Latest Newsletters
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Kōtui Ako | Virtual Learning Network Aotearoa Pānui – May 2026
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!
This month’s pānui contains important updates in governance, curriculum offerings, and a focus on navigating the rapidly changing digital landscape.
At our recent AGM we were excited to officially welcome our new Chair, Dr Gabrielle Wall, an experienced professional in education system leadership and digital equity. We also welcome two new Governance Group members: Louise Buckley (Principal, Katikati College) and Curtis Gaylor (Principal, Dargaville High School). We extend our deepest gratitude to Rick Whalley for his service, as he steps down after nearly two decades as a foundational leader and advocate for the Virtual Learning Network (VLN). Read our Chairperson’s report, along with our 2025 annual reports.
Registrations for Primary online classes starting Term 3 are now open. These programmes, taught by experienced New Zealand registered teachers, are designed to extend curriculum choices for your learners. We encourage schools to take advantage of the two engaging, free online programmes offered in partnership with the National Army Museum Te Mata Toa, providing a unique chance for students to engage directly with expert kaiako.
Recognising that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming education, Kōtui Ako has updated our AI Guidelines for Teaching and Learning. These guidelines clarify the responsibilities of both teachers and students to ensure safe and ethical use of these powerful tools as they enrich student learning experiences.Delve deeper into the following pages for all the information on our governance, curriculum offerings, and important AI guidelines.
Ngā mihinui ki a koutou
The Kōtui Ako VLN team
Hikina a tātou ākonga kia haere kōtui tātou ki tua
Walk hand-in-hand with us to uplift our learners and safeguard the future
Read the full publication
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Kōtui Ako | Virtual Learning Network Aotearoa Pānui – March 2026
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
Read the full publication
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Celebrating Connection and Creativity in 2025
Nau mai, haere mai ki te Kura Tuatahi – Akonga Aka Mariko
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 reach the end of 2025, it is a privilege to showcase our students’ learning. Often, when people think of “online learning,” they imagine students staring silently at screens. But as you see from the examples of student learning that we share, the reality is far more vibrant. You will see collaboration, critical thinking, creativity and a connection between our learners and their kaiako that covers the motu.
This publication is a window into our virtual classrooms. It highlights the mahi of students who have taken charge of their own learning journeys. Whether it is mastering a new language, cracking complex codes in Digital Technology, or exploring the future of AI, these ākonga are developing the self-management and resilience skills that will define their future success.
The Power of Reciprocity: None of this is possible without the kaupapa of reciprocity that binds our network together. To the schools that contributed funding for our teachers, the mentors who supported students on-site, and the whānau who encouraged them from home—thank you. You are the “Kōtui” (weaving) that makes this “Ako” (learning) possible. Thanks also to the Ministry of Education who partner with us to fund our operations and leadership.
Looking to 2026 As we celebrate these student achievements, we invite you to look ahead. With registrations now open for 2026, consider how your school can further widen its curriculum and offer your learners the awesome advantage of choice. Whether it’s through our Learning Languages programmes or our expanding STEM selection, there is a place for every learner here.
Enjoy this celebration of success. These students are not just learning online; they are learning for life.
Ngā mihi nui
Rachel Whalley
ePrincipal (Primary)
Kōtui Ako | Virtual Learning Network Aotearoa
“Hikina a tātou ākonga kia haere kōtui tātou ki tua — Walk hand-in-hand with us to uplift our learners and safeguard the future.”
Read the full publication
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Kōtui Ako | Virtual Learning Network Aotearoa Pānui – December 2025
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 our schools start heading off on their well deserved summer break, we invite you to take some time to dip into our end of year newsletter.
We have all the information you need on getting ready for joining us in 2026. For our returning schools please use this as your first point of reference. Share with your school networks and encourage them to join us too! We look forward to confirming your registrations in the new school year.
Check out our Celebration of Learning for 2025 for more on what our learners have been up to this year.
