Canterbury Primary Principals Association - Open Letter To Minister Stanford

11 November 2025

Hon Erica Stanford

Minister of Education

Parliament Buildings

Wellington

Open Letter to the Minister of Education: CPPA Support for Sector Concerns

He tono kia rongo, kia kōrero tahi, kia whakatika - A call for listening, dialogue, and action

Tēnā koe Minister,

On behalf of the Canterbury Primary Principals’ Association (CPPA), representing primary school leaders across Waitaha Canterbury, we write to express our collective concern about the current scale, pace, and direction of education policy reform.

The ongoing "change overload" facing schools is unsustainable and places at risk both the quality of education provided to our ākonga and the wellbeing of tumuaki and kaiako.

The CPPA fully endorses the recent statements and positions of the New Zealand Principals’ Federation (NZPF) regarding three key areas of reform currently before the sector.

Curriculum Implementation: Canterbury principals are deeply concerned by the continued revisions to the English and Mathematics/Statistics curricula-this being the third major change within two years. These constant shifts have created confusion, workload pressure, and uncertainty across schools. We urge that the timeframe for implementation be extended until at least Term 3, 2026, to allow schools sufficient opportunity to deeply engage with, understand, and embed these changes through relevant and high-quality professional learning and development (PLD).

Regarding the wider curriculum areas and the move toward a "knowledge-rich" curriculum, the current time-frames are unworkable. Successful implementation requires meaningful consultation with those most connected to teaching and learning-principals, teachers, and school leaders. Although we acknowledge the resources made available, the pace and sequencing of these reforms are unrealistic.

In alignment with NZPF, CPPA supports the following actions for principals:

- Refrain from engaging with the Ministry of Education on the October 19th curriculum changes to English and Mathematics/Statistics until sector concerns are addressed.

- Urgently call for the Mathematics and Statistics curriculum implementation to be extended to Term 3,2026.

- Continue any existing PLD commitments linked to the 2024 draft English, Mathematics, and Statistics curricula for Years 0-10.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi

The CPPA is gravely concerned by the proposed amendments to the Education and Training Act that would remove Te Tiriti o Waitangi responsibilities from school boards. Our association and members are firmly committed to Te Tiriti. This commitment is reflected in our constitution and daily practices, with Canterbury schools actively working to give effect to Te Tiriti within their own communities. Any move to weaken these responsibilities would be a significant step backward for equity and partnership in education.

Teaching Council

The CPPA strongly opposes the proposed changes to the Teaching Council’s governance structure and role. Diminishing elected representation or bringing the professional regulator under direct Ministry control threatens the independence, credibility, and integrity of our profession. Maintaining an independent, sector-led Teaching Council is essential to preserve trust between educators and government, and to ensure that professional standards remain the responsibility of those who work within education.

A Call for Constructive Change

Minister, Canterbury principals are not opposed to reform. However, the pace, sequencing, and lack of authentic consultation currently being experienced across the sector are deeply concerning. Sustainable, research-informed, and collaboratively developed change is essential for success.

We respectfully request that you:

- Pause and review the mandated curriculum implementation timelines to allow for genuine engagement and sector input.

- Commit to open, solutions-focused dialogue with NZPF and regional associations to co-design a sustainable way forward. Our members are ready and willing to contribute constructively to this process. Together, we can ensure that future policy decisions are practical, durable, and ultimately focused on improving learning outcomes for every ākonga across Aotearoa.

Kind regards

Lisa Dillon-Roberts

President: Canterbury Primary Principals’ Association

Principal: Merrin School Ngā Whetū