News

This site is a key part of the Pacific Virtual Museum pilot project, implemented by the National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga  in collaboration with the National Library of Australia , and funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Australia. This pilot will run until February 2022.

It aims to empower people in and of the Pacific Islands, enabling them to explore, discover and view thousands of items held in museums, libraries, galleries, and collections around the world and to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures of the Pacific. It includes images, objects, video, audio, text, and maps.

Malo ni!

Tokelau Language Week is being held from 25 - 31 October. The theme for 2020 is ‘Apoapo tau foe, i nā tāfea i te galutau. Ke mau mai, ke mau mai’ which in English translates to, 'Never give up hope, even amidst chaos and much uncertainty. Stay united, stay strong'

For ideas, resources, and inspiration to help you learn and celebrate the language of Tokelau with your school community go to Pacific resources»

All NZ children are welcome to learn with the VLN Primary – Nau Mai, Haere Mai!

Extend curriculum choices for your learners and increase your schools confidence and capability in online and distance learning. A wide range of language programmes are available including:

• Te reo Māori and Kapa Haka
• Digital Technology
• Gifted and Talented
• Creative Arts
• Science and Maths
• Literacy. 

More information »

• Find out more and register your interest online
• Email: primary@vln.school.nz with queries

Cyber Smart Week 2020 runs from 19–23 October. The primary goal of the campaign is to increase the cyber resilience of all New Zealanders so they’re less vulnerable to cyber attacks.

CertNZ has created a Cyber Smart Week pack of resources you can download.

• Find out more about Cyber Smart Week and download the support pack »

Bula Vinaka!

Fiji Language Week is being held from 4 - 10 October 2020. The theme for 2020 is "Noqu Vosa, Noqu iSema Bula" in English, “My language, my living link”.

For ideas, resources, and inspiration to help you learn and celebrate the language of Fiji with your school community go to Pacific resources»

Fakatalofa atu!

Tuvalu Language Week is being held from Sunday 27 September - Saturday 3 October 2020. The theme for 2020 is "Fakatili Te Kiloga Fou" which in English means "Navigating the changing environment".

For ideas, resources, and inspiration to help you learn and celebrate the language of Tuvalu with your school community go to Pacific resources»

Network for Learning (N4L) is beginning free school internet health checks to ensure students can have the best and safest digital exam experience.

Through a partnership with the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA), Crown company N4L is preparing for more than 300 schools to take up the free offer to:

• assess their exam room internet speeds and security
• determine if there are any ‘dead spots’ without connectivity
• check that their wireless equipment can cope with the extra demand in the exam areas.

Read the full story on the N4L website »

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• go to the Newsletters page
• look for the heading Keep Informed – enter your email, and click on the subscribe button.

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori takes place this year between 14 and 20 September. The chosen theme for 2020 is again "Kia Kaha te Reo Māori".

Use the resources and look out for discussions in the Enabling e-Learning community.

• Māori resources  – Access teaching resources on the Enabling e-Learning website.
• Digital tools for teaching and learning te reo Māori  – Overview of technologies and apps that can be used to build students' te reo Māori. 

Mālō e lelei!

Tonga Language Week / Uike Kātoanga’i ‘o e Lea Faka-Tonga is being held this year between Sunday 6 September and Saturday 12 September.

For ideas, resources, and inspiration to help you learn and celebrate the language of Tonga with your school community go to Pacific resources»

The Creative Springboards Festival is online and free. Provided by Apple Professional Learning Specialists the online virtual sessions support creative teaching and learning with iPad and Mac.

• Daytime Sessions on 29th and 30th September
• Twilight Sessions from 6th – 15th October

You can tailor your own program to suit your role, level of confidence and specific areas of interest.

Read our latest e-mail newsletter

To sign up for our newsletters:

• go to the Newsletters  page
• look for the heading Keep Informed – enter your email, and click on the subscribe button.

Television and radio

Home Learning TV | Papa Kāinga TV will be back on Monday 17 August to support learning for children aged 2-to-11 years while Auckland remains in Alert Level 3.

Home Learning TV | Papa Kāinga TV will take over TVNZ DUKE's daytime schedule 9am to 1pm on weekdays. Programming for younger children includes the popular Karen’s House at 9am, followed by programmes for children aged 5 to 7, including junior movement with the Dingle Foundation and junior science and maths with Suzy Cato.

DUKE is available on Freeview channel 13, Sky and Vodafone TV channel 23.
It can be live streamed on the TVNZ website . Content will be available for catch up viewing on TVNZ OnDemand.

All earlier episodes of Home Learning TV | Papa Kāinga TV remain available through TVNZ OnDemand.

Māori TV

Mauri Reo Mauri Ora is back to support learning for children aged 0 to 18 years.
Mauri Reo Mauri Ora will be airing again on Te Reo Māori Channel via SkyTV, Vodafone channel 82 and Freeview Channel 15 from 9am to 3pm on weekdays.
Korou Whangataua, Juneea Silbery and Ani-Piki Tuari will host these interactive sessions focused on kōhungahunga in the morning and wharekura in the afternoon.
Check out Kauwhata Reo for more information, schedules and previous sessions.
 
Content will be available for catch up viewing on Māori Television where you can also view all earlier episodes of Mauri Reo Mauri Ora.

Pacific Learners

For Pacific learners the Ministry of Education have developed the Talanoa Ako Pacific Parent programme - Talanoa Ako on Air radio programme and Talanoa Ako Digital App , both of which are still available. Options will be explored to move face-to-face Talanoa Ako sessions online if required.

Kia orāna! Cook Islands Language Week / Te epetoma o te reo Māori Kuki Airani takes place this year from 2 August to 8 August. 

For ideas, resources, and inspiration to help you learn and celebrate the languages of the Cook Islands with your school community go to Pacific resources»

Read our latest e-mail newsletter .

To sign up for our newsletters:

• go to the Newsletters  page
• look for the heading Keep Informed – enter your email, and click on the subscribe button.

Minecraft: Education Edition is now on the Chromebook platform in beta.

Try out the beta to help Minecraft developers uncover any issues so they can fix them before the official launch. Any user with an Office 365 Education account can download the beta. 

• Visit the Minecraft: Education Edition for Chromebook page for information »

• Visit our Minecraft page for more information on using Minecraft in your classroom »

Read our latest e-mail newsletter .

To sign up for our newsletters:

• go to the Newsletters page
• look for the heading Keep Informed – enter your email, and click on the subscribe button.

Extend curriculum choices for your learners and increase your schools confidence and capability in online and distance learning.

A wide range of language programmes available including te reo Māori and Kapa Haka, Digital Technology, Gifted & Talented, Creative Arts, Science & Maths, and Literacy.

Enrolments close Friday 26 June. Funding assistance available for enrolments made this term, while places available.

All NZ children are welcome to learn with the VLN Primary – Nau Mai, Haere Mai!

• Find out more and register your interest online   
• Contact Rachel Whalley primary@vln.school.nz  with queries.

Microsoft is supporting training partners to run free Minecraft Education Edition training across the country.

• Find out more and book your training »

Minecraft: Education Edition is included in the Ministry of Education's software agreement with Microsoft . Through to December 2021, all students and school staff in New Zealand gain free access to Microsoft 365 A3 suite, which includes Minecraft Education Edition.

Are you interested in how other NZ schools use digital technologies to support teaching and learning?

Read our latest e-mail newsletter  to find out more.

To sign up for our newsletters:

• go to the Newsletters  page
• look for the heading Keep Informed – enter your email, and click on the subscribe button.