School Attendance on the Rise as Government Unveils Bold Education Plan

The Government has reported a continued rise in school attendance across New Zealand, with Term 1 of 2025 showing a notable increase compared to the same period in previous years. Associate Education Minister David Seymour attributes this improvement to the Government’s proactive attendance strategy, which he says is already showing measurable results.

Marked Improvements Across the Country

In Term 1 of 2025, 65.9% of students attended school regularly—defined as attending more than 90% of the term. This is up from 61.4% in Term 1 of 2024 and 59.0% in Term 1 of 2023, marking a 6.9 percentage point increase over two years. All regions in New Zealand saw improvements, with the Nelson, Marlborough, and West Coast region leading the way by achieving a 6.6 percentage point increase.

“Every region has recorded an increase in attendance. I would like to give a special shoutout to the Nelson, Marlborough, West Coast region for recording the biggest improvement,” said Minister Seymour.

In tandem with rising attendance, chronic absenteeism—defined as students who miss more than 70% of school time—has dropped from 7.3% to 6.4% over the past year. “Those are often children with complex needs and it’s great to see an impact,” he added.

Setting Ambitious Goals for 2030

While encouