Teamturf—Proud Sponsor of NZCEO & the Preferred Turf Specialists for Catholic Schools Nationwide

Trusted by Catholic Schools Nationwide

Teamturf is proud to be the preferred artificial turf partner for Catholic schools across New Zealand. As a dedicated NZCEO sponsor, we’re committed to creating safe, vibrant outdoor spaces where students can thrive—on the field, playground, or court.

Whether it's for sports courts, cricket facilities, landscaping, or play areas, our high-quality turf solutions are designed to perform and built to last.

🎉 Book a Consultation & Win!

Schedule a consultation with Teamturf or any of our nationwide agents, and your school will be automatically entered to win a $500 sports equipment voucher and a bag of sports balls—giving your students even more ways to play and excel.

Why Choose Teamturf?

✅ NZCEO-endorsed sponsor – Trusted by Catholic schools throughout NZ

✅ Nationwide Service – No matter your location, we’re ready to help

✅ Tailored Designs – Custom turf solutions using coloured turf and Signgrass® to reflect your school’s unique spirit

How to Enter the Draw

Book a free consultation before August 31 for a confirmed project and you're in the draw!

👉 Schedule your consultation here

Below: Turf installation at St Patrick's Catholic School, Taumarunui

Education Minister Announces $30m To Be Put Towards New Classrooms At State Integrated Schools

State Integrated Growth Investment (SIGI) Funding

Yesterday morning, the Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced that $30M of Crown funds (allocated at a rate of $7.5M per year for four years) will be allocated to state integrated schools for new growth classrooms. APIS has been in negotiation with the Minister about this funding for the last twelve months and I am grateful to Minister Stanford for prioritising these funds in the 2025/26 budget.

It is important to acknowledge her efforts on our behalf in what we know is a very tight fiscal situation. The Minister acknowledged that her government views state integrated schools as an important part of the state education sector and that her government is supportive of choice for parents within the state school provision. Her words of support for our sector were welcomed and appreciated. Minister Stanford also reflected in her media announcement that there continues to be strong demand for places in our state integrated schools and that these funds would provide classrooms for at least an extra 1250 students in our sector.

This funding is not a universal fund where every proprietor will be guaranteed to get a share of these funds. The funds will be allocated by the Ministry of Education according to how the proprietor application meets the priorities that will be set by the Minister and her team at the Ministry of Education.

The Minister of Education mentioned eligibility and prioritisation criteria which APIS were not aware of before her media statement. Criteria that she articulated as priorities for assessing applications for growth classrooms included attendance, achievement rates, and pressure on the school roll. The Minister mentioned that state integrated schools requesting a high level of donations may be given a lower priority for SIGI funding. This was a surprise but is consistent with some of her conversations with APIS in recent times, where she has expressed her concern regarding state integrated schools which request large donations from their school community.

State Integrated Growth Investment (SIGI) funding is not Policy Two funding. SIGI funding will be delivered directly to state integrated school boards who will then retain ownership of these new buildings. This is a different method of funding for growth in state integrated schools and has enabled the Minister to use the Crown’s capital funding to support state integrated school growth aspirations. APIS will now negotiate with the Ministry of Education the various policies, processes and application format that will be needed to ensure these funds are used in our best interests.

APIS will now, under urgency, start negotiations with the Ministry of Education on the criteria for assessing applications for SIGI funding and the design of the application form that will be used to apply for these funds. The clock is ticking if our sector is to fully use the $7.5M allocated for the first year in 2025/26.

APIS will ensure we continue to update our stakeholders as we progress through these negotiations. Please understand that at this point APIS cannot answer many of the questions that we know you will have regarding the building and ownership of these growth classrooms. Rest assured we are aware of the complexities involved in the allocation of these funds and will work in your best interests with the Ministry of Education to ensure we clarify all the issues and work towards an outcome that will be beneficial for all parties.

These SIGI funds are great news for our sector and an acknowledgement from the Crown and the Minister that they have confidence in our ability to provide high quality students outcomes and a proven record of delivering low-cost, high-quality classroom facilities. APIS is very grateful to Minister Stanford for her support.

An RNZ article on her announcement can be found here and the Minister’s press release can be found here

From Carmel College to the Vatican: Inspiring the Next Generation of Carmel Girls

Reproduced with permission from Carmel College School News

Former top scholar Mia Boothroyd (Class of 2019) has written to share an extraordinary academic and personal experience – one she hopes will inspire other Carmel students to aim high, follow their passions, and maybe even meet the Pope.