We bid a fond farewell to three of our awesome eteachers. Between them they have racked up 19 years of online teaching! We have been blessed with a stable and experience eteacher workforce in recent years, and we will miss them. Read their farewell comments for their perspectives of working as an online teacher with VLN Primary and Kōtui Ako.
These are some big shoes to fill and teachers are invited to express their interest in working with us next year. These are small part-time roles, so not a big career move, but a starting point and one that will contribute to your growth as a teaching professional.
He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata. We value the role of everybody in our organisation and wish to invite you to think about how you can contribute to our network of schools as a trustee on the Governance Group. As you have time to reflect on the year thats been and the year ahead consider putting yourself forward as a trustee to support our kaupapa. More information will be out at the end of Term 1.
AI has been a big focus in our professional learning this year. We have developed AI guidelines for teaching and learning, alongside an AI Digital Literacy online program for learners. Find out how Kōtui Ako are committed to equipping our ākonga and kaiako with the skills to use AI ethically, safely, and effectively.
It was an honour to participate in the International Council of Distance Education (ICDE) annual conference, with the conference theme of Āko: Exchanging ideas for inclusive, scalable, and sustainable education. Although specifically targeting higher education, the topics and themes, whether policy, practice or research were just as relevant to us in the schooling sector. It was a bonus to meet and make new connections with colleagues from Te Kura.
Thanks to our schools, kaiako, learners, whānau and suppporters for making 2025 a success, we look forward to seeing you again in 2026.
Ngā mihi o te Kirihimete me te Tau Hou
Rachel and the Kōtui Ako VLN team
Read the full publication
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Kōtui Ako | Virtual Learning Network Aotearoa Pānui – October 2025
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!
Its time to plan for 2026! Our team have been busy behind the scenes preparing programmes for next year.
Registrations are now open for our Primary programmes. Check out what’s available, discuss with your learners and whānau and register their choices. The sooner the better, as this helps with our planning for the year ahead and helps you secure your registrations. Check out Celebrations of Learning for examples of what our ākonga are learning in their online classes. Want to know more? Join one of our intro sessions next month.
We are all Dancing on the Shifting Carpet with curriculum change at the moment. We have been working as best we can to support our schools and to position our programmes and create new learning opportunities to align with where our schools changing needs are. Although we have lots of great programmes for schools, in this newsletter we highlight a few that may be of interest as you take on board curriculum changes. We welcome your feedback and suggestions on how we can help.
Learning another language provides a practical way to improve literacy, as it actively strengthens the language skills students use daily. Explore the links to literacy and how Kōtui Ako VLN can support you with learning languages.
Our Life Skills programme has been available for some years and is a great way to introduce financial literacy through a variety of authentic tasks that prepare learners for the future but engage them now. We present a new online programme designed to accelerate achievement in Mathematics for Year 7 and 8 students, to align with the new New Zealand Curriculum (NZC) Phase 3. Another new programme trialled this year is designed to help your students become confident in navigating the world of AI in a way that aligns with the New Zealand Curriculum.
Our strategic priorities are to ensure equitable educational outcomes for all ākonga by collaborating with schools to provide high quality learning opportunities. Access to a rich, wide and relevant curriculum is at the heart of this.
Our team looks forward to hearing from schools in preparation for the 2026 year ahead. 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
Read the full publication
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Kōtui Ako | Virtual Learning Network Aotearoa Pānui – August 2025
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!
Poipoia te kākano kia puāwai
Nurture the seed and it will blossom
Spring is in the air and with the promise of warmer days to come, its a good time to plan ahead. If you are looking to offer wider curriculum choices to the students and ākonga, now is the time to consider joining Kōtui Ako VLN Secondary. Find out what’s involved and plan to participate in 2026.
We have been gathering feedback from our Primary ākonga and share our findings. Student voice helps inform our practice, gives us assurance that we are on track, and points to areas we need to work on further.
