Our final newsletter | Ako Aotearoa
View in browser
Xmas 2025 email banner

Best wishes to you for the coming years

Ngā mihi nui ki Ako Aotearoa

Kia ora , 

 

With just a few days to go before we officially wind up all activities for Ako Aotearoa, I feel privileged to provide what is likely to be the last enews update with you all.

 

I want to acknowledge the wonderful Ako Aotearoa staff, who have worked through a very challenging six months without pause and with enormous care and pride. The range of research outputs and activities also covered in this enews is testament to that. We are also extremely grateful to the project teams getting their work "over the line" before we close later this week - it has been a huge combined effort.

 

Many of you will have seen the recent update from the TEC and Massey University around their focus on some of our key initiatives (such as Te Whatu Kairangi | Aotearoa Tertiary Educator Awards and the Dyslexia-Friend Quality Mark). I will remain in my role until the end of March, with a small team, to support the appropriate transition of this work. We will also finalise the Centre's disestablishment and reporting tasks during that time. 

 

We can confirm that hosting of the Ako Aotearoa website has been negotiated until the end of 2026; providing the sector with continued access to all of our free resources and reports. We are working with our host, Massey University, to develop the best solutions for the future and to ensure longevity and integrity of the Ako Aotearoa resources beyond 2026.

 

Ako Aotearoa is proud to have served the sector since 2007

What we have achieved across our 18 years of operation could not have been done without the collaboration, support, enthusiasm and shared commitment from individuals and organisations sector wide. Thank you!

 

So many of you have become champions for what we do, and, while we firmly believe our services are still very much needed, we encourage you to share, contextualise and build on our comprehensive body of work. Particularly make use of our recently published sector reports on Strategy co-design and Professional Learning and Development in Aotearoa. 

 

Our work at a glance

  • Over 11.5 million in funded projects
  • In excess of 1500 resource outputs shared
  • Above 5000 professionally developed colleagues
  • More than 320 nationally awarded teachers
  • Twelve regional forums over the last three years 
  • Close to 1500 attendees at our 2025 PLD events and workshops.

Contacting Ako Aotearoa 

All Ako Aotearoa staff roles are disestablished as of 31 December 2025, but most staff are finishing when Massey University closes on 19 December 2025.

 

If you have any queries after that, please direct them to: info@ako.ac.nz. 

 

On behalf of all the team here at Ako Aotearoa, I'd like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and all the best as you continue to shape the future of Aotearoa's tertiary education. 

 

Ngā mihi nui, Mā te wā

Corrina Gestro-Best

Director, Ako Aotearoa

 

Also in this e-newsletter:

  • Latest free resources 
  • Connecting with our community 
  • DFQM ceremony efforts 
  • New research: An inclusive approach to AI literacy
  • New research: Addressing racial equity & justice in the tech sector for Pasifika learners
  • New research: Evidence of the impact of Te Atakura on teaching practice
  • New guides: Scoping the Integration of AI in adult tertiary education 
  • Co-thinker portal: A new space for online resources
  • Latest Manako Briefing Paper
  • Video resources on our YouTube channel 

 

Latest free resources

Addressing racial equity in the tech sector project

New Report

 

Circle-of-knowledge-project-cover

New Report


Connecting with our community

Ako Aotearoa at FABENZ

Ako Aotearoa was proud to sponsor and attend the 2025 FABENZ conference in Wellington, this month.

 

National Communications and Marketing Manager, Jill Tanner-Lloyd and Manako Programme Manager, Graeme Read, had the pleasure of joining the event and was surprised with a tribute from the FABENZ crew and those in attendance at the conference. 

 

FABENZ provides a platform for tertiary educators to promote foundation and bridging education as a means of empowering and creating success for learners, whānau and communities.

Visit their website to learn more about what they do.
FABENZ card

News From Ako Aotearoa

Dyslexia-Friendly Quality Mark (DFQM)

Ceremony honours efforts

DFQM

Thank you to those who could join us for the online ceremony on 27 November as we celebrated teams from seven organisations at this year's DFQM awards. This year, we were proud to award the DFQM to the following organisations and teams: 

  • Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood NZ - Undergraduate Programmes
  • MIT - School of Social Work 
  • NZ Welding, Trades & Services (NZWTS) - Part of the Aspire2 Group
  • Tree House - Part of the Aspire2 Group
  • BCITO - Learner Support Team
  • Otago Polytechnic - Animal Health and ECL
  • UCOL - Raukura Team

We acknowledge their efforts to lead the way in creating inclusive, supportive learning environments for learners with dyslexia.