This year, Mia attended the prestigious Vatican Observatory Summer School (VOSS) in Albano/Castel Gandolfo, Italy, alongside 23 other astronomy students from 22 different countries. VOSS is hosted by the Vatican Observatory, one of the oldest active astronomical institutions in the world, operated by Jesuit scientists and astronomers.

“It was such an amazing time – we learnt so much and met so many people from around the world,” Mia shared. The 2025 programme focused on new discoveries from the James Webb Space Telescope, covering topics like exoplanets, astrochemistry, and galactic phenomena. Outside of lectures, the group explored ancient ruins in Ostia Antica, visited monasteries in Subiaco, and walked the historic streets of Rome.

A highlight of the programme? “We were lucky enough to have an audience with the Pope… It was so amazing to meet him,” Mia wrote. The students were also granted special access to areas of the Vatican not usually open to tourists. “When I met the Pope, I told him I was going to send the photo to my school teachers, so I better keep my promise!”

Now beginning her PhD in Denmark, researching meteorites and planetary formation, Mia credits Carmel with helping ignite her love of science: “It was actually at Carmel I first learnt about the Vatican Observatory… without which I never would’ve known about VOSS!”

VOSS runs every two years (the next in 2027), and is open to students studying astronomy, physics, or mathematics at undergraduate or postgraduate level. To learn more, visit: Vatican Observatory Summer School

Mia closed her email with a message of gratitude and hope:
“I wanted to remember my teachers at Carmel who first taught me science – thank you! – and to share some of this joy with others. I hope in the future, a Carmel girl may attend VOSS again and have an amazing time in Italy too.”

Shepherding and Serving: The Nature and Formation of Leadership in Catholic Schools

Rosalie Connors, Special Character Manager, NZCEO

What constitutes genuine strength in a leader? Who is the leader we are looking for, and hoping for, in Catholic education?

These are critical questions in determining the intended nature of leadership in Catholic schools. An article from the Monographs Series from the Ontario Institute for Catholic Education (OICE) addresses these questions by suggesting that leadership requires emotional intelligence, dedication to service, the ability to deal patiently and constructively with conflict, and the courage to maintain integrity as essential strengths. These qualities are evoked in the metaphor of ‘shepherd’ that provides a powerful invitation to choose a way to lead characterised by righteousness, care and compassion.

While leadership in Catholic education does not demand or require perfection, it does require a willingness to grow and change-to continue to be formed into our true self as a person and a leader. For a baptised Catholic, formation is a lifelong process that encourages us to move to deeper levels of faith understanding and commitment. This transfers to our leadership so our personal dimensions of leadership are reflected on and developed.

Like me I hope you find this article thought provoking and challenging to think deeper on faith as an essential dimension in my vocation as a Catholic educator.

The full article Shepherding and Serving: The Nature and Formation of Leadership in Catholic Schools from OICE can be found here:

Parish Ministry in Aotearoa New Zealand

Te Kupenga Catholic Theological College is offering a webinar on “Parish Ministry in Aotearoa New Zealand” with Emily Sit, the director for mission and evangelisation for Palmerston North. This webinar is on Wednesday, 20 August 5:00-6:00pm via Zoom. To register, follow the link below

TĒNĀ KOUTOU KATOA: Editorial by Dr Kevin Shore, CEO

Kia ora koutou

I had the pleasure of speaking at the New Zealand Association of Christian Schools Conference recently in Auckland. The conference was hosted by KingsWay School in Auckland. I would like to thank Graeme Budler and his wonderful staff and students for their manaaki and the care that they took in hosting all the guests and participants. It was a privilege to visit the school and mix and mingle with so many proprietors and stakeholders from the Christian school’s sector that I have got to know in my role. One of the highlights was spending some time with the main conference keynote Lynn Swaner who leads thought leadership and research initiatives for the Association of Christian Schools International (ASCI). Her work on Flourishing Schools Research resonated with me and I managed to walk away with her book “Flourishing Together’ which I am looking forward to reading by the ‘fire’ over winter.

Development of Further Association of Proprietors of Integrated Schools (APIS) Resources

We have received a few comments lately that some proprietors and stakeholders would like APIS to clarify and demystify the processes when applying for maximum roll increases and other common changes to integration agreements such as site plan updates, change of name, change of proprietor, changes to special character statement etc. Karen Raitt from our office is developing this work at speed and only yesterday she shared her first draft of this work with me. Karen has attempted to design these resources so they are in a graphic and simple format and I am confident that they will be embraced by the sector when these are released shortly. Before they are released to the sector, APIS is likely to seek feedback from some of our stakeholders to ensure these resources have been fully evaluated and are fit for purpose.

