Education
- Students from Year 1 to 10 will learn practical money skills through refreshed curriculum
- Curriculum includes basic and advanced topics, from savings to tax and investment knowledge
- Ministry partners with financial groups to align resources and support teacher delivery
Financial education will soon become a central part of learning for all Year 1 to 10 students in New Zealand, with the Government announcing it will be integrated into the refreshed social sciences curriculum by 2026.
Education Minister Erica Stanford says the changes will give students the tools to make smart money choices throughout their lives. “Embedding essential skills into the curriculum will ensure our young people are better prepared to make informed financial decisions in a complex financial world. This will positively impact their lives and the broader economy,” she said.
For younger students, lessons will focus on basic concepts such as understanding needs versus wants, opening and managing a bank account, earning income, spending wisely, and saving. As students progress through school, they will learn about budgeting, investment, interest, taxes and insurance—skills designed to help them manage their finances throughout life.
The curriculum update builds on financial maths already included in the new maths curriculum introduced this year.
To help schools deliver this content effectively, a wide range of tools and resources are being developed in partnership with financial organisations, banks, and charitable trusts. These will give schools access to quality teaching materials aligned with the curriculum.
The Ministry of Education is also partnering with the Retirement Commission to create a comprehensive map of what financial education providers offer. This map will ensure resources match the updated curriculum and provide schools with consistent and credible support.
The resource map will also include support for schools teaching Years 11 to 13, helping students continue to build their financial understanding into senior secondary school.
Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Scott Simpson, who is also responsible for the Retirement Commission, said, “As the Minister responsible for the Retirement Commission, I absolutely believe that strengthening financial education is crucial to our Government’s focus on economic growth. We are all consumers, and financial literacy can set young Kiwis up to be savvy consumers – whether it’s knowing how to invest wisely, choose the best loan at a bank, or even identify a scam.”
Minister Stanford added that parents have long asked for financial education to be a priority. “This curriculum update answers those calls, ensuring students are equipped with the knowledge to thrive in both personal and financial aspects of their lives,” she said.
A draft version of the updated social sciences learning area will be released for feedback in Term 4, 2025. Schools will be able to begin using the new curriculum in 2026, with full implementation planned for 2027.