Find out about the benefits of learning New Zealand Sign Language, NZSL, and how we can support schools with language classes for students, teachers and support for deaf students. Let us know how we can help you! There’s still time to sign your learners up for a 5 week taster class next term (numbers limited).
Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori is coming up soon! To celebrate we are sharing our online resources. We hope you enjoy them and find them helpful in your reo Māori journey. Kia kaha Te Reo Māori!
Earlier in the year we hosted Australian Churchill Fellow Eamonn Moore who was exploring best practice in Virtual Learning in New Zealand and USA. His report, recently published, highlights the successful integration of virtual learning in New Zealand schools as a means to expand student pathways and enhance educational opportunities.
We are delighted to announce that Dr Ruth Gorinski has been appointed as Chair of the Kotui Ako Virtual Learning Network Aotearoa. Ruth is experienced in leadership and Governance roles in education and the not for profit sector. We feel very privileged to have her onboard and leading our Governance Group.
Thanks to Rick Whalley, Principal Lake Rerewhakaaitu School, for being Acting Chairperson and for leading the Appointments Committee.
Ngā mihinui ki a koutou
The Kōtui Ako VLN team
Read the full publication
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Kōtui Ako | Virtual Learning Network Aotearoa Pānui June 2025
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 head towards the middle of the busy school year, Matariki gives us time to pause and reflect. We celebrate with whānau and look ahead to the future. Our Matariki resource, created by Tewaiehu Savage as part of Networks of Expertise PLD, is shared for those seeking understanding around the meaning behind Matariki.
We celebrate champions of e-learning Bill and Paul from Waiheke High School, e-dean and e-teacher respectively, for their longstanding dedication to the VLN kaupapa.
Are you looking to offer wider curriculum choices to the students and ākonga from your school or kura? Now is the time to consider joining Kōtui Ako VLN Secondary for 2026. Check out the benefits for learners and what you need to do to participate.
Registrations for Primary programmes starting next term have now closed. If you missed the date, you can still participate by joining your whole class with one of our Language programmes or participating in a 5 week Taster Class.
We are still on the lookout for a new Governance Chairperson. If you know someone who would be great for this role, or if it could be you, please find out more and contact Rick.
Finally, our Annual Reports for 2024 are now available. We look back into the year that was, celebrate today and plan for the future!
Mānawatia a Matariki ✨️
Rachel, Amanda and the Kōtui Ako VLN team
Read the full publication
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Kōtui Ako | Virtual Learning Network Aotearoa Pānui May 2025
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!
We have had a busy time in Wellington this month with our biennial Rural & Remote Kids camp. This is a unique project running since 2012, devised on the back of a napkin at a Principals conference. Every two years our Year 7 & 8 ākonga come to the capital, make new friends, navigate the city, and push their comfort zones, all with a good dose of civics education.
Members of our Kōtuitui team attended the Networks of Expertise (NEX) Summit at Te Papa. This was a valuable time for our team to strengthen connections with other networks and to participate in some useful PLD.
Make your registrations for Semester 2 Primary programmes now! Its a short 9 week term, so get your skates on and bring a friend – membership fees are waived for schools new to Kōtui Ako VLN.
We are on the look out for new eteachers, if you are a NZ registered experienced teacher and confident with technologies, please send in your expression of interest. Depending on the needs of our schools, we may have a place for you.
We are seeking a new independent chairperson for our Governance Group. A big thank you to Ruth Anderson, who has stepped down after 4 years. Ruth led us through times of change as we merged from VLN Primary and OLC through to Kōtui Ako. It was a choppy sea, and Ruth navigated us well, ensuring the waka continued to move forward. We wish her all the best 💐We are asking schools to look to their networks and communities for a suitable person for this role. If you think you have the skills and experience for this role please contact us directly.
