National events and The New Zealand Curriculum

January

Lunar New Year – Chinese New Year from Sunday 22 January 2023.
By examining this celebration, students can explore values such as diversity and respect, and develop conceptual understandings about culture, identity, and customs.

February

Waitangi Day Monday 6 February 2023.
Waitangi Day provides an opportunity for students to examine social science concepts and values and develop key competencies. Schools can also consider how the Treaty of Waitangi principle is used as a foundation for curriculum decision-making.

March

Seaweek | Kauapapa Moana Saturday 4 March – Sunday 12 March 2023.
Seaweek is New Zealand’s annual national week about the sea. Coordinated by the Sir Peter Blake Marine Education and Recreation Centre (MERC), Seaweek is a time for us to get to know more about the ocean, its habitats, characteristics, and inhabitants better.

Census 2023  Tuesday 7 March 2023.

2023 Census is our chance to represent ourselves, our families, whānau, communities, and cultures.

April

Earth Day Saturday 22 April 2023.
Earth Day is a global event where people honour the natural environment and raise awareness of environmental issues. By taking part in Earth Day, students can learn about the current state of the planet and explore options for sustainability.

Anzac Day Tuesday 25 April 2023.
By examining this national event, students can develop key competencies, explore values such as respect and honour, and consider the social science concepts of identity, continuity, and change. 

May

New Zealand Music Month all of May 2023.
New Zealand Music Month provides a useful context for students to develop understandings in the arts and social sciences. It is also a good time to explore the values of diversity and community and participation with your students. 

Rotuman Language Week Sunday 7 May – Sunday 14 May 2023.
Celebrate the identity, language, and culture of people from Rotuma.

New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week Monday 8 May – Sunday 14 May 2023.
New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week is a chance for the Deaf community to stand proud as Deaf, and to celebrate their language and culture. It also works to break down barriers, fears and misconceptions. NZSL Week lets Deaf New Zealanders put their hands up and be seen!

Pink Shirt Day Friday 19 May 2023

Aotearoa will become a sea of pink as schools, workplaces and communities join the Pink Shirt Day movement. By taking part you will help stamp out bullying by celebrating diversity and promoting kindness and inclusion.

Techweek 2023 Saturday 13 May – Saturday 20 May 2023.
Techweek fosters the growth of New Zealand's technology and innovation sectors by providing the national ecosystem with a week-long opportunity for connection and collaboration. Techweek is an independent platform where individuals and organisations can showcase their unique and inspiring innovation stories.

Samoa Language Week Sunday 28 May – Saturday 3 June 2023.
The theme for Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa - Samoa Language Week 2023 is "Mitamita i lau gagana, maua’a lou fa’asinomaga" which means "Be proud of your language and grounded in your identity".

International Languages Week Tuesday 6 - Friday 9 June 2023.
This week provides an opportunity to showcase and promote languages and cultures in your school and communities. Encourage the bi-lingual students in your school to be experts during International Languages Week and support them to share their language knowledge with others in the class. 

June

Schools' Pride Week Monday 12 June - Friday 16 June 2023.
Held by InsideOUT Kōaro every June, Schools’ Pride Week Aotearoa is a nationwide campaign celebrating rainbow staff, students and whānau in school communities across the country.

July

Kiribati Language Week Sunday 9 July - Saturday 15 July 2023.
Kiribati Language Week is organised by the Ministry for Pacific Peoples to maintain and promote the language and culture of Kiribati (pronounced KiriBASS). The Kiribati language is also known as Gilbertese. 

Matariki Tuesday 11 July - Monday 17 July 2023.
The pre-dawn rise of Matariki can be seen in June or July every year. By celebrating Matariki at your school, you can bring a range of NZC principles to life. Students can explore values, develop key competencies, and examine social science concepts.

Matariki Public Holiday -  Friday 14 July 2023.

August

Cook Islands Language Week Sunday 30 July - Saturday 5 August 2023.
Cook Islands Language Week / Te 'Epetoma o te Reo Kūki Airani celebrates the identity, languages, and culture of the Cook Islands. Participating in the week helps all New Zealanders journey towards shared cultural understandings.