It is important to point out that the integration agreement is a contract between the proprietor and the Minister of education allowing the school to become a state integrated school. There is only ever one integration agreement and any subsequent changes must be made via a supplementary integration agreement. A supplementary integration agreement only identifies the change (or variation) that has been agreed to from the original integration agreement. Proprietors and school boards must read their integration agreement alongside any supplementary agreements to get the full picture of what has been agreed to.

 Celebrating 50 Years of State Integrated Schools

APIS has initiated a project to gather the significant history of integration for each of our special character or philosophical school affiliations. This is not focusing on individual schools but on each of the main religious or philosophical affiliations including, Anglican (incorporating Anglican Māori), Catholic (incorporating Catholic Māori), Non-denominational Christian, Hare Krishna, Islamic, Jewish, Māori, Methodist, Montessori, Presbyterian, Seventh Day Adventist, Steiner and special education philosophies.

The official 50th anniversary of the Private Schools Conditional Integration Act (PSCIA) is 10 October 2025 and APIS would like to complete a media publication that incorporates a short history of each of the different affiliations that make up the state integrated sector. This publication would then be released to media and we are looking to invite the Minister of Education to be part of this release. We have a very testing timeline so APIS has approached particular stakeholders in each of the affiliations who have knowledge of their history to support this project. Some have replied positively to us already; however, we are desperately needing responses from those who are yet to reply. APIS will follow up on this urgently as we need to meet remotely with these key people to go over the parameters of what we require from them.

Whether we can meet the 10 October deadline will depend on the level of support we receive from the sector. However, we do appreciate how busy people are and want to make this as easy as possible for those involved.      

Relationship with the Minister of Education 

I am very appreciative of our stakeholders after my reminder in the last Kōtui that APIS is your body to negotiate in your interests with the Minister of Education. In the last few weeks, APIS has received correspondence from proprietors who are wanting to communicate issues with the Minister. This is the correct process and I am grateful for your support in working with us.

Unfortunately, this editorial must be submitted before my meeting with Minister Stanford on 17 July. It is always a privilege to have the opportunity to engage with her and there are several significant issues that are on the agenda. APIS has been waiting for the Minister to release a statement that impacts on state integrated schools so please rest assured that we will communicate directly with you once we have the information and the support of the Minister to share this information.

Finally

The AGM for APIS will be held as part of the programme at the Association of Integrated Schools (AIS) Conference being held at the Brentwood Hotel in Wellington on Thursday 11 and Friday 12 September. Minister Stanford has signalled her willingness to be the opening speaker at the conference as she was in 2024. Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour will also briefly attend the conference dinner on Thursday evening and cut the cake to celebrate 50 years of state integrated schools. Nicola Gueze (CEO AIS) and Rhonda Thorpe work hard to put together a great programme and relevant workshops so I encourage our stakeholders to join us and support our conference organisers.

Kia tau te rangimārie ki a koutou.

Kevin Shore, Chief Executive Officer

Association of Integrated Schools Conference

The Association of Integrated Schools (AIS) is holding its annual conference on Thursday 11 and Friday 12 September 2025 at the Brentwood Hotel in Wellington. The AIS conference in 2024 was very well attended by representatives of state integrated schools including our Catholic sector and I would encourage you all to join with us in celebrating our state integrated schools.

The Pope’s Astronomer, Br Guy Consolmagno SJ – Speaker Series

From Catholic.org.nz

The director of the Vatican Observatory will soon make his fourth visit to New Zealand, taking in the Southern Hemisphere skies and sharing his insights on theology, astronomy and science. Br Guy Consolmagno SJ first travelled to New Zealand in 1996 as part of a trip that featured collecting meteorites from the East Antarctic Plateau and a New Year’s Eve concert headlined by iconic band The Muttonbirds.

His visits have included astronomical observations from Lake Tekapo, exploration of Great Barrier Island and a well-attended speaking tour in 2019. During the upcoming visit, Br Guy will give talks in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Timaru in early August, as well as spending time at a number of world-renowned sites for stargazing.

As a member of the Society of Jesus, his tour will commence with an event at St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College in Drury, which opened last year with a Jesuit charism. He will speak at other Catholic schools, at Te Kupenga – Catholic Leadership Institute campuses, at a Christchurch parish and at universities as he makes his way down the country.

While he is looking forward to renewing friendships and offering his thoughts with new groups of people, Br Guy concedes the Southern Hemisphere skies hold great appeal. “New Zealand is one of the few places of dry land on Earth that’s at the same latitude south as the places where I have lived in the north. Southern stars are not to be missed,” he said.

“But I say that in part because I know that the stars (if not the clear skies needed to see them) can be predicted. The more important part of the trip, the people, can’t be predicted; I am prepared to be surprised.”

