Invercargill Farewells a True Original: Remembering Sir Tim Shadbolt
Invercargill is today mourning the loss of one of its most iconic and influential figures. Sir Tim Shadbolt, the city’s longest-serving mayor and one of the most recognisable local politicians in New Zealand, passed away peacefully this morning aged 78. For decades, Sir Tim was inseparable from the identity of Invercargill itself. First elected mayor […]
Life Skills Are Booming — and Traditional Subjects Are Slipping
If you want a snapshot of how secondary education in New Zealand is changing, the numbers from 2025 tell a clear story: students are increasingly choosing life skills and personal development, while traditional academic subjects like science and English are slowly losing ground. According to Education Ministry data, one in five secondary students studied a […]
$105,000 in Scholarships Awarded to Western Bay of Plenty Students
Seven high-achieving students from across the Western Bay of Plenty are set to receive a major boost to their tertiary studies, thanks to the 2025 Bob & Joy Owens Scholarships. Each recipient will receive $15,000 over three years, with a total of $105,000 being invested in local young people who have demonstrated not only strong […]
Holiday Money Tips to Keep Your Finances Safe This Season
The holidays are meant to be a break — not a financial headache. With more spending, travel bookings, and online shopping happening at once, it’s also peak season for scams and money mishaps. The Banking Ombudsman is reminding New Zealanders to take a few simple steps to protect their money and know where to turn […]
Kindergartens Aotearoa: New Education Law Puts Children Second
A major law change passed last week — the Education and Training Amendment Act — is raising serious concerns across the early childhood sector. According to Kindergartens Aotearoa, the new direction puts cost-cutting and business interests ahead of children’s wellbeing and learning. The organisation says the Act shifts the purpose of early childhood education (ECE). […]
Education Leaders Unite to Defend Te Tiriti in Schools
A powerful coalition of iwi and education organisations has come together to oppose the Government’s decision to strip Te Tiriti o Waitangi from New Zealand’s education law. The move follows last-minute changes to the Education and Training Act 2020, removing the clause that required school boards to “give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.” Last-Minute […]
School Boards Push Back on Te Tiriti Clause Removal
The New Zealand School Boards Association (NZSBA) has voiced strong opposition to the Government’s proposal to remove references to Te Tiriti o Waitangi from section 127 of the Education and Training Act 2020. NZSBA President Meredith Kennett says the move would weaken both the legal foundation and the practical role of school boards as Crown […]
Teachers Warn: New Curriculum Needs Smaller Classes and More Support
The Ministry of Education has officially released the new English and Maths curriculum for Years 1–10 — a major shift for schools across Aotearoa. While the Ministry describes it as “content-rich,” teachers say it’s simply content-heavy. PPTA Te Wehengarua President Chris Abercrombie says the new curriculum will demand more time, more teachers, and smaller classes […]
New Zealand’s Early Childhood Sector Is Reaching Breaking Point
Early childhood education (ECE) has long been described as the cornerstone of lifelong learning — the place where tamariki first begin to develop the skills, curiosity, and confidence that carry them through school and beyond. But that cornerstone is beginning to crack. According to new analysis from the Early Childhood Education Sector Partnership, around 400 […]
Wintec Deepens International Ties with Changzhou College of Information Technology
Wintec (Waikato Institute of Technology) has taken another step in strengthening its global connections, signing a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China’s Changzhou College of Information Technology (CCIT). The MoU, signed last week at Wintec’s City Campus in Hamilton, sets the foundation for closer collaboration between the two institutions — including academic exchanges, joint […]