What is education.govt.nz and what can you find there?

education.govt.nz is the official web portal of the New Zealand Ministry of Education. It is a central hub for information about education in New Zealand, aimed at parents, whānau, schools, kura, and education professionals. You can use it to find practical information such as school terms and holidays, a school finder, the Parent Portal, licensing criteria, and collective agreements, as well as updates on key initiatives, latest news, and public consultations.

Who the site is for

The portal serves several audiences, and the homepage signals this with a dedicated "Education professionals" heading alongside content for families and whānau.

• Parents and whānau — looking for practical information about schools, attendance, learning support, and their child's education.
• Schools and kura — needing curriculum updates, requirements, and operational guidance.
• Education professionals — seeking career information, collective agreements, and sector news.
• Anyone interested in the sector — following policy changes, consultations, and announcements.

What you can find on the homepage

The homepage is organised around a few recurring blocks. These are the main entry points:

Popular links

A quick-access list of the most commonly needed items, including:

• Terms and holidays
• Find a school
• Parent Portal
• Licensing criteria
• Collective agreements

Key initiatives

Current priority areas for the education system, each with a short explanation and a link to more detail. Examples shown on the site include:

• Attendance — going to school every day is described as important for students to develop skills for lifelong learning.
• Improving achievement — the stated goal is for all children to achieve their potential no matter where they are.
• Learning support — strengthening learning support so the education system meets the needs of all learners and their families.

Latest news

A feed of news and updates, with a "View all news and updates" link. Examples of featured items include:

• Guidance on how to decide if a child is well enough to be at school or early learning, with information from Health New Zealand for schools, early learning services, and whānau.
• The first release of final subjects for Years | Tau 11 to 13.
• An overview of new requirements for schools for Term 4 2026.
• The release of the fully updated Te Marautanga o Aotearoa for Tau 0 to 10, available for schools and kura to start using in 2027.

Have your say

A section for public consultations, each with an open or closed status and a closing date. Examples include:

Our websites

Links to related Ministry sites, including:

• Education Gazette — education articles to inform and inspire, plus job vacancies, notices, and professional development opportunities.
• Education Workforce — information on becoming a teacher in New Zealand and career development opportunities within the education sector.

How to use the site

1. Start with the search box if you know what you are looking for — the homepage provides a site search.
2. Use Popular links for common tasks such as checking term dates or finding a school.
3. Check Key initiatives if you want to understand current priorities and what is changing in the system.
4. Read Latest news for recent announcements and requirements.
5. Visit Have your say if you want to submit feedback on an open consultation before its closing date.

What to keep in mind

• The site is a portal, so much of the detailed information sits on pages linked from the homepage rather than on the homepage itself.
• Consultation dates and curriculum release dates shown on the site are specific and time-bound — check the current status before relying on them.
• Some content is provided in te reo Māori alongside English, reflecting the bilingual context of New Zealand education.

If you are a parent, whānau member, school, kura, or education professional in New Zealand, education.govt.nz is the starting point for official information about the education system.