Kaihautū Whakahaere Update: June 2026

Kia ora koutou,

As we move through another busy period, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on some recent events and acknowledge the many people and organisations contributing to the strength of our profession.

Recently, a number of us gathered to celebrate the life and legacy of Clive Pope. Clive’s contribution to physical education in Aotearoa was significant, and the memorial service was a fitting opportunity to reconnect, share stories, and recognise the impact he had on generations of educators and learners. Our thoughts remain with Clive’s whānau and all those who were fortunate enough to work alongside him.

The release of the Phase 5 curriculum materials today, will no doubt generate considerable discussion across the sector. As always, PENZ remains committed to supporting our community to engage critically and constructively with these developments. The coming weeks will provide important opportunities for educators to explore the materials, share perspectives, and help shape the future of health and physical education in Aotearoa.

Looking ahead, planning is well underway for our end-of-year Big Day Out series in November. These events continue to be a highlight of the PENZ calendar, providing opportunities for kaiako and rangatahi to connect, learn, and celebrate movement together. They will be particularly focused on the Phase 4 curriculum (Years 9 & 10 once this is released). We look forward to sharing further details soon.

None of this work happens in isolation. I want to acknowledge and thank the many organisations and individuals who continue to support PENZ and the wider physical education community. In particular, we are grateful for the ongoing partnership and investment of Sport New Zealand, whose support enables us to deliver programmes, resources, and opportunities that strengthen our sector.

We also acknowledge the Ministry of Education for its continued support through the Networks of Expertise (NEX) funding programme. This investment plays a vital role in ensuring we can continue to provide high-quality professional learning, resources, and support for educators throughout Aotearoa.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to physical education and to the young people we collectively serve. We look forward to connecting with many of you over the coming months.

Ngā mihi nui,
Heemi