Our approach

We believe it is possible for all young people in Aotearoa New Zealand to realise their potential, on their own terms.

Our contribution is a sustainable, national network of community-driven leadership. We know that inspirational leadership, both inside and outside the classroom, is crucial for improving outcomes for our rangatahi.

Developing leaders in the classroom
We provide an opportunity for outstanding people with a drive to help lead change, and a firm belief in the limitless potential of all young people, to make a commitment to addressing inequality. One of the ways to do this is through our flagship programme.

“Ehara taku toa I te toa takitahi. Engari, te toa takitini.”
My strength is not the strength of one; it is the strength of many.

Our flagship programme is one way we are contributing to building a national movement of people working together for educational transformation.

Another way is through our Kairapu community, a dynamic force for social change, uniting of all those with an interest and belief in our kaupapa and vision, as well as all participants and alumni of our flagship programme.

United by the shared experience and knowledge of the challenges that schools and wider communities face, as well as the commitment to address the issues, our community continues to galvanise toward educational equality.

Our Programme

After nearly ten years, Ako Mātātupu: Teach First NZ has taken the natural step in becoming an independent Tertiary Education Organisation. While the academic element of the Teach First NZ programme was previously delivered by a tertiary partner - firstly the University of Auckland and then The Mind Lab - in 2021 we welcomed the inaugural Cohort for which a Postgraduate Diploma of Secondary Teaching will be both delivered and supported by Ako Mātātupu.

Our impact

The aim of our work is to help all children to fulfil their potential, by disrupting the inequities that exist in education and in society.

This is a big aim. It’s one we know we aren’t working towards alone, and that will take a long time to achieve.

Through our flagship programme, we contribute to achieving this vision by attracting more great people into the education sector who are committed to the same vision as us. We support them to grow in the knowledge and skills that can help them to make a difference, and long-term to connect with each other as Kairapu to make an increasing difference together for children.

Through our flagship programme:

• Our participants and alumni have worked directly with 30,000 children from low-income backgrounds
• We have recruited over 220 great people to teach in schools serving low-income communities
• We have worked in partnership with over 60 English and Māori-medium secondary schools serving low-income communities from Kaitaia to Invercargill
• Over 80% of those who have completed our programme have continued to teach, many now with over 5 years of experience in the profession, and over 25% in a school leadership position. Of those who are no longer teaching, many are now studying or working for change through policy and other means.

Educational inequality is the complex result of multiple factors. Evidence shows that teaching is the most significant in-school factor that can positively affect this, and we aim for our programme participants to grow as exceptional teachers and education leaders who can make the biggest difference possible, alongside the many other great teachers and school leaders already in the profession, to help all children realise their potential.

Evaluation

We are committed to evaluation and continuous improvement to ensure that we are making the greatest impact possible.

Our flagship programme was subject to an ongoing external evaluation from 2014 to 2017 led by the New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER) and supported by the Ministry of Education. The final report was released in May 2017, and looked at how well the programme had been implemented and had met its outcomes and objectives. You can read these reports here.

As a part of the Teach First NZ Programme, participants in Cohorts 2021 onwards will complete a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching from Ako Mātātupu.

Ako Mātātupu: Teach First NZ is a voluntary member of the Teach For All global network of similar, independently and locally funded and governed organisations in 52 countries around the world. Quantitative and qualitative impact studies have been published on programmes similar to ours.

Education Pastoral Care Code

The Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice serves as a regulatory framework established to safeguard the well-being and welfare of tertiary and international students within New Zealand's education sector. This code sets forth a comprehensive set of guidelines, policies, and standards that tertiary education organizations must adhere to when delivering services to both domestic and international students

Its primary objective is to ensure that students benefit from a superior standard of pastoral care, support, and a secure learning environment throughout their educational journey. The code is dedicated to upholding the rights and protecting the interests of learners by advocating for ethical conduct and responsible practices among educational providers.

More Information About the Code Ako Mātātupu Code Self Review