Pakaraka School becomes New Zealand's first state school to convert to charter
Monday 12 October 2026 · 2 outlets · 2 reports · updated In this story Labour Party, David Seymour
Pakaraka School in Northland has become the first state school in the country to convert to a charter school. The change follows a survey where over 95% of respondents supported the move. The school will now be run by the Society of Holistic Learners.
Key facts
5 facts
- Pakaraka School is the first NZ state school to convert to a charter school.
- The Society of Holistic Learners will run the school.
- A May survey showed over 95% support for the conversion.
- The school will receive the same funding as state schools.
- The school will use standard state school testing.
The full story
1 min read · 2 outlets
Pakaraka School in the Far North has become the first state school in New Zealand to convert to a charter school. The conversion follows a May survey where over 95% of respondents supported the change, while no respondents supported remaining a state school.
The school will be managed by the Society of Holistic Learners, a charitable trust established by parents serving on the school's board of trustees. Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced the conversion on Monday, stating that charter schools provide educators with more freedom to meet student needs.
Under the new model, students will engage in hands-on learning, such as building a traditional Māori pātaka to store kūmara grown for community events. While the school will receive the same funding as state schools, it will have greater flexibility in exchange for stricter accountability through standard testing.
Current students and families will experience little day-to-day change, retaining the same teachers, leaders, and learning spaces. School principal Patricia Simeon said, “This is about creating the conditions for tamariki to thrive in a school environment that honours who they are and how they learn best”.
Where reports differ
- The reports do not differ on the core facts of the story [].
Compiled from reports by Stuff and NZ Herald.