Br Guy concedes that life as a scientist and a professed member of a religious order often prompts some interesting questions. After decades of speaking around the world, he has detected a change in recent years. “I’ve noticed in the past five years or so a fascinating shift in the sorts of questions I get and the attitudes that people have,” he said “My fellow scientists are much more open now to questions of faith than they were 30 years ago, while there’s been a lot less faith in science among the general public. “I will be fascinated to see what sorts of questions and conversations I have when I get to New Zealand, to see how these changes are playing out there.”

One line of questioning he’s preparing for is how the new Pope views faith and science. Br Guy said, of Pope Leo XIV: “Since he’s a mathematician by training, I know he understands the beauty of finding God in our academic search for truth. “His name is also a good clue; his predecessor, Pope Leo XIII, was the Pope who founded the Vatican Observatory!”

Te Kupenga acting chief executive John Kleinsman said the tertiary provider is pleased to be supporting Br Guy’s visit. “The Catholic tradition is one steeped in the interaction between faith and science, and Br Guy stands at the forefront of that connection today,” Dr Kleinsman said. “We encourage people to come and hear about some of the wonders of our creation from someone who gazes upon it and reflects on it through a lens of faith.”

A programme of event's has been published on Te Kupenga's Website:

National Liturgy & Liturgical Music Conference

From the Australian Pastoral Musicians Network

We are pleased to share with you that the Australian Pastoral Musicians Network and the National Liturgical Council will present a joint national conference at the Hilton Hotel, Adelaide from 1 to 3 October 2025. The conference theme, Pilgrims of Hope: Transformed Through Sacrament & Song reflects and builds on the theme of our 2025 Jubilee Year.

Featured keynote speakers include leading US presenters, composer and theologian, Rev Dr Ricky Manalo CSP and liturgist, theologian and author, Rita Ferrone. They are joined by internationally acclaimed Australian speaker Rev Dr Richard Leonard SJ.

Additionally, six breakout blocks containing over fifty workshop options are on offer. They include focused streams for primary and secondary teachers along with workshops addressing parish/school relationships from a liturgical perspective. Workshops will be facilitated by an array of highly experienced Australian liturgists, pastoral musicians, composers, and educators.

We ask you to encourage the leadership and teaching staff in your schools to participate in this event. Your office might consider sponsoring the attendance of key Religious Education, Identity & Mission, and music staff to attend. The conference occurs during school holidays for most of the country so teachers can participate without disruption to teaching commitments.

Semester 2 at Te Kupenga Catholic Theological College

Independent Schools NZ Teacher Symposium 2025

From Independent Schools of New Zealand (ISNZ)

ISNZ is running a Teacher Symposium in Auckland on the first two days of the July school holidays. We would love to have teachers from state integrated schools. 

Teachers, we are delighted to invite you to attend the inaugural ISNZ Teacher Symposium!

30 June – 1 July 2025 | Diocesan School for Girls, Auckland | Members $245 | Non-members $295 |Trainee Teachers $120

By teachers, for teachers, this two-day gathering is an exciting opportunity to network, collaborate, and connect with passionate professionals from schools nationwide. The symposium has been developed to give teachers the space to share innovative practices, exchange ideas, and learn from one another in a meaningful, practical way. It has been shaped by a dedicated planning committee, with representatives from independent schools across the country. Together, they’ve crafted a rich, engaging programme that offers valuable professional learning in a collegial, supportive environment.

From Generation Resilient to Surviving AI,  and Concept-Based Learning to Imbuing Cultural Narrative, the symposium provides interest for all attendees. 

We will also hear from external keynote speakers including:

Vince Ford, ‘Connection before Curriculum’

Do you remember the teacher that truly saw you, that recognised your potential and made you want to turn up and be the best you could be? How much did they influence your life? In this keynote we dig into the neuroscience of connection, examine the ways we connect and discover the secret to engaging with students and staff in a way that builds lasting bonds of trust.

Annabelle March, ‘Neurodiversity in the Classroom: A Lived Experience and Practical Approaches for Educators’.

This session draws Annabelle’s experiences as a neurodivergent student - diagnosed later in life with ADHD and Autism - to highlight how classroom environments and teacher practices can shape the educational experiences of neurodivergent learners. The focus will be on creating classroom environments where these learners can participate, learn, and thrive without needing to constantly adapt or mask who they are.

David Ferguson, ‘How did that happen? A story about teacher, a curious series of events and staying true to your values’

Prior to taking on the CEO role at The Teachers Institute, David was Headmaster of Westlake Boys’ High School for 15 years. He was also instrumental in launching the Auckland Schools Teachers Training Programme in 2020. We look forward to hearing David’s thoughts, ideas and passion for the teaching profession.

