Charter schools
The government put aside funding for charter schools in Budget 2024. It was estimated this would allow for 15 new schools and 35 converting schools. However, the exact number of schools that can be funded depends on characteristics such as size, type, property arrangements and how quickly they are established.
The government passed legislation to enable the creation of charter schools in August 2024 and the first round of applications for charter schools opened shortly after.
The first seven charter schools opened in February 2025. Two are in Christchurch, four are in Auckland and one is in Northland. An eighth school (in Auckland) opened in July 2025.
Ēcole Française Internationale Auckland (Auckland French International School) is a bilingual primary school catering for year 1-4 students in Remuera, Auckland.
It is an international school offering the French national curriculum with instruction in both French and English.
This is the only school in New Zealand that offers the French curriculum.
The school welcomes all families, whether they speak French or not.
TIPENE is a full-time secondary 7-day boarding school focussed on Māori and Pacific boys who want to learn in a te ao Māori environment. The school caters for year 9 – 11 students and will gradually phase in additional year groups annually.
The school is in Bombay, south Auckland, on the site of the former St Stephen’s School. It is a collaboration between the St Stephen’s Old Boys Association, the St Stephen’s Queen Victoria Schools’ Trust Board and Te Tuara Trust.
The school offers targeted education for boys through personalised learning and strong cultural foundations.
TIPENE delivers the NZ curriculum and NCEA. Connection to taiao and iwi connect students to their tribal affiliations, instilling commitment to iwi/hapu through service and contribution. External partnerships enhance the curriculum equipping students with a broad skill set for future successes.
Mastery Schools New Zealand – Arapaki (MSNZ - Arapaki) is an academic intervention school in Christchurch for students in years 1-8. The school was established to address the learning needs of students who have disengaged from school or are at risk of disengaging from their learning. It is designed to accelerate academic progress for students who are behind in their learning.
The curriculum focuses on delivering a high-quality, evidence-based education tailored to students with various learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia.
The MSNZ - Arapaki approach places an emphasis on the science of how students learn. Students are taught at their current level of understanding and every student has an individual learning plan. Learning is sequenced and involves students spending 85 percent of their time reviewing and practicing material they had learnt previously, and the remaining 15 percent of the time on new material.
Complex tasks are broken down into smaller, manageable steps. Clear explanations and demonstrations are provided and guided and independent practice with frequent feedback is offered. This type of learning uses direct and explicit instruction and has been proven to catch students up. Testing occurs every 5-10 days to ensure skills have been mastered - hence the name Mastery Schools.
At MSNZ - Arapaki, students are given multiple opportunities to respond verbally, out loud together, in a strategy known as choral responding. This has been shown to increase engagement and build confidence, and supports the transfer of information into long-term memory, where it remains.
From day one at MSNZ - Arapaki, students are taught at the level that’s right for them. This early success helps them feel confident, make friends, enjoy coming to school, and engage positively with learning and others.
Te Rito School NZ is a Year 1 – 8 Māori immersion school with plans to increase to Year 13 over time. The school is in Cable Bay, Mangōnui, Northland.
The school has a focus on learning in a te ao Māori environment with an emphasis on the environment (Taiao).
It provides a pathway for students from Te Rito’s early childhood education centres in the area.
The BUSY School NZ – Auckland is a co-educational secondary charter school that caters for Years 11-12 students. It will add Year 13 students in 2026.
The school is situated in central Auckland, and students travel considerable distances from across the city, and beyond, each day to attend, often using several modes of public transport.
The school is committed to providing a supportive environment for at-risk and disengaged students to gain an education that prepares them for employment. Students who attend the school take advantage of the opportunities that the school offers to further their education and gain useful vocational qualifications.
Students complete an individualised educational programme and learn skills for life with a focus on vocational and employment opportunities. Enhancing student wellbeing. Re-engaging students with their education and preparing them for employment are the priorities.
Students focus on two core NCEA subjects: English and Mathematics and Statistics, as well as Vocational Pathways. Vocational Pathways is a selection of standards where students progress through material relevant to their vocational interests. Students also complete a range of electives/courses, gaining practical skills and industry certifications relevant to the student’s individual learning pathway. These courses may include on-campus training, work experience, and Trades Academy collaborations.
North West College is a year 7-9 coeducational secondary charter school, that will grow each year by adding successive learning levels.
North West College attracts students who are curious learners and interested in expressing themselves through the creative and visual arts.
Students at North West College are immersed in a learning environment that celebrates creativity, expression and learning through activity and action. This is achieved through a significant component of student learning being in the context of the New Zealand Arts curriculum.
Learning programmes are personalised and provide a foundation in core academic subjects and with an equal focus on growing and learning in an environment that values creativity, sharing and presentation.
The arts programme provides a rich array of experiences that include digital design, music innovation, performing and visual arts. Students work through the stages of planning and design, constructing/forming, refining, and then presentation of the outcome.
Creative arts learning contexts have included: production of jewellery, creating digital websites, animation, photography, painting, dance and drama performance and mosaic art.
Christchurch North College is a year 7-11 college. Next year (2026) it will cater for students in year 7 – 12). The sponsor is a Trust Board set up by two local intermediate school principals, a secondary school principal and a secondary school deputy principal.
The college was established to provide a fresh start for students in the north of Christchurch who have found traditional education challenging. The school is smaller than traditional colleges and offers individual learning programmes and small classes to meet the individual needs of every student.
There is an emphasis on personal well-being, academic growth, and life skills. The learning approach offers a mix of hands-on learning, technology integration, and practical experiences.
The school focus is on re-engagement, holistic development, and fostering a community where every student feels they belong. The school provides an inclusive community that celebrates individual strengths, supporting students to achieve in unique and meaningful ways.
The school aims to address every practical barrier to learning. It provides transport, kai, uniforms, laptops and a highly relational environment with low sensory settings. There is regular liaison with families and whānau by the school pastoral team and the school collaborates with health and social agencies to remove barriers to attendance.
The school teaches from the New Zealand Curriculum and offers NCEA. Each student has an individual learning plan. Individual learning plans are developed according to student needs with a focus on achieving appropriate levels of literacy.
Twin Oaks Classical School is a Y1 to 9 coeducational school that opened in July 2025. In each successive year, the school will accept students in the next learning level.
The school is situated in Greenlane, Auckland. Students who attend Twin Oaks Classical School have parents as active partners in their education.
Twin Oaks is a hybrid school where students learn on campus for three days of the week and the other two days continue with their learning at home with parents/caregivers.
The school has adopted a Classical Charlotte Mason approach to student learning that includes a literature rich curriculum, that includes history, languages, an appreciation for music and making use of the natural world. Experiencing a knowledge rich education, students are also developed to think clearly, reason intelligently and communicate effectively across a wide range of subjects.
What's next?
The Charter School Agency is currently working with a small number of state schools that expressed interest into converting to become charter schools.
Tōtara Point School will open in term one 2026. It will begin with a Years 1 to 4 cohort.
The next round of applications for new charter schools and expressions of interest for current state schools to convert into charter schools is underway.