In a significant move to enhance real-world skills among students, Education Minister Erica Stanford has announced that financial education will be embedded as a core component of New Zealand’s refreshed social sciences curriculum for Years 1 to 10. This initiative is set to be available for use from 2026 and will become compulsory from 2027.

The curriculum aims to equip younger students with foundational financial skills, such as distinguishing needs from wants, understanding the basics of earning, spending, and saving, and
managing a bank account. As students progress, they will delve into more complex topics, including budgeting, investment, interest, taxes, and insurance, thereby building lifelong financial
competencies.

To support the effective delivery of this curriculum, the Ministry of Education is collaborating with the Retirement Commission and various financial education providers. This partnership will ensure that schools have access to a range of tools and resources aligned with the updated curriculum, fostering confidence in educators to teach financial concepts effectively.

Minister Stanford emphasised the importance of this initiative, stating that embedding essential financial skills into the curriculum will better prepare young people to make informed decisions in a complex financial world, positively impacting their lives and the broader economy. Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson echoed this sentiment, highlighting that strengthening financial education is crucial to the government’s focus on economic growth.

This development responds to longstanding calls from New Zealand parents for financial education to be a priority in schools. By integrating financial literacy into the national curriculum, the government aims to empower students to take control of their financial futures and contribute to a more financially savvy society.