Whether you're presenting or attending, you'll gain fresh insights, practical strategies, and renewed energy for your teaching journey.

“The For-Teachers-By-Teachers Symposium is a unique opportunity for educators to share, learn, and grow alongside colleagues from across the independent school sector. I am excited to send my staff to engage with other passionate professionals, exchange best practices, and build meaningful connections. This symposium fosters collaboration, innovation, and inspiration—don’t miss this chance to be both challenged and empowered in your teaching journey!” Peter Cassie, Principal of Saint Kentigern Boys’ School.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Being Church in Aotearoa New Zealand Catholic Schools

Being Church in Aotearoa New Zealand Catholic Schools is a new support document published by NZCEO and NCRS (National Centre for Religious Studies) to reemphasis the place of Catholic schools in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The document, with clear language and grounded concepts, contextualizes and links several key Catholic education documents on the Aotearoa Catholic education landscape – The Catholic Education of School-Age Children (NZCBC, 2014), Catholic Special Character Evaluation for Development (2022) and Tō Tatou Whakapono Our Faith (NCRS, 2021).

The purpose of Being Church in Aotearoa New Zealand Catholic Schools is to facilitate rich dialogue of how Catholic school communities can realise their place in the mission of the Church, and make clear connections between Catholic special character, Religious Education, and the current Aotearoa New Zealand context. Furthermore, its intention is to expand and support practical application of The Catholic Education of School-Age Children (New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, 2014). The QR code on the page 24 will give access to support material for engaging with the document. These resources will be added to over time.

Teamturf—Proud Sponsor of NZCEO & the Preferred Turf Specialists for Catholic Schools Nationwide

Trusted by Catholic Schools Nationwide

Teamturf is proud to be the preferred artificial turf partner for Catholic schools across New Zealand. As a dedicated NZCEO sponsor, we’re committed to creating safe, vibrant outdoor spaces where students can thrive—on the field, playground, or court.

Whether it's for sports courts, cricket facilities, landscaping, or play areas, our high-quality turf solutions are designed to perform and built to last.

🎉 Book a Consultation & Win!

Schedule a consultation with Teamturf or any of our nationwide agents, and your school will be automatically entered to win a $500 sports equipment voucher and a bag of sports balls—giving your students even more ways to play and excel.

Why Choose Teamturf?

✅ NZCEO-endorsed sponsor – Trusted by Catholic schools throughout NZ

✅ Nationwide Service – No matter your location, we’re ready to help

✅ Tailored Designs – Custom turf solutions using coloured turf and Signgrass® to reflect your school’s unique spirit

How to Enter the Draw

Book a free consultation before August 31 for a confirmed project and you're in the draw!

👉 Schedule your consultation here

Below: Turf installation at St Patrick's Catholic School, Taumarunui

School security case study from Gallagher Security

Following the devastating impacts of the Christchurch earthquakes, Shirley Boys’ High School and Avonside Girls’ High School suffered irreparable damage and were forced to look for new locations. As part of the rebuild, the two secondary schools now share a state-of-the-art new “super campus,” a 11.5 hectare (28.4 acre) site that caters for 2,500 students and 500 staff and includes a performing arts centre with two theatres, four sports fields, three indoor gymnasiums, a library, café, and fully equipped commercial teaching kitchen. But with new facilities came new challenges for site management, protection of assets, and student safety. “There’s been a huge investment in the facilities and equipment for these high schools,” says Bharti Uppal, Operations Manager for Spotless Group, the school’s facility management team, who was tasked with finding a security system that both fit the schools’ needs and budget. “I have used various security solutions for educational facilities, and the Gallagher system is by far the best on the market in my opinion,” he says. “What you get from Gallagher, you don’t get elsewhere – it’s highly-customizable, cost-viable, and durable. When you invest, once, in a good quality security system, you don’t have to consider spending again.” Read more about how Gallagher Security is empowering Shirley Boys’ and Avonside Girls’ to grow their campus and young minds by clicking on the link for the full case study below:

Hope and Renewal Summit | 3–4 Oct 2025, Palmerston North

From the Catholic Diocese of Palmerston North

You’re standing at the intersection of education and faith — and it’s not easy.

In a world where belief is often questioned and faith can feel fragile, Catholic educators play a vital role — not just in teaching, but in shaping meaning, hope, and identity for the next generation.

The Hope and Renewal Summit is a national gathering for those who want to lead with purpose, even in the midst of uncertainty. It’s for educators and leaders who are ready to reimagine their roles and impact — and who are seeking honest conversations, fresh vision, and practical tools to navigate the challenges of Catholic leadership today.

