Te Whāriki Explained: A Parent's Guide to NZ's Early Childhood Curriculum
If you are looking at early learning centres in New Zealand, you will keep hearing the name Te Whāriki. It is the national early childhood curriculum, published by the Ministry of Education, and it shapes what your child experiences every day. Here is a plain-language guide for parents.
What is Te Whāriki?
Te Whāriki means “the woven mat”. The name is a metaphor: four principles and five strands are woven together, like the strands of a whāriki, to make a curriculum for each child. The current version was published in 2017.
Te Whāriki covers children from birth to school entry. It is bicultural, and the 2017 document includes two curriculums in one: the early childhood curriculum, and Te Whāriki a te Kōhanga Reo for kōhanga reo.
It is not a timetable or a checklist. The Ministry of Education describes it as a framework. Each early learning service uses the principles and strands to weave its own local curriculum, in partnership with parents and whānau.
The four principles
The principles are the foundation for every decision a service makes about teaching and learning.
| Principle | What it means for your child |
|---|---|
| Empowerment / Whakamana | Your child is supported to learn, grow and make choices. |
| Holistic development / Kotahitanga | Learning is not split into subjects. Body, mind, feelings and culture develop together. |
| Family and community / Whānau tangata | Your family, culture and community are part of your child’s learning. |
| Relationships / Ngā hononga | Children learn through warm, responsive relationships with people, places and things. |
The five strands
The strands describe the areas of learning and development.
| Strand | What it can look like day to day |
|---|---|
| Wellbeing / Mana atua | Your child feels safe, healthy and cared for, with predictable routines. |
| Belonging / Mana whenua | Your child feels at home, and your family’s culture is welcomed. |
| Contribution / Mana tangata | Your child learns to take turns, help others and be included. |
| Communication / Mana reo | Talking, listening, stories, songs, mark-making and the languages of your family. |
| Exploration / Mana aotūroa | Hands-on play, curiosity, problem-solving and asking questions. |
Why there is no fixed checklist
Te Whāriki is broader and less prescriptive than many overseas early years frameworks. Instead of a list of skills to tick off by a certain age, it focuses on children becoming confident, curious learners who can communicate, get along with others and keep learning. That is why two good centres can look quite different while both following Te Whāriki.
Questions to ask a centre about Te Whāriki
- How do you plan learning around my child’s interests?
- How will you share my child’s learning with me?
- How can our family’s culture and language be part of the programme?
- How do you include te reo Māori and tikanga?
- How do you support children’s wellbeing and sense of belonging when they first start?
A centre that knows Te Whāriki well should be able to answer these with real examples.
Te Whāriki at Blooming Buds
At Blooming Buds, our curriculum blends structured routines with child-led play, includes te reo Māori, tikanga and multicultural perspectives, and is built on strong relationships between kaiako, children and families. The best way to see it is in person: book a tour at our Glen Eden or New Lynn centre.
To learn more, the Ministry of Education’s Te Whāriki Online has the full curriculum.
Frequently asked questions
What does Te Whāriki mean?
Te Whāriki means “the woven mat”. It is a metaphor for how the curriculum’s principles and strands are woven together.
What age group does Te Whāriki cover?
Te Whāriki covers children from birth to school entry.
What are the four principles of Te Whāriki?
Empowerment (Whakamana), Holistic development (Kotahitanga), Family and community (Whānau tangata) and Relationships (Ngā hononga).
What are the five strands of Te Whāriki?
Wellbeing (Mana atua), Belonging (Mana whenua), Contribution (Mana tangata), Communication (Mana reo) and Exploration (Mana aotūroa).
When was Te Whāriki last updated?
The current version of Te Whāriki was published by the Ministry of Education in 2017.
Based on Te Whāriki (Ministry of Education, 2017). For the full curriculum, visit Te Whāriki Online.
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