 

See the DFQM registry.

 

New research: An inclusive approach to AI literacy

Some of our latest research explores how co-designed resources can build AI literacy for diverse learners and educators.

 

The research report also introduces practical tools such as the Scaffolded AI Literacy (SAIL) framework, which outlines a four-level progression from knowing and understanding through to using, evaluating, creating, and 
moving beyond AI literacy. Including an assessment checker, to support equitable, ethical use of AI in learning and assessment contexts.

 

Read the report.

empowering aotearoa

New research: Addressing racial equity & justice in the tech sector for Pasifika learners

Addressing racial equity in the tech sector project

We're pleased to share that the final report for the Addressing racial equity & justice in the tech sector for Pasifika learners research has been published.

 

The report explores systemic barriers and opportunities for Pasifika learners and professionals in education and careers. It points to cultural intelligence, flexible pathways, and community-led initiatives as the key to building a more inclusive and equitable tech sector in Aotearoa.

 

 

Read the report.

New research: Evidence of the impact of Te Atakura on teaching practice

We're also excited to share that the final report for providing evidence of the impact of Te Atakura on teaching practice has been published. 

 

 

The research provides evidence on the use of the Te Atakura model and how it can transform teaching through relationship-based practice. This report explores data insights, kaiako stories, and strategies that uplift ākonga Māori engagement and success, and we’re extremely proud to be supporting this research through the 2025 AARIA contestable funding round.

 

Read the report.

Te Atakura

New guides: Scoping the Integration of AI in adult tertiary education 

Scoping the integration of AI in adult tertiary education: An equitable and outcome-focused approach in Aotearoa New Zealand

Another ARIA-funded research output we've recently published offers a comprehensive roadmap for AI adoption in adult tertiary education.

  • Volume 1 – Artificial intelligence (AI) in education
  • Volume 2 – Practical AI applications for educators
  • Volume 3 – Leadership and policy in education

Across these three volumes, educators will be able to explore foundational insights, practical strategies, and leadership frameworks that prioritise ethics, cultural responsiveness, and equity in Aotearoa’s learning environments - particularly in the use of AI.

 

Learn more on our knowledge centre. 

Co-thinker portal: A new space for online resources

The research team for the Matapaki Atamai Hangahanga project have recently launched a dedicated platform for collaborative thinking in education. The 'Co-thinker portal' will provide educators with a online space to explore guides, videos, and practical frameworks that can support co-thinking strategies -with more resources coming early in 2026.

Find out more.
Matapaki Atamai Hangahanga

Latest Manako Briefing Paper

Resource Launch  Using Generative AI to support foundationbridging ākonga

Holding space for the future: Educator capability, and inclusive learning and teaching beyond 2025

 

The latest Manako briefing paper is both a reflection on the work of the Ako Aotearoa Manako Programme has undertaken and a call to action for the future beyond 2025.

 

It provides key insights and recommendations for the sector while building upon research conducted by Ako Aotearoa from its sector strategy report. 

 

Learn more.

Video resources on our YouTube channel 

We're excited to share that our YouTube channel will remain unaffected by our closure. Meaning that all previous year's content including past Te Whatu Kairangi awardees, recordings of events and some professional development videos will remain freely accessible. 

 

These videos offer insights into good teaching and learning practices, and we hope it can continue being of use to you and the rest of the sector. 

View on YouTube
New SM Logo
ako-logo@4x-1

Ako Aotearoa, c/o Massey University, Wallace Street, Mt Cook, Wellington 6021, New Zealand, 0800 692 566

Unsubscribe Manage preferences

Click here to update your interests.

Email
Website
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
YouTube

You are receiving this email because you have signed up on our website, or opted to receive our newsletters when registering for an Ako Aotearoa event.

 

Contents of this email are Copyright © 2025 Ako Aotearoa, All rights reserved. Publications, resources, and tools available on our website ako.ac.nz are shared under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.