Kōtui: School & Policy Updates - Term 3 Issue 2 2024 (NZCEO)
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TĒNĀ KOUTOU KATOA: Editorial by Dr Kevin Shore, CEO
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Te Puna Waihanga and Te Puna Tāmata reference documents
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Ministry of Education Guidance on fees, charges, and donations
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NZCEO Aspiring Leaders Programme 2025-2026
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Teachers' Pay equity Claim Consultation
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Action is the Antidote for Eco-Anxiety
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Mission and Missionary: World Mission Month October 2024
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Carita Updates
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'A Taste of Theology' Lecture Series
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Enliven your school's outdoor environment with Teamturf
TĒNĀ KOUTOU KATOA: Editorial by Dr Kevin Shore, CEO

Kia ora koutou,
Essential Property Maintenance Package
I cannot help but reflect my feelings of pride as the Essential Property Maintenance Package (EPMP) reaches its conclusion. After a long battle with the government of the time, the settlement agreement between the Ministry of Education and the Association of Proprietors of Integrated Schools (APIS) was signed off in July 2021. As part of this agreement, APIS agreed to discontinue the judicial proceedings against the Minister of Education that was initiated by APIS when state integrated schools were precluded from the School Investment Package (SIPs) funding announced in December 2019. The Ministry of Education agreed to fund qualifying proprietors with two tranches of $26.4M, with the first being provided in August 2021 and the second in 2022. Paul Ferris (previous CEO of APIS) was very pleased to reach this agreement after several years of negotiation and the preparation of a judicial review against the Minister of Education Chris Hipkins original SIPs decision. The sector should be grateful for Paul’s tenacity in holding the government to account and ensuring the spirit of the original integration act (PSCIA 1975) was upheld given the government had committed to providing maintenance funds that were the equivalent of state schools. It is a salutary lesson that our sector must continue to be vigilant in protecting the rights of state integrated schools.
The conditions placed on APIS and our proprietors within the EPMP contract were challenging to say the least. Every project, and ultimately there were over 600 building projects submitted for approval, had to be approved through application by August 2022. The EPMP contract also stipulated that all projects had to be completed by August 2024 and these limitations were always going to be testing to achieve.
Karen Raitt (APIS) used her project management skills to develop a process that reduced red tape and compliance to a minimum and which was characterised by a very quick turn round of applications and transfer of funds. I credit Karen’s process as one of the successes of this package and I know from feedback from the sector that my feelings are reflected by proprietors and their property managers. Into the EPMP space stepped Jenny Gordon who acted on behalf of APIS to ensure proprietors had the support they needed to complete each stage of the process. Jenny spent many hours on the phone communicating with proprietor representatives and guiding them when they had questions and difficulties. Her communication skills were also one of the successes of this programme and she enjoyed getting to know key stakeholders in state integrated education and developing a relationship with them. Jenny is currently in Europe visiting family and I know she will be enjoying the opportunity to relax and savour a job well done.
I must also mention the rest of the EPMP team at APIS who were working in the background to make sure that proprietors had the support they needed to successfully meet the contract conditions. Heather Richardson, Jane O’Connell and Jerry Sparks were part of the APIS team of five and I know they are looking forward to some relief after a very testing three years in our office as we took on this responsibility in support of proprietors.
I would also like to recognise those proprietors, property managers and school staff who have contributed to ensuring the EPMP funds were spent in a way that supported students and staff in our schools. I know how busy our staff have been but I also recognise the extra load placed on property managers of state integrated schools over this period. Each and every one of you have been impacted by an increase in your normal workload and I thank you for your generosity and commitment to working with us to achieve what I think is a stunning outcome by and for our sector.
Six hundred and nine completed projects, fifty two million dollars of funding delivered to proprietors and all within a very testing and challenging timeline. EPMP has enhanced the reputation of state integrated schools highlighting our ability to build quality projects within tight timeframes and budgetary constraints. Congratulations to everyone who has made this possible. Hopefully all the new building facilities and building improvements in state integrated schools across the country are supporting the quality of our wonderful state integrated schools. In terms of EPMP, its over and out from APIS!
Association of Integrated Schools (AIS) Conference
As Kōtui goes out to press many in the sector will have returned home after enjoying the AIS Conference in Wellington. Mark Larson and Rhonda Thorpe put together a wonderful programme and there was something for everyone. Minister of Education Erica Stanford opened the conference and Associate Minister of Education David Seymour spoke at the conference dinner. I believe this is the first time we have had both the Minister and Associate Minister attend conference. The AGM for APIS was held on the first morning of conference. It was lovely to catch up with many of you over Monday 9 September and Tuesday 10 September.
History of Integration Videos
Since the release of the eleven-minute history video back in June, further work has been going on the complete three further videos. The first one looks at property and the issues facing private schools before integration and the challenges following integration. This video is now going through final editing and should be available to the sector within a few weeks. It has been a very interesting project and all of those involved have benefitted from new learnings.
Ngā manaakitanga,
Kevin Shore, Chief Executive Officer
Te Puna Waihanga and Te Puna Tāmata reference documents
Reference documents for both Te Puna Waihanga – National Attendance Dues Pool, and Te Puna Tāmata – Emergency Policy One Pool, are now available in the resource section of the NZCEO website.
Ministry of Education Guidance on fees, charges, and donations

