Nau mai, haere mai ki te Kōtui Ako | Virtual Learning Network Aotearoa
Kia ora koutou katoa, Kia orāna, Talofa lava, Malo e lelei, Nĭ hăo 你好, Annyoung haseyo 안녕하세요, Namaste, Assalām alaikum, Hola, Bonjour, Hallo!
As we settle into the rhythm of the new academic year, it is clear that our schools are operating in a landscape of significant transformation. From the “shifting carpet” of curriculum change to the urgent national focus on lifting achievement in literacy and numeracy, the wero (challenge) laid before us is substantial. However, it is a challenge we believe is best met through the power of the Kōtui—the weaving together of our collective strengths.
In this month’s pānui we invite member schools to help us seek leaders with governance experience and a commitment to innovative education to help guide our strategic priorities and ensure equitable outcomes for all learners.
We are thrilled to welcome a wealth of new expert kaiako across our primary and secondary networks for 2026. This includes eight secondary subject experts and new primary language and STEM teachers, such as Helen Cunningham, who joins our teaching team after seeing her own son thrive as a Kōtui Ako student.
Celebrating Learner Excellence At the end of 2025, we proudly presented Special Awards to 36 outstanding Primary ākonga for their diligence, positive attitudes, and progress in online learning. Congratulations to top prize winner Ophelia Bayer from Whataroa School and all our awardees, who demonstrate the incredible success that can be achieved in virtual classrooms.
Primary enrolment opportunities remain ongoing with highly flexible options to suit your school’s needs. We have limited spaces still available in some Semester One programmes (check out what’s on offer), enrol a whole class at any time, or plan for next semester, there are still excellent opportunities to engage your learners.
We have partnered with The National Army Museum Te Mata Toa to bring authentic New Zealand military history directly to your students through immersive online experiences. We are currently piloting this program with our Rural Kids class and look forward to offering to more schools starting in Term 2, 2026.
To ensure the long-term sustainability of online networked learning, FLANZ has released a vital advocacy paper. The report calls for sustainable funding and formal national recognition so that a student’s geographic location never limits their educational opportunities. We acknowledge Dr. Lucie Lindsay (our Primary Deputy ePrincipal) for her significant contribution to this paper.
Finally, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner has released new privacy guidelines tailored specifically for the education sector. Kōtui Ako was proud to serve on the advisory group for this project, and we strongly encourage school leaders to use these practical resources as the definitive guide for their daily privacy policies and practices.
Please share the kaupapa by passing this newsletter on to schools in your network.
Ngā mihinui,
Rachel
Hikina a tātou ākonga kia haere kōtui tātou ki tua
Walk hand-in-hand with us to uplift our learners and safeguard the future