblood of our professional community.
To our partners and supporters, including Sport NZ, the Regional Sports Trusts around the country, and others who make our mahi possible—ngā mihi maioha. Your ongoing commitment helps us to deliver professional learning, resources, and advocacy for quality physical education in Aotearoa.