APIS wishes to draw your attention to updated guidance on the Ministry of Education website regarding fees, charges and donations.
NZCEO Aspiring Leaders Programme 2025-2026
NZCEO will facilitate a national Aspiring Leaders Programme in 2025-2026. This 18-month formation programme is to support, teachers, Directors of Religious Studies, Deputy/Assistant Principals who are seeking to grow their careers in Catholic Education. The focus is on growing faith leaders who have the capability to lead a Catholic school in the mission of the Church.
The programme is for those who are intending to move into the next leadership level in a Catholic school within the next three years. Applications can be submitted by teachers and senior leaders in either Catholic state integrated schools or schools outside the Catholic school network.
The Aspiring Leaders’ Programme 2025-2026 consists of:
- Two days in Wellington-May 12 & 13 2025 at the Home of Compassion, Island Bay.
- A series of regular online workshops and seminars providing further support and development opportunities for participants. These will be held via Zoom and outside teaching hours.
- Two final days in Wellington at the end of the programme in September 2026 (date to be advised).
For more information read the NZCEO Aspiring Leaders Programme Information Sheet and Application Form. (Links to both are below).
Applications close 1 November 2024.
If you have further questions about the programme please email Rosalie Connors, Manager, Special Character, NZCEO r.connors@nzceo.org.nz

The 2023-2024 cohort gathering at the Home of Compassion, Wellington. Four members of this group have gone on to become principals in Catholic schools.
Teachers' Pay equity Claim Consultation
From Te Pou Ohumahi Mātauranga | Education Workforce https://workforce.education.govt.nz/
Preparations have been underway for a sector review of teacher responsibilities identified as part of the teachers’ pay equity claim. Consultation with all kaiako | teachers and leaders is due to get underway. The claim covers early learning, as well as schooling kaiako | teachers and leaders.
Participation in the consultation is voluntary and it will run for 6 weeks from 9 September until 18 October. The consultation will be led by NZEI TE Riu Roa and PPTA Te Wehengarua who, under the Equal Pay Act, are responsible for communicating with all affected employees in a claim.
The Ministry is supporting the consultation by hosting the consultation documents on the Ministry’s Education Workforce website and providing additional information for school boards and principals | tumuaki who have a role in encouraging participation.
A sector validation consultation information sheet and FAQs for boards, schools and kura is below:
A dedicated page with consultation documents, instructions, a link to the response survey, and contact details will be anchored to the Education Workforce homepage for the duration of the consultation and visible from 9 September:
Action is the Antidote for Eco-Anxiety

