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National curriculum writing groups 

13 June 2024

The Minister of Education has confirmed the next steps and timelines for the development of the national curriculum for schools.

Both The New Zealand Curriculum (NZC) and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa are being updated and will be available in phases, and schools and kura have until the beginning of 2027 to start using the fully refreshed national curriculum.  

The English and Te Reo Rangatira curriculum areas for Years 0 to 6 are the first to be required in schools and kura in line with the requirement for schools and kura to implement structured approaches to literacy and te reo matatini from Term 1, 2025. 

The Ministry has established curriculum writing groups for English and maths, and Te Reo Rangatira and Pāngarau. These writing groups are building on the previous versions of the updated learning areas and wāhanga ako, which had wide input from the education sector.  

Group members include practising teachers and kaiako, academics, and other people from the education sector with experience and expertise. For English and maths the writing groups also include members of the Ministerial Advisory Group and the Ministry of Education. 

A writing group has also been established to define and describe the science of learning that informs the national curriculum development and its implementation.  

The writing group for Pūtaiao me te Hangarau has been established, and the groups for groups for science and technology is currently being formed.  

Please direct any questions, comments or feedback to [email protected].

Click below to see each writing groups’ members: 

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Science of learning  

The members of our Science of Learning writing group are: 

  • Michael Johnston, Senior Fellow, The New Zealand Initiative

  • Nina Hood, Founder of the Education Hub

  • Graeme Aitken, Emeritus Professor of Education at the University of Auckland

 

Te Reo Rangatira 

The members of our Te Reo Rangatira writing group are: 

  • Hineihaea Murphy, te reo Māori and te reo matatini expert, Director, Haemata Ltd 

  • Cath Rau, te reo Māori and te reo matatini expert, Director, Kia Ata Mai Educational Trust, and Tumuaki, Te Kōpuku High 

  • Frances Goulton, te reo Māori and te reo matatini expert, Director, Aronui Ltd 

  • Rauhina Cooper, te reo Māori and te reo matatini expert, Facilitator, Kia Ata Mai Educational Trust 

 

Pāngarau

The members of our Pāngarau curriculum writing group are: 

  • Associate Professor Pania Te Maro, Associate Professor and Associate Director Māori, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa, Massey University 

  • Moko Cooper, Kaiako, Te Kura ā Iwi o Whakatupuranga Rua Mano 

  • Ana Riiki, Facilitator, Tui Tuia | Learning Circle, University of Auckland 

  • Rahera Filiata, Kaiako for Te Aho Tātairangi and Student Support Advisor in Te Pūtahi ā Toi, Massey University 

  • Dr Brian Tweed, Senior Lecturer, Institute of Education, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa, Massey University 

  • Professor Tony Trinick, Professor Te Puna Wānanga, Faculty of Education, University of Auckland 

 

English Year 0 - 6

The members of our English Year 0 – 6 curriculum writing group are: 

  • Graeme Aitken, Emeritus Professor of Education at the University of Auckland  

  • Helen Walls, Professional learning facilitator 

  • Christine Braid, Facilitator at the Institute of Education, Massey University

  • Amelia Volkerling, Educational Psychologist  

  • Melissa Carrere, Founder of Āwhina Education 

  • Associate Professor Alison Arrow, Associate Professor at the University of Canterbury 

  • Jane Carroll, Consultant, oral language, literacy and effective literacy practice. 

  • Emma Nahna, Literacy focused Speech Language Therapist  

  • Felicity Fahey, Deputy Principal and Literacy Lead at Kaiapoi North School 

  • Amy Austin, Teacher, has lectured on teacher education 

  • Marina Mounsey, Resource teacher, literacy 

  • Caroline Morritt, Resource teacher, literacy 

  • Melissa Derby, Senior Lecturer at the University of Waikato 

  • Professor James Chapman, Emeritus Professor, Institute of Education Massey University. 

 

English Year 7 – 13 

The members of our English Year 7 – 13 curriculum writing group are: 

  • Professor Elizabeth Rata, Professor of Education at the University of Auckland 

  • Charles Laing, Head of English, Auckland Grammar School. 

  • Charlotte Forster, Head of Professional Development and English teacher at Auckland Grammar School 

  • Audrey Young, Teacher at St Cuthbert’s School 

  • Callum Baird, Deputy Principal at Manurewa Intermediate School 

 

Mathematics and Statistics 

The members of our Mathematics and Statistics curriculum writing group are: 

  • Julie Roberts, Project Lead for the Just-in-Time maths professional learning project, New Zealand Council for Educational Research 

  • Cami Sawyer, Ministry of Education 

  • Kylie Begg, Ministry of Education 

  • Catherine Newson, Ministry of Education 

  • Mark Hooper, Ministry of Education 

  • Phil Truesdale, Ministry of Education 

  • Audrey Tan, Mathmo Consulting is also reviewing the Mathematics and Statistics Learning Area