New timeframe for Years 0-8 final National Curriculum

14 May 2026

Schools and kura now have more time to start using the final Years 0-8 National Curriculum after a Government decision to further extend the implementation timeframe.

Science, Social Sciences, Pūmanawa Tangata, and Pūtaiao for Years 0-8 are expected to start being taught from 2027, but all other Years 0-8 curriculum content is not required to start being taught until 2029.

All Years 9-10 content for both the New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa must still be taught from the start of 2027.

The new senior secondary curriculum will be rolled out over 2028 (Year 11), 2029 (Year 12) and 2030 (Year 13).

As the full and final National Curriculum will be available on Tāhūrangi in mid-2026, schools that are ready to start using it earlier can do so.

There's more information here: Factsheet about the Years 0-10 implementation timeframe.

 

Timeframe for implementing the National Curriculum

The new implementation dates are:

• 2026: Years 0-10 – English, Mathematics and Statistics, Te Reo Rangatira, and Pāngarau.
• 2027: Years 0-8 – Science, Social Sciences, Pūtaiao, and Pūmanawa Tangata. Years 9-10 – all learning areas and wāhanga ako.
• 2028: Year 11 – new curriculum.
• 2029: Years 0-8 – all remaining learning areas and wāhanga ako (Health and Physical Education, The Arts, Technology, Learning Languages, Waiora, Toi Ihiihi, Hangarau, Te Reo Pākehā, and Ngā Reo). Year 12 – new curriculum.
• 2030: Year 13 – new curriculum.

Resources

We're developing a range of tools and resources to help you start exploring, planning and teaching both the New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa as they are updated.

Teaching resources to support the updated NZC

Teaching resources to support the updated TMoA

Enquiries

If you have any queries, please email us at: [email protected].