Action is the antidote for anxiety. There are sparks of hope everywhere. If we know where to look, and with the right mindset and like-minded people, we can spark hope in others too. However, to do this, we need to change from complaining to cultivating, from denying to defending our earth, and from eco-anxiety to eco-action.
Poppy McCaskey is a Year 10 student at Sacred Heart College, Napier. This article was crafted for the 2024 O’Shea Shield Junior Prepared Speech Competition in which Poppy was placed second in her category. Her article reflects the theme for O’Shea Shield 2024: Te Ahi Kā – ‘Sparks of Hope’. It also witnesses to the charism of her school which draws on the Visitation of Mary. Just as Mary physically brings Christ into the life of Elizabeth, so we are inspired to go out and ignite the sparks of hope in the lives of others. This piece was published in Issue 73 of the Nathaniel Report
Climate change – two words – is something we all dread to think about. But when you hear the rain, what’s the first thing you assume? When the wind picks up, do your toes curl for seemingly no reason? When you hear weather reports, does your stomach churn, bracing for bad news? Worrying about climate change is becoming increasingly common. This is known as eco-anxiety, which is a fear of environmental doom.
Auckland Anniversary Day is usually an enjoyable day off, but in 2023 it turned into harrowing floods. Instead of a hot summer day, Cyclone Gabrielle (February 2023) saw Hawke's Bay residents trying to keep muddy water out of their homes and praying it would just stop raining. In Christchurch, fires in the drought-stricken Port Hills (February 2017 and 2024) meant that families watched their homes go up in flames. These are just three of the recent disasters we have faced, because of climate change, that have left their victims clinging to their last sparks of hope. Climate change played a huge role in the devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle which left 10,000 displaced, 1720 injured and 11 dead, and so many with severe PTSD and stress.
Eco-anxiety is not just in New Zealand. A 2021 survey of 10,000 young people aged 16 to 25 from across the globe showed 59% of the participants were very worried about climate change.[1]
Eco-anxiety is higher in youth because we will bear the brunt of the environmental effects, and it’s our futures that will be most affected if we don’t act. It can feel like we can do nothing about it because we are not in a position to influence law or policy change, even when the outcomes will affect us the most.
The decision-makers have 20 years of consequences – we have 70.
Last term, hundreds of school students across the motu turned up to School Strike Climate marches to “raise awareness about the urgent need for climate action and to demand meaningful policy changes to combat the climate crisis” – desperately trying to spark hope in others through a mass movement. With so many students showing their support, you would think the government would listen. Instead, the Associate Education Minister, David Seymour, said it was “unacceptable” for students to protest during school hours saying, “If students feel strongly about sending a message, they could protest during the upcoming school holidays.” As though climate change is a scheduled event that can wait for a free week.
Green Party Co-leader, Chloe Swarbrick, who was with the students, said: “The world doesn’t stop where the classroom door stops, and as you can see here in the energy from our young people, they want a healthy planet.” At least one minister is with us, as is Pope Francis who has stated: “As stewards of God’s creation, we are called to make the earth a beautiful garden for the human family. When we destroy our forests, ravage our soil and pollute our seas, we betray that noble calling.”
So, what can we do about eco-anxiety?
It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the tragedy of our climate that we forget that worrying about it will achieve nothing.
We need to take action – not just studying it, not just thinking about it, not just writing it down on paper and hoping that the right people will see it. Action, real action, needs to happen now.
The Pope has urged us to protect God’s earth; activism is the perfect way to do that. We can blame our government all we want, but it won’t change the state of our whenua.
“Whatungarongaro te tangata, toitū te whenua - As people disappear from sight, the land remains.” We must spark hope in each other to start a blazing fire of action – not just protesting, but also actioning changes in our daily lives. Changes like having the courage to broach the topic, however uncomfortable it makes people, discussing climate change honestly and without downplaying the urgency, and educating yourself and your peers about it.
At Sacred Heart College, Napier, we have initiatives such as a litter challenge – running around the school with buckets, picking up litter, trying to get the most – proving that sparking hope can be both fun and vying.
Pressure, disaster, and tragedy are what climate change has become; something that we avoid thinking about. But climate change is on our doorsteps and we know we need to act.
Action is the antidote for anxiety. There are sparks of hope everywhere. If we know where to look, and with the right mindset and like-minded people, we can spark hope in others too. However, to do this, we need to change from complaining to cultivating, from denying to defending our earth, and from eco-anxiety to eco-action.
[1] Climate anxiety in children and young people and their beliefs about government responses to climate change: a global survey. See: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(21)00278-3/fulltext. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(21)00278-3
Mission and Missionary: World Mission Month October 2024
By Fr Michael Pui, National Director of Pontifical Mission Societies – August 2024
What Does the Word “Mission” or “Missionary” Mean?
Both words “Mission” and “Missionary” come from the Latin “missio”, which means an act of sending, and from the Greek word “apostle,” which has the same meaning. From the Greek, we derived the word “Apostle”. The Apostles were sent on a mission to “proclaim the Gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15), and they “went forth and preached everywhere” (Mark 16:20). In the days of old, when Mass was in Latin, the dismissal at the end of Mass was: “Ite Missa Est”. The word “Mass” itself comes from the Latin word ‘Missa”, which has the connection with the origin of the word Mission.
Who is on a Mission or is a Missionary”?
All who are baptised share in the mission of the Apostles. Jesus commissioned all His followers; ‘“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Matt 28:19-20). And in that sense, all who baptised are on a mission or are missionaries!
Over and above the general idea that all who are baptised are missionaries, some go to far distant lands to respond to Jesus’ commission to his apostles. They go not just to preach with words but with their action, working to help alleviate poverty, improving education, promoting justice and peace, or in other words offering their service and love to the people of the world. They proclaim and teach the Gospel by their actions.
Finally, we can also broaden our view to say that even those who are not yet baptised are on a mission! They participate in the mission of Jesus when, in their search for truth, they do good and avoid evil, thus participating indirectly,
Jesus’ mission to call all everyone into God’s love.

