New Charter School to Open in Wairoa, Targeting Youth at Risk of Disengaging

A new charter school, Te Whare Kounga, will open in Wairoa in Term 3, 2026, expanding education options for young people at risk of disengaging from mainstream schooling, Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced today.

The school will operate under the charter school model, which provides greater flexibility in return for clearly defined performance expectations and accountability.

"Every child deserves the opportunity to learn in ways that meet their needs," Mr Seymour said. "This announcement shows the innovation that is possible when communities are empowered to design education that works for their students."

Building on a Proven Local Model

Te Whare Kounga will be sponsored by Te Papatipu Matihiko, which has successfully operated an alternative education programme in Wairoa for the past two years.

That programme quickly reached capacity, with strong demand from students and schools once places became available. The charter school model will now allow the provider to expand and meet unmet demand in the community.

"Wairoa has one of the highest rates of young people not in employment, education or training," Mr Seymour said. "Te Whare Kounga recognises that the mainstream system is not working for many of these students—and it is designed specifically with them in mind."

A Curriculum Grounded in Place and Purpose

Te Whare Kounga will deliver a hands-on, deeply local curriculum, with learning connected to real-world contexts and community knowledge.

Students will work towards NCEA qualifications, while engaging in practical learning such as:

• Science through water quality testing

• Mathematics through food production and data

• Literacy through Māori storytelling and local narratives

To strengthen leadership, belonging and peer learning, non-NCEA subjects will be taught in mixed-age groups.

"Students will be met where they're at and taught in ways that resonate with them," Mr Seymour said.

Flexibility With Accountability

Charter schools receive the same funding as state schools, but operate with:

• Greater flexibility over curriculum and delivery

• Clear performance measures

• Stricter accountability for results

"The charter school equation is simple," Mr Seymour said. "The same funding, plus greater flexibility, plus stricter accountability equals better outcomes for students."

Growing Charter School Network

Te Whare Kounga will join five other new charter schools announced in recent weeks, all scheduled to open in 2026. This brings the total number of charter schools nationwide to 18, with further announcements expected before the end of the year—including the first state and state-integrated schools converting to charter status.

Mr Seymour acknowledged the work of the Charter School Agency and Authorisation Board, which assessed 52 applications in the latest round.

"The demand shows there are more good ideas in New Zealand communities than government alone can ever produce," he said. "Our job is to open the door to those ideas and hold them to high standards."

"This is just the beginning. I hope to see many more charter schools opening and more communities shaping education that works for their children."