Together, we’ll explore how we can be more authentic, hope-filled, and relevant in the way we share the Gospel — especially in our schools and wider communities.

Featuring Fr James Mallon (Founder of Divine Renovation), Bishop John Adams, and other inspiring voices, the Summit offers a space to reconnect, reflect, and reimagine the future of our Church.

Standard: $280

For more information and to register click below: 

Laudato Si’ remains highly relevant, 10 years on

From the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (NZCBC)

A decade on from the publication of Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical, Laudato Si’, two Catholic leaders are reminding New Zealanders of the relevance of the Pope’s message and the ongoing urgency of the environmental crisis it addresses.

Laudato Si’, On Care for Our Common Home, was published on June 18, 2015, two years into Pope Francis’ 12-year pontificate. In this letter written to all people, the Pope pleads for everyone to listen to the cries of “our Sister, Mother Earth”, the earthly home on whom so much harm has been inflicted.

In a reflection published by Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand and the Nathaniel Centre for Bioethics – Te Kupenga, it is noted that while he wasn’t necessarily the first to make many of the key points in the encyclical, “we owe much to Pope Francis for bringing this conviction to the forefront of our ethics and spirituality”.

“In so doing, he has now placed this teaching firmly within the body of our Church’s social teaching, effectively adding to that teaching,” says Mena Antonio of Caritas and the Nathaniel Centre’s John Kleinsman.

The authors highlight Pope Francis’ invitation to an “integral ecology”, one which recognises “a relationship existing between nature and the society which lives in it”.

They say this understanding, and the recognition that there is a complex crisis that is both environmental and social, “requires a cooperative, communal and intergenerational approach towards the earth and its resources”.

Almost 20 years ago, New Zealand’s bishops observed the challenges that were present and emerging.

“Our world is facing an ecological crisis, which could equally be called an economic crisis, or a poverty crisis. Its public face is the suffering of the poor and the degradation of our environment,” they wrote in 2006, almost anticipating the development of Pope Francis notion of integral ecology.

Ms Antonio and Dr Kleinsman note that suffering and that degradation continues – in New Zealand, but often more acutely in the country’s neighbours in the Pacific.

“As Laudato Si’ observes, an ‘ecological debt’ exists that is ‘connected to commercial imbalances’ between the global North and global South and intrinsically connected to richer countries’ long-term ‘disproportionate use of natural resources’,” they write.

Ms Antonio and Dr Kleinsman explain that a Caritas campaign to cancel unjust debts of poorer nations, like those near New Zealand, would provide much-needed financial relief that would allow them to better address climate emergencies.

This initiative is part of helping the world avoid what Pope Francis warned of – the Earth “beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth”.

Referencing the Prayer for our Earth at the conclusion of Laudato Si, the reflection concludes by emphasising the importance of discovering the worth of each thing through an awareness that everyone is profoundly united with every creature, all on a journey to eternal life.

“Not only do we all belong together within a common home, according to Francis, we are also fellow travellers towards a common destination in God,” the authors write. 

“It is therefore in caring for other creatures, and for the earth itself, Laudato Si’ teaches, that we are called to be, in a fundamental sense, homeward bound.”

The reflection can be accessed here: 

Caritas Updates

A huge thank you to all our wonderful schools across Aotearoa who continue to support the work of Caritas.

Many schools have already taken up the Caritas Challenge, showcasing both creativity and commitment to living out the event slogan – one day of difference for a lifetime of change. If your school hasn’t yet registered for 2025, you can find out more on our website. 

Schools have organised other awareness and fundraising events, including activities during Lent and fun non-uniform days. These expressions of love and compassion go a long way in supporting the work of Caritas.   

If you haven’t already, we encourage you to join our CANZ Education Facebook group to stay up to date and see how schools are actively fostering social justice, faith and hope in their communities. Join here: CANZ Education

YCC Day for St Leo’s – Friday, 27 June

All Catholic schools across Aotearoa are invited to stand in solidarity with St Leo’s Secondary School in Kiribati through YCC Day at the end of Term 2.

This is a great opportunity to hold a fun non-uniform day in return for a gold coin donation. Funds raised will help build permanent classrooms to help students in their learning.   

A range of resources are available online for students and teachers to use before or after the event. Remember schools are welcome to hold their YCC Day at a time that suits them best, not just on the last day of term 2. 

Let’s show that Young Catholics Care, and that You + Caritas Combined can bring hope and change to our friends in Kiribati.  

Social Justice Week 2025 - Resources Now Online! 