Carita Updates

Kaitiaki2Share – Together We Belong
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to every student who took part in this year's Kaitiaki2Share competition. Students from across Aotearoa shared their unique, imaginative and thoughtful ideas on how we can care for our common home. Their entries beautifully highlighted the power of collective action and reflected the Catholic social teaching principle of Stewardship.
The judges were deeply impressed by the quality of all the entries, making the task of selecting winners, finalists, and notable entries truly challenging.
Here are our winners in alphabetical order:
- Aaron Pieterse(Year 4) - St Mary's Catholic School, Papakura
- Adrienne Walter-Laulu (Year 9) - St Mary's College, Ponsonby
- Bella Hey(Year 5) - Reignier Catholic School, Taradale
- Hanoch Lukose(Year 11) - Cullinane College, Whanganui
- Irene Philip (Year 7) - Christ the King School, Burnside
- Khaleesi Tele'a-sua, Stella Jaggard & Nina Brown(Year 6) - Saint Francis Catholic School, Point Chevalier
- Liliana Chang(Year 6) - Holy Trinity Catholic Primary School, Takanini
- Mrs Julie McClay's Class(Year 1) - Mt Carmel School, Meadowbank
- Nithika Pasala (Year 7) - Holy Cross Catholic School, Henderson
- Raphael Martin (Year 7) - St Mary’s School, Christchurch
- Rose Straka (Year 4) - Reignier Catholic School, Greenmeadows
Feel free to visit our website to learn more about our winners, finalists and notable entries.

SINGout4JUSTICE – Be the Voice of Justice and Peace
Our SINGout4JUSTICE competition, which invited students across New Zealand to "Be the Voice for Peace," has officially closed, and we are thrilled to announce the winners, finalists and other notable entries! Students from Catholic schools, from Year 1 to Year 13, showcased their incredible musical talents by composing original peace songs or performing heartfelt covers, inspiring us all with their powerful messages.
We extend our congratulations to the winners for their outstanding contributions to this important theme.
A big thank you to everyone who participated—your voices have truly made a difference!
Original Compositions:
- Winner – Senior Category: Oliver Lodge, Anamika Jones, Liam Clifford & Harry Lodge from Trinity Catholic College, Dunedin – Silent Cry.
- Winner – Middle Category: 8A & 8H Students from Sacred Heart Girls’ College, New Plymouth –Kia Tau te Rangimārie.
- Winner – Junior Category: Alyssa Kubala, Ngaika Rapsey & Olivia Reju from St Mary’s School, Dunedin – Hold My Hand.
Cover Performances:
- Winner – Senior Category: Chris Anne Barrientos, Claire Anne Barrientos, Carter Lambert, Janelle Casitas, Ianna-marie Abuyabor and Franz Lauglaug from St Kevin’s College, Oamaru with Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwa’ole.
- Winner – Middle Category: Year 7 & 8 Singers from Sacred Heart Girl’s College, New Plymouth with The Peace Song by Dorothy Buchanan.
- Winner – Junior Category: Lewis Tao, Gus Knowles and Kennedy Tuli from St Francis Catholic School, Auckland with What a Peaceful Day It based on the song What a Beautiful Name by Brooke Ligertwood and Hillsong.
Visit our website to learn more and listen to some of these incredible entries.

