Developing a new assessment and aromatawai tool
12 May, 2025
As part of our work to refresh The New Zealand Curriculum for the first time since 2007, we are also creating a new assessment and aromatawai tool for use from Term 1 2026. Training and support for teachers and kaiako will be available during Term 4, 2025.
New tool will improve insights on student progress - Ministry of Education
Since announcing the Request for Proposal for a developer to create the new tool, we’ve received lots of questions and feedback about our approach. We want to clarify what the new tool will mean for you, and what it won't.
Why we are creating a new assessment and aromatawai tool
While we initially planned for e-asTTle to remain available for schools and kura to track learner progress against the new curriculum, a further review showed that it doesn’t meet the technical requirements we need, and it doesn’t fully align with the new curriculum. We’re now looking for a provider who can deliver a new tool that does. This process is underway.
Having a nationally consistent tool that’s aligned with The New Zealand Curriculum and Marataunga o te Aotearoa will support teachers and school leaders to understand how learners are tracking against the curriculum, no matter where they are taught and if they change schools.
Sector engagement
We're committed to working with the sector to make sure the new tool delivers real value for teachers and kaiako. We are currently working through how this engagement will happen and will provide more information in the coming months.
Timelines for changes to assessment and aromatawai
What’s happening in 2025
- Term 2: Procurement of a new assessment and aromatawai tool built on the latest technology
- Term 2 to 3: Development, and alignment of new and existing content with The New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa
- Term 4: Opportunities for teachers and kaiako to become familiar with the new tool.
For the 2025 school year, schools and kura should continue to use their current assessment and reporting systems.
- You may need to adjust the way that you use existing tools, which don’t directly align with the new curriculum content. See Interim supports below.
Interim supports
Guidance materials were sent to schools and kura in May, which include e-asTTle and Te Waharoa Ararau alignment tables:
e-asTTle – Interim mapping tables for The New Zealand Curriculum
Te Waharoa Ararau and e-asTTle Alignment Tables for Te Marautanga o Aotearoa 2025
These will help teachers and kaiako to clearly show how students' progress aligns to the new English 0 to 6 and Maths 0 to 8 learning areas alongside the new Te Reo Rangatira 0 to 6 and Pāngarau 0 to 8 Wāhanga Ako.
What’s happening in 2026
We’re planning for the new tool to be available in Term 1, 2026. You will be able to choose which tools to use for twice-yearly progression monitoring on reading, writing and maths for children in Year 3 to 8.
Schools and kura will continue to use the Phonics Checks and Hihira Weteoro, specifically for those learning through te reo Māori, for children in Years 0 to 2:
Phonics checks – Guidance for schools
Hihira Weteoro – He Kete Aromatawai
Resource allocation
The Ministry uses multiple data sources to identify how to better support and resource schools. The use of assessment and aromatawai tools is just one part of this. Once the new assessment tool is available, we will continue to use assessment and aromatwai alongside other sources such as the Curriculum Insights and Progress Study (CIPS), which provides data annually to help us monitor and respond as needed.
The new assessment tool will not replace our broader approach for determining how resources are allocated to schools.
The Minister of Education has assured the Ministry that there is no intention to use assessment data to rank schools.
Student achievement
Assessment and aromatawai can help lift children’s belief in their learning abilities by ensuring they are getting the support they need to fulfill their full potential. Assessment and aromatawai tools are one source of reliable information teachers can use alongside classroom observations and assessment activities, and discussions with parents and students.
Parents and whānau can better support their children to succeed if they have clear information about their achievements and where they need some support. This is especially important if children change schools.
Assessment and aromatawai is not expected to lift educational outcomes on its own and is part of our broader response to meeting the Government’s goal of ensuring 80% of Year 8 students are at or above expected curriculum levels in reading, writing and maths by 2030.
More information
If you have additional questions that are not answered in this article or in the resource documents, please email us at [email protected] and we will reply as soon as possible.
Related resources
Assessment resources (Tāhūrangi)
Ngā Tini Mata o te Aromatawai (Kauwhata Reo)
Accelerating progress - Leadership guidance (Tāhūrangi)