We’re excited to announce that the Caritas school resources for Social Justice Week (which runs from September 7-13) are now available online, with hard copy packs arriving in schools soon.

As we enter the final year of our peace-focused journey, Social Justice Week 2025 invites students and schools to explore practical ways to build peace together - inspired by faith, action, and community.

This year the resources include: background notes for teachers, a liturgy, a new brick for 2025 to add to the existing poster, peacebuilding blueprints that have been designed as daily lessons for students, a special Pilgrims of Hope Peace Passport for students to record their learning and goals, stickers (to add to the pages in the passport), and relevant videos that connect to the blueprints/lessons.

Schools can get in touch with us at education@caritas.org.nz if they need any additional resources or support.

Day of Prayer for Refugees and Migrants

At the end of this week (June 22) it is the Day of Prayer for Refugees and Migrants. This is a time when we remember some of the most vulnerable people on our planet and come together in prayer.

This year we are focusing on Migrants as Missionaries of Hope. Migrants and refugees often leave behind everything they know, carrying with them hope for a safer, brighter future. Let us reflect and pray for those who are displaced due to war, poverty, or persecution - and recognise how they continue to inspire hope in others.

We’ve created a short prayer resource that schools can use in the lead-up to Sunday June 22. It includes Pope Francis’ prayer for the 110th World Day of Migrants and Refugees and can be adapted to suit your school community. 

Download it from our website here and use it in your prayer space or classrooms this week.  

Competitions Closing in Term 3

There is still plenty of time for students to show off their talents in our two justice-centered competitions, SINGout4JUSTICE and Kaitiaki2Share. The last day for entries is August 13 and 27 respectively.

Get in Touch

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on our Lenten resources. If you haven’t had a chance yet, we’d still love to hear from you. Complete the short survey here.

For resource orders or queries contact the team at michaels@caritas.org.nz or justine@caritas.org.nz  

AIS NZ Conference 2025

The Association of Integrated Schools (AIS) is holding its annual conference on Thursday 11 and Friday 12 September 2025 at the Brentwood Hotel in Wellington. The AIS conference in 2024 was very well attended by representatives of state integrated schools including our Catholic sector and I would encourage you all to join with us in celebrating our state integrated schools.

Catholic Schools Day 2025

On Wednesday 28 May we celebrated Catholic Schools Day 2025! This was an opportunity to showcase who we are to our communities. The theme of Catholic Schools Day 2025 was Shine like stars in the world: E tīaho ana koe hei rama i te ao.

Thank you to all those schools who have shared photos, videos and stories of how you celebrated Catholic Schools Day 2025! We are delighted to share a few of the photos and videos we have seen here.

At St Mary's Catholic School, Ellerslie,  Room 16 - the new entrant class celebrated Catholic Schools Day by creating a tree of hope. Their thoughts of hope and kindness are beautifully expressed in their collage.

St Francis Xavier School in Dunedin collected items for those who need it most, along with all their Dunedin Catholic Kāhui Ako schools. 

St Kevin’s College and St Joseph's Primary School in Ōamaru joined together with shared breakfasts and lunch to celebrate their shared faith, values, and the strong bond between their schools!

St Mary's Catholic School in Tauranga celebrated Catholic Schools Day with a special Liturgy, sharing the message of "Shine like stars in the world. E tīaho ana koe hei rama i te ao." "It was lovely to see the pride and joy of our children as they engaged in creative activities around the theme of kindness and joy".

TĒNĀ KOUTOU KATOA: Editorial by Dr Kevin Shore, CEO

Kia ora koutou

It feels like we are well into the depths of winter here in Wellington. I have now lived in Wellington for five years and this year it appears to me that we have had more significant weather events than previously that have impacted on the airport leading to the frustrations of postponed and cancelled flights. Certainly, the entertainment factor for passengers arriving into Wellington airport has been right up there with many just pleased to feel the wheels of the plane on the tarmac. Many travelers into Wellington have experienced the dreaded “go around again for a second try” but we are lucky to have such a skilled and professional group of pilots who serve our airlines and ensure our safety.  I am sure they appreciate some of the spontaneous applause that sometimes follows a tricky flight and landing in ‘Wellywood’.

Budget 2025/26

I had the pleasure of attending the recent education budget announcement event with Minister Stanford. In my previous life as a school leader, I had significant involvement in managing and leading learning support facilities. Our principals and school staff have been advocating for more resources to meet the increasing needs of students for decades and to see the Crown and the Minister allocate such significant funding for our students with the most needs was quite moving. The responses of gratitude in the audience and even a few tears highlighted how much this meant. We now have a real opportunity to make a significant shift to enable schools to not only meet the needs of these students but all ākonga in our schools. The funding is the first important keystone but the operational delivery will be the second and many of those details will need to be worked out including those immediate challenges with workforce. That said, I commend Minister Stanford for listening and acting on the advocacy of the sector.