YCC Day – Standing in Solidarity with Holy Trinity School, Papua New Guinea
On another positive note, YCC Day has been an incredible success, thanks to our wonderful Catholic school community. Over 86 schools participated, involving close to 20,000 students and so far, approximately $26,000 has been raised.
We understand that some schools may still be planning their YCC Day event, and others have yet to send in their contributions, but we are incredibly grateful for the remarkable efforts shown. Our Catholic schools have truly come together in solidarity.
We plan to send the final funds to Holy Trinity School by the end of the year, with hopes that they can begin upgrading classroom equipment like desks and chairs, as well as resources such as books and writing materials. A more extensive update will be provided at the start of 2025.
You and Caritas Combined have made a significant difference! Thank you for your faithful and ongoing support.
'A Taste of Theology' Lecture Series

These mini-courses in Theology offered through Te Kupenga Catholic Theological College cover a range of topics including Scripture, dogmatic, moral and spiritual theology, Church history, Philosophy, pastoral and liturgical studies and Canon Law. Presenters are lecturers of Te Kupenga Catholic Theological College.
General Information:
Courses will be online via Zoom on Tuesdays, 5:30-6:30PM. Click the link(s) to register. Fee for all courses is $60 (one-off). You can register to all or as many as you want. Sessions will be recorded and made available to all registered participants.
Topics:
Vatican II in context: The age of Vatican II
01 October 2024 Mayte Ramos
Register here
Christian identity, life, and mission in the Third Millenium (Revisiting Gaudium et Spes, the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World)
05 November 2024 Dr John Evangelista
Register here
Application of Moral Theology to bioethical issues: Working with the Mercy Healthcare Group
03 December 2024 Rev Dr Bernard Teo, CSSR
Register here
Te Kupenga Catholic Theological College is accepting enrolments for first semester 2025 from 23rd September to 22nd November 2024. Courses offered are Bachelor of Divinity, Graduate Diploma in Theology, Diploma and Certificate in Christian Studies, and a new micro-credential on Managing Church Organisations."

Enliven your school's outdoor environment with Teamturf

Teamturf has been working in partnership with NZCEO / APIS for around two years and over this period have worked with several schools within the state integrated sector. Teamturf have installed artificial grass surfacing in a variety of areas, ranging from school courts, to playgrounds, landscaping areas, courtyards and cricket wickets.
Teamturf is thrilled to announce the winner of our exclusive Signgrass giveaway promotion tailored specifically for schools within the state integrated network! The winner has been drawn and is Saint Patricks School, Taumaranui.
Signgrass are top-of-the-line turf products offering a blend of fun, play, and educational components that can easily be integrated into any new or existing turf area at your school or affixed to an asphalt surface. Reach out to Teamturf today to arrange an on-site consultation and learn more about our Signgrass products.
Signgrass turf options (click images to enlarge)




Look out for Phil and Keith at the upcoming Trans Tasman Principals' Conference 2024, we will be showcasing our product range and connecting with schools. Teamturf can transform your school's outdoor areas into vibrant all-weather spaces that are perfect for sports, playtime, and outdoor learning. Teamturf's artificial grass is durable, low-maintenance, and safe for children to play on. No more muddy patches, uneven surfaces, and constant maintenance - with Teamturf your school grounds will always look immaculate.
