The New Zealand Curriculum (NZC) is being updated and made available in phases, and schools and kura have until the beginning of 2027 to start using the fully refreshed national curriculum. 

The draft refreshed social sciences learning area on this page is for reference only, as it will be reviewed and updated in 2025.

For now, schools and kura should continue to teach social sciences, including Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories, aligned to the currently required New Zealand Curriculum (2007 and amendments). Existing requirements are broad and enabling, so the refreshed social sciences learning area can be used to inform how teaching and learning programmes are designed.