Feature 15 Sep 2025
Kaiako taking te reo beyond ‘just colours and numbers’
Learning a language isn’t easy, and with cuts to funding there’s even less support for educators to take up the challenge of learning te reo Māori. Meriana Johnsen meets the kaiako at Tawa Intermediate who are going above and beyond to bring more te reo into the classroom.
Feature 21 Aug 2025
Indira Neville’s year back in the classroom
After a decade away from the whiteboard, educator and comic artist Indira Neville has returned to teaching – and she’s drawing about it. In this comic series, Indira shares a glimpse into her days at school, capturing what’s changed, what’s stayed the same and what she never saw coming.
Indira Neville goes back to school Pt.2
After a decade away from the whiteboard, educator and comic artist Indira Neville has returned to teaching – and she’s drawing about it. In this comic series, Indira shares a glimpse into her days at school, capturing what’s changed, what’s stayed the same and what she never saw coming.
How our education system serves to entrench rather than disrupt inequalities
The key obligation for governments is to resource the early childhood care and education sector in order to provide high quality, culturally sustaining provision, since research has reinforced that this serves both individual and societal long-term wellbeing. So why are they not doing this?
Principals at work – in pictures
As part of Tumeke Tumuaki day this year, we asked principals to share photos that showed just how varied their day-to-day mahi can be. From hosting award ceremonies and meeting MPs to getting dressed up and celebrating the cultural diversity of kura, no two days are the same for these amazing tumuaki. Here’s a selection from some of the pictures they sent us.
Five hopes for my moko
Jasmine Taankink (Ngā Mahanga-a-Tairi) is a second language speaker of te reo Māori committed to the intergenerational transmission of te reo in her whānau and community. She shares with us her hopes for her three moko.
Shaping futures – the power of qualified kaiako
Qualified early childhood teachers bring deep knowledge, intentional teaching and powerful relationships that shape children’s futures. Ako hears from kaiako across Aotearoa about the life-changing difference their study has made, and why tamariki deserve nothing less than skilled, thoughtful educators from the very start.
The system wasn’t built for this, but teachers still show up
While headlines continue to debate the state of education, and political conversations turn increasingly towards blame and constraint, the reality is that our teachers are holding together a system under pressure with the strength of their care, professionalism and deep commitment to every child who walks through the door.
Education superhero: Clare O’Hagan-Harris
In this series, we celebrate the extraordinary mahi of educators across Aotearoa, whose passion, purpose and superpowers shape the future every day. This month Pukerua Bay primary teacher Clare O’Hagan-Harris answers 12 questions about her unique powers.
How do you celebrate Matariki at your kura?
From making lanterns and sharing kai to discos, art auctions and kapa haka, there are many different ways to celebrate Matariki and Puanga. Ako asked five kura from around Aotearoa how they mark this special time of year.
The joys and challenges of teaching on Wharekauri Chatham Island
Working at a school on the Chatham Islands demands resilience, innovation and a deep sense of connection. Kirsten McDougall spoke with staff at Te One School to find out what it means to educate in one of the most remote communities in Aotearoa.
Education superhero: Sally Griffin
In this series, we celebrate the extraordinary mahi of educators across Aotearoa, whose passion and purpose shape the future every day. This month kindergarten head teacher Sally Griffin answers 12 questions about her unique powers.
Why Budget 2025 is anything but a vision
It’s often said that a nation’s budget reflects its values. If that’s true, then Budget 2025 tells us undeniably that children, especially our youngest tamariki, are not a priority.