He Ao Kori, He Ao Mātauranga
A world of movement is a world of learning.
This is not a metaphor. It is a claim about the nature of learning itself: that movement is a primary way human beings come to know themselves, connect with others, and make sense of the world around them.
The value of physical education in Aotearoa New Zealand
Physical education is often misunderstood. Sometimes reduced to sport. Sometimes reduced to fitness. Sometimes positioned at the edge of the curriculum rather than at its core. This position statement widens the lens: it sets out what physical education is, what it offers, and why it belongs at the heart of every young person's education.
Physical education is not defined by the activities we teach. It is defined by the learning that happens through movement. That learning is lived, experienced and felt. It is social, cultural, environmental and deeply human. It sits in the body as much as it sits in the mind.
In Aotearoa New Zealand, physical education is shaped by a bicultural foundation. Te Tiriti o Waitangi calls us to recognise and honour te ao Māori, including mātauranga Māori, te reo and tikanga, as integral to how we understand movement, learning and wellbeing.
Physical education enables ākonga to develop confidence and capability in movement, build understanding of themselves and others, and experience wellbeing through meaningful participation in personal, social, cultural and environmental contexts.
The organising statement of He Ao Kori, He Ao Mātauranga.
What this covers
What physical education is
The purpose of physical education, its two key purposes, and the five dimensions of movement that define it as a discipline.
Read more ›In, through and about movement
The framework that brings it all together, with practical examples of what each dimension looks like in a programme.
Read more ›Quality physical education
Eight characteristics of quality practice, and a practical checklist for reflecting on your own programme.
Read more ›What informed this work
This position has been led by PENZ and shaped through sector-wide consultation. It draws on the perspectives of:
- young people
- teachers and school leaders across primary, secondary and kura Māori settings
- academics and researchers in physical education within Aotearoa New Zealand
- passionate, life-long advocates of physical education
We acknowledge the support of Ihi Aotearoa - Sport New Zealand through its Strengthen and Adapt funding.
Key terms
Movement is purposeful physical action in personal, social, cultural and environmental contexts. It is both a way of doing and a way of knowing.
Hauora reflects a holistic understanding of wellbeing drawn from te ao Māori, most commonly expressed through Te Whare Tapa Whā, where taha tinana, taha hinengaro, taha whānau and taha wairua are interconnected and interdependent.
Physical education is the structured teaching and learning of movement within the Health and Physical Education learning area.
Read the full value proposition
He Ao Kori, He Ao Mātauranga is published in full in the Physical Educator, April 2026, including the complete research base and reference list.
Find it in resources