I did hear about this in the morning & had no idea what to make of it because RNZ reported the mixed views from different Educators. I'm not in education myself so I did not even know this was a thing.
You have raised a really good point on asking; why is there such variation of experiences?
I also couldn't help but think(tin foil hat moment from me); this chopping of funding from one education program to fund another is a cynical ploy to foster infighting within the education sector. That might not be the case, but considering the other shenanigan's this government has done, it's not below them to do this IMHO.
Apart from the variety of opinions regarding Kāhui Ako, is there an overall general unity among Educators? Is this something you can speak to?
Correct me if I am wrong, from what it sounded like, Kāhui Ako was a type of structure similar to that of local government but for local schools instead of city's? Or have I misunderstood the programs original intent?
Thanks so much for your thoughtful questions, Cristina.
You’ve picked up on something really important. There is actually a great deal of unity among educators in Aotearoa—particularly when it comes to values: a shared commitment to equity, to child wellbeing, and to creating an education system that serves all learners fairly. What tends to differ is how various policies or initiatives support (or hinder) those goals based on local context. That’s where the variation comes in.
Kāhui Ako—or Communities of Learning—were set up to encourage schools and early learning centres to work collaboratively on shared goals, with funding attached to leadership and teacher roles across and within schools. It wasn’t quite like a local government structure, but it did aim to build cross-sector collaboration—not just between schools, but across the entire education pathway from early childhood through to secondary. That’s a really important distinction.
In areas where Kāhui Ako worked well, the strength lay in deep collaboration and ongoing professional learning that was accessible to everyone in the Kāhui—not just leadership. It created opportunities for shared practice, support, and alignment across what can often be quite disconnected parts of the system. Where that collaboration was genuine, and where the structures were well led and locally owned, the impact was meaningful.
And yes, I do share your concern around the timing and nature of this leak. It’s hard not to view a release like this—so close to the Budget—with a bit of suspicion. Not only does it draw attention away from larger systemic issues, but it also risks dividing the sector at a time when unity is vital.
It’s also worth noting that we’re heading into collective bargaining this year for teacher pay and conditions—an already sensitive time where any suggestion of repurposing funding or reducing roles can increase tension and distrust. Framing this as a choice between collaboration and learning support—rather than exploring how both can be strengthened—is not only unhelpful, but risks stoking in-fighting just when educators most need to be standing together.
Thank you so much Sarah.
I did hear about this in the morning & had no idea what to make of it because RNZ reported the mixed views from different Educators. I'm not in education myself so I did not even know this was a thing.
You have raised a really good point on asking; why is there such variation of experiences?
I also couldn't help but think(tin foil hat moment from me); this chopping of funding from one education program to fund another is a cynical ploy to foster infighting within the education sector. That might not be the case, but considering the other shenanigan's this government has done, it's not below them to do this IMHO.
Apart from the variety of opinions regarding Kāhui Ako, is there an overall general unity among Educators? Is this something you can speak to?
Correct me if I am wrong, from what it sounded like, Kāhui Ako was a type of structure similar to that of local government but for local schools instead of city's? Or have I misunderstood the programs original intent?
Thanks so much for your thoughtful questions, Cristina.
You’ve picked up on something really important. There is actually a great deal of unity among educators in Aotearoa—particularly when it comes to values: a shared commitment to equity, to child wellbeing, and to creating an education system that serves all learners fairly. What tends to differ is how various policies or initiatives support (or hinder) those goals based on local context. That’s where the variation comes in.
Kāhui Ako—or Communities of Learning—were set up to encourage schools and early learning centres to work collaboratively on shared goals, with funding attached to leadership and teacher roles across and within schools. It wasn’t quite like a local government structure, but it did aim to build cross-sector collaboration—not just between schools, but across the entire education pathway from early childhood through to secondary. That’s a really important distinction.
In areas where Kāhui Ako worked well, the strength lay in deep collaboration and ongoing professional learning that was accessible to everyone in the Kāhui—not just leadership. It created opportunities for shared practice, support, and alignment across what can often be quite disconnected parts of the system. Where that collaboration was genuine, and where the structures were well led and locally owned, the impact was meaningful.
And yes, I do share your concern around the timing and nature of this leak. It’s hard not to view a release like this—so close to the Budget—with a bit of suspicion. Not only does it draw attention away from larger systemic issues, but it also risks dividing the sector at a time when unity is vital.
It’s also worth noting that we’re heading into collective bargaining this year for teacher pay and conditions—an already sensitive time where any suggestion of repurposing funding or reducing roles can increase tension and distrust. Framing this as a choice between collaboration and learning support—rather than exploring how both can be strengthened—is not only unhelpful, but risks stoking in-fighting just when educators most need to be standing together.
Thanks Sarah, massively appreciate your insights.