Those who operate in secondary schools will be a little disappointed that the focus of this funding is on primary schools but you may be encouraged that in the words of the Minister Budget 2026/27 will have a more secondary focus. I believe that a focus on the early years is important if we are to raise levels of achievement but the Minister does acknowledge the need to support those who have high levels of need and are in their later stages of education.

One of my colleagues in the Education Review Office has indicated that the structured literacy programmes that are already established in some of our primary schools are making a positive difference. Significant investment is being made by the government in reading, writing and numeracy and that has continued in this budget. As someone who is an advocate for equity in education, I know the importance of literacy and numeracy in the wider success of students at school and in life. However, our teachers will need support and I hope that the required professional development promised by the Minister will be delivered and that it meets the needs of our teaching staff.

There were some disappointments in the budget in addition to the comment I have made about secondary schools including operational funding for our school boards which has only increased by 1.5% which is well below inflation.  However, overall the Association of Proprietors of Integrated Schools (APIS) views the budget positively and hopes that the funds provided will make a meaningful difference in terms of student outcomes and school effectiveness.

Insurance

APIS recently sent out a communique to proprietors on the insurance of state integrated school property. Insurance has its own particular language and concepts which can be quite technical so this communique was not shared across all stakeholders. In summary, however, APIS has worked with the Ministry of Education (MoE) to clarify what property insurance tools can be used by proprietors in negotiating property insurance. The insurance requirements within Schedule 6 of the Education & Training Act (2020) were negotiated fifty years ago and they no longer represent how insurance would be purchased and what insurance tools are commonly used in the current environment. As a result, APIS has clarified these issues for proprietors so that they can confidently use the insurance tools that are available to manage the costs of insurance premiums.

It is also worth noting that for 2025, there is some downward movement on the underlying cost of securing property insurance cover. It is pleasing to see that market forces have led to the first sign of reducing premiums seen for many years and that will be welcomed by proprietors.

Maximum Roll Increase Applications

I have had several recent conversations with stakeholders regarding the Maximum Roll Increase (MRI) application process. As a result of these conversations, APIS will endeavour to develop a schematic that helps to explain a process that can seem somewhat mysterious to stakeholders. The MoE has in legislation the right and responsibility to manage the state network of schools including state integrated schools. The support by the MoE of the MRI application will ultimately come down to their view (based on analysis of the network and  consultation with local schools) whether granting an MRI will negatively impact on the surrounding state and state integrated schools. Where they view growth of a state integrated school as supporting education provision in the local area without negative impact on the surrounding state and state integrated schools, the decision is likely to be favourable for the proprietor. One pattern that APIS has noted recently under Minister Stanford’s watch is that decisions on MRI applications are being made more quickly often in approximately six months as opposed to fifteen months or more as had been the case. APIS views this as a positive development.

Relationship with the Minister

APIS will be meeting with Minister Stanford on the 17^ July. We have placed on the agenda for discussion with the Minister Policy Two funding, use of surplus school board funds for property development, investigating mechanisms for supporting the training of special character teachers and protecting special character within the process of curriculum change and reform. APIS will also raise one or two issues on behalf of individual proprietors.

I would emphasise to proprietors that APIS is your organisation and is the body through which you should first communicate with if you have issues you want to raise with the Minister.  Minister Stanford has been very clear that she expects proprietors to raise concerns and negotiate with her through APIS so please ensure you contact our office before entering any dialogue or communication with the Minister. One of the main responsibilities that APIS has is the management of the relationship for state integrated schools with the Minister. This relationship is crucial and as has happened in the past can be easily diminished if proprietors and stakeholders communicate directly with the Minister.

Mānawatia a Matariki

APIS hopes our stakeholders enjoyed the opportunity to stop and reflect on the occasion of Matariki.  It is a time to remember those we have lost in the last twelve months and to appreciate what we have and what we might hope for in the next twelve months. Staff here at APIS enjoyed the opportunity for time with family, to share food and to enjoy the stories that are often shared at these times. Manawatia a Matariki!

Finally

Thank you for what you all continue to do in support of state integrated education. We are all working within a significant change agenda in education and that comes with its stresses, challenges and hopefully some successes along the way. The work you do is appreciated and valued.

Best wishes and every blessing to you all. At a time of significant unrest in our world I end this communique with a desire for peace to reign.

Kia tau te rangimārie ki a koutou.

Kevin Shore, Chief Executive Officer