Maths Week Monday 7 August - Friday 11 August 2023.
Sponsored by the Ministry of Education and the New Zealand Association of Mathematics Teachers, a number of resources are written and made available to teachers and students in Y1–11. 

Conservation Week | Te Wiki Tiaki Ao Tūroa Monday 14 August - Sunday 20 August 2023.
Capture your students' natural curiosity about the world they live in and raise awareness about Aotearoa New Zealand as you involve them in this year’s Conservation Week. This week is all about getting out and discovering the conservation areas that are just outside your door.

Sorted Money Month all of August 2023.
Money Month is the annual public awareness and engagement campaign coordinated by Te Ara Ahunga Ora in partnership with the financial capability community. This campaign previously ran for a week but has been extended to a month in 2023 to ensure New Zealanders have the chance to learn more about financial capability.

September

Tonga Language Week Sunday 3 September - Saturday 9 September 2023.
Tonga Language Week / Uike Kātoanga’i ‘o e Lea Faka-Tonga gives students of all ethnicities the chance to learn some basic Lea Faka-Tonga and gives your students of Tongan origin the chance to be experts in the classroom.

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori Rāhina 11 Hepetema - Rāmere 15 Hepetema 2023.
Te Wiki o te Reo Māori | Māori Language Week is an annual campaign led by Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori promoting te reo as New Zealand’s language and a language for all New Zealanders. Whānau from across Aotearoa, New Zealand, including organisations, schools, workplaces and homes, are encouraged to give te reo Māori a go.

New Zealand Chinese Language Week Sunday 7 September - Saturday 23 September 2023.
New Zealand Chinese Language Week is a Kiwi-led initiative aimed at encouraging New Zealanders to discover Chinese language and culture. 

October

Tuvalu Language Week Sunday 1 October - Saturday 7 October 2023.
This special week gives speakers of the Tuvalu language the chance to be experts in the classroom and allows whānau and the wider Tuvalu community to see their language and culture being treasured in New Zealand schools.

Fijian Language Week Sunday 8 October - Saturday 14 October 2023.
Fijian Language Week helps all New Zealanders journey towards shared cultural understandings. Learning a new language gives us insight into new ways of thinking, and into different beliefs and cultural practices.

Niue Language Week Sunday 15 October - Saturday 21 October 2023.
This special week gives speakers of Vagahau Niue the chance to be experts in the classroom and allows whānau and the wider Niue community to see their language and culture being treasured in New Zealand schools.

Gagana Tokelau Language Week Sunday 22 October - Saturday 28 October 2023.
Gagana Tokelau Week provides the opportunity to celebrate and nurture the language and culture of Tokelau in your classroom and school community.

November

Diwali Saturday 11 November - Wednesday 15 November 2023.
Diwali, also known as Deepavali, or the Festival of Lights, is a five-day-long Hindu celebration. Diwali is a great opportunity to engage with the local Indian Hindu community, especially those members who are families at school. 

America's Cup 
New Zealand hosted the America's Cup event during term one 2021. The ideas and resources on this page supported schools, kura, and early learning services to weave the America’s Cup into their local curriculum.

37th America's Cup 2024.  The Official Opening Ceremony for the 37th America's Cup will be held in Barcelona on 22 August 2024. For more information visit the America's Cup website.

Olympic Games 
The 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games (25 August to 6 September 2021) provide unique and vast learning opportunities for your students. Here is a collection of teaching ideas to help you share the Olympic spirit with your school and community.

Olympic Games 2024.  The next Olympic games will take place in Paris, France from 27 July to 12 August 2024. For more information, visit the Olympic Games website.

Commonwealth Games Birmingham - 28 July – 8 August 2022

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games was an international multi-sport event for members of the Commonwealth that was held in Birmingham, England. Approximately 4500 athletes from 72 nations and territories competed in 19 sports.

Commonwealth Games 2026.  The next Commonwealth Games will be held in Victoria, Australia from 17 to 29 March 2026. For more information, visit the Commonwealth Games Federation website.