This week our ePrincipals’ Amanda and Rachel (along with some members of our Governance Group) are out and about at the SPANZ & NZEI Rural Teaching Principals’ Conferences (respectively). Look out for us, introduce yourselves, we’d love to have a chat about how your schools’ network Kōtui Ako can work with you.
Ngā mihinui ki a koutou
The Kōtui Ako VLN team
Read the full publication
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Kōtui Ako | Virtual Learning Network Aotearoa Pānui March 2025
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!
Lifting achievement in numeracy and literacy is an educational priority and is the main focus of this pānui. We can work with you to meet the wero (challenge) that has been laid at your feet!
We are excited to announce the pilot of a new online programme designed to accelerate achievement in Mathematics for Year 7 and 8 students, and invite you to participate.
Targeted writing development for Lake Rerewhakaaitu senior students participating in the Kōtui Ako Creative Writing class, has led to improved academic gains. Learn more about their success.
Learning another language provides a practical way to improve literacy, as it actively strengthens the language skills students use daily. Explore the links to literacy and how Kōtui Ako VLN can support you with learning languages.
We go deeper for Gifted Learners! Two programmes designed specifically to extend and challenge our ākonga will kick off in Term 2.
*Note that the opportunities highlighted in this pānui, though targeted at Years 7 & 8s are equally beneficial and available to older ākonga, and we invite interest from Secondary and Area Schools.
** Membership fees will be waived for schools new to Kōtui Ako for these programmes in Term 1 and 2.
Finally heads up to members schools our AGM is coming up May 22nd, put it in your diaries now. Look out for a revised constitution out for consultation soon.
Ngā mihinui ki a koutou
The Kōtui Ako VLN team
Read the full publication
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Kōtui Ako | Virtual Learning Network Aotearoa Pānui February 2025
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!
Our schools have hit the ground running this year! We appreciate the pressure you are all under implementing changes to the curriculum, participating in intensive and ongoing PLD, accelerating numeracy in Years 7 & 8, working in the structure of the school day to include an hour of each for the 3 Rs, supporting learners to achieve NCEA co-requisites, seeking staff to cover the gaps, not to forget the busy 1st term activities of swimming, sports, outings, cluster events and getting started with VLN classes. Well done to you all in doing the best for your ākonga in this busy environment 🙌 We are here to support schools provide equity and access to the curriculum, let us know how we can help!
It may seem a tad late, but we are proud to celebrate the achievement of our 2024 Primary learners. (When we last published, many of our schools were still organising their End of Year celebrations). Our online teachers recognised 32 students from across the motu and this year also recognised two of our awesome school support kaiako.
We are sad to farewell Tewaiehu Savage, our Kaiarahi Mātauranga Māori. Our organisation has grown with her in our leadership team. We have learnt so much from her. Tewai has taken on a new role with Unitec also as a Mātauranga Māori lead and as a lecturer in Initial Teacher Education for Early Childcare. This is a great opportunity for Tewai and we wish her all the best.
Although registrations for Kōtui Ako VLN (Primary) have closed, find out how you can participate throughout the year. The kaupapa of our schools network means that we can work with you to access teacher expertise and tailor solutions for your ākonga.
Want to know how to use AI intentionally? Make sure you are in control of AI meeting Bots and ensure they stay uninvited and out of our online classes. If you need help with this, get in touch with the Kōtuitui team. AI is often a focus for Kōtuitui, keep an eye out for upcoming PLD
Geoff Woods at Rosmini College, a long time connected teacher and collaborator, profiles TOCTUS a global project focused on Climate Education. Interested? You’re invited to contact Geoff to see how your learners can participate.
Finally congratulations to Haast School who take home an NZSL clock, no doubt handy as they learn NZSL with us this year. They were one of several schools who got busy getting all their registration administration done before the end of the 2024 school year.
Ngā mihinui ki a koutou
Rachel, Amanda and the Kōtui Ako VLN team
Read the full publication
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