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Hihira Weteoro and Phonics Checks update

17 September 2025

The Ministry is encouraging schools and kura to upload Phonics Checks and Hihira Weteoro results through the Ministry’s secure data portal (SDP).

Sharing data with the Ministry means we can aggregate results at a national level to provide insights each term that guide how we support literacy teaching and learning in schools and teaching and learning for pānui and tuhituhi in kura, while also guiding improvements to the Phonics Check and Hihira Weteoro tools.

Phonics Checks - uploading results now easier

Thank you to schools that have already started sharing phonics data, and those that have provided feedback on improvements we can make to streamline the process. To make uploading Phonics Check results easier for schools, the Ministry of Education now accepts PDF marking sheets, as well as Excel marking sheets. Both formats can be processed into school-level reports.

Phonics Check Term 3 Reporting Period.

The testing period for Term 3 started on Monday 14 July and can be done up to and including the last day of the term, Friday 19 September 2025.

For results to be included in your school’s termly report, please ensure that any Phonics Checks done in Term 3 are submitted by 5pm Monday 22 September 2025

Batch uploading

PDF marking sheets can now be processed for reporting purposes. You can upload individual PDF marking sheets or scan a batch of multiple marking sheets and upload within one document to the SDP.

Hihira Weteoro

Hihira Weteoro is the first ever Ministry developed standardised phonics check for those teaching and learning through te reo Māori. 

For the 20, 40 and 55 week checks we are encouraging kura and schools to share their results through the Secure Data Portal. Although it is not a requirement, these results will help us understand achievement within phonics at a national level and identify areas that require further support or resources. 

Schools and kura that upload their Hihira Weteoro data to the SDP will be sent a pack of printed Rangaranga Reo ā Tā resources that are usually only available online.

Administering an aromatawai task for mokopuna

Use the individual marking sheet provided within He Kete Aromatawai – Rangaranga Reo ā-Tā guidance packs to record results for each mokopuna as you administer an aromatawai task.

You can also download the individual aromatawai marking sheets here:

Collecting Hihira Weteoro data

This is done on a classroom level using the relevant Excel sheet below.

Example: If you are doing the 20 week check for mokopuna, then you insert the individual results of mokopuna onto the blue Te Mōhiohio Oro (20 week check) sheet. The completed sheet can then be uploaded to the Ministry’s secure data portal.

The spreadsheets have been updated to include National Student Numbers (NSN). Collecting this information assists with analysing demographics and the progress of a student’s journey. Data will continue to be reported at a cohort level and not at an individual mokopuna level.

Simple spreadsheets

There are three simple spreadsheets to collect Hihira Weteoro data for checks at weeks 20, 40 and 55.

Comprehensive spreadsheet

If you are more proficient in Excel you might prefer to use the comprehensive spreadsheet that has additional functionality including automated calculations when mokopuna are “ready” to do each check.  There is also a PDF manual to help you navigate how to use this spreadsheet.

After collating your data, your kura or school  SDP administrator will be able to upload your spreadsheet.

More information

Resources and guidance needed to do the checks and upload data are available on Tāhūrangi

For Hihira Weteoro

https://kauwhatareo.tahurangi.education.govt.nz/mi/5637251078.p?activeTab=tab:5

For Phonics Checks

Phonics Checks – Assessment materials
Phonics checks – Guidance for schools