The Post Primary Teachers’ Association is commissioning an expert panel to produce a new report on the Government’s proposed changes to national qualifications, reviving and updating its 1997 inquiry that helped shape the current framework.

The project—Tirotiro anō—will examine the NCEA change proposal and report back to PPTA’s 2026 annual conference. A panel of 8–10 members is to be appointed, with at least one Māori co-chair and both PPTA kaumātua involved to ensure a strong Māori lens. The union says a partnership approach was missing from the Government’s proposal and wants the panel to centre sector voices, equity and Te Tiriti.

Terms of reference include:

• Consulting widely across the sector and drawing on research
• Testing whether the proposal is educationally valid
• Assessing the visibility and application of Te Tiriti principles
• Considering impacts on Māori, Pasifika and neurodiverse learners, and the role of the equity index
• Weighing manageability, resources and workload implications
• Making recommendations on the proposal and future qualifications settings

The panel will co-design its approach and may establish smaller working groups. PPTA will provide secretariat support, with online and face‑to‑face engagements expected; travel and accommodation will be covered.

Expressions of interest are being sought for panellists and co-chairs, with appointments hoped by the end of January 2026 and a final report targeted for PPTA’s September 2026 conference. The union describes the work as an investment in a credible, independent voice as the sector faces decisions that will shape teaching and learning in the years ahead.