Feature 28 May 2025
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.
Feature 27 May 2025
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.
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.
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.
Can’t stop the fight: Linda Jordan on 25 years as a teacher aide
After 25 years as a teacher aide, Linda Jordan has just reluctantly retired from her much-loved job. She’s a dedicated member of NZEI Te Riu Roa and travelled the country interviewing teacher aides to build a picture of the role for the pivotal pay equity claim. Anna Bracewell-Worrall finds out what she misses and how she feels about the Government’s abrupt changes to the equal pay act.
Teacher aides are ‘the glue that keeps a classroom humming’
Often supporting students one on one in the classroom, teacher aides are vital to ensuring tamariki get the extra support they need at school, but their funding is precarious at best. Ngāmotu-based writer Emma Hislop (Kāi Tahu) visited Avon School in Taranaki to hear from staff, parents and akōnga about the amazing mahi of teacher aides.
One teacher’s mission to revitalise PE
A teacher who supercharged the PE programme at her school has been rewarded with some welcome knock-on effects. NZEI Te Riu Roa member Arti Raju tells Ako how she turned things around for Rhode Street School.
Day in the life series: Jaydn Robson
From managing sports trials and uniforms to liaising with coaches, students and parents, Jaydn shares his busy day as Assistant Director of Sport at Newlands College. Warning: you may get tired just reading this.
Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories – a healing curriculum
Two years since it was made compulsory in schools, Heeni Collins (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Haumia) finds out about the positive impacts of Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories curriculum on teachers and students, and the barriers they still face to implementing it.
Te Pūherenga: Preserving pūrākau for future generations
In 2022, Ngāti Rēhia began a partnership with local schools in Kerikeri to incorporate its pūrākau and mātauranga into Aotearoa New Zealand's histories curriculum. Ako Zoomed in to Kerikeri to hear from Riverview Primary School teacher Samantha Roessler and Ngāti Rēhia Matua Taua Kemp about the significance of this collaboration for their students and community.
ECE and support staff scholarships
Did you know NZEI Te Riu Roa awards over $30,000 worth of scholarship funds each year to ECE teachers and support staff? Ako spoke to some of the 2024 recipients about how they used the funds and the impact it has had on their mahi.
Jared Lambert: 2024 scholarship recipient
ECE kaiako Jared Lambert received a scholarship from NZEI Te Riu Roa in 2024 and used the funds to help complete his Master of Psychology. He answered some questions about his experience of the scholarship.
Victoria Goode: 2024 scholarship recipient
Teaching assistant Victoria Goode facilitates a Nurture Group at Nelson Central School. She received a Support Staff scholarship from NZEI Te Riu Roa in 2024 and used the funds to train with Nurture International in the UK. She answered some questions about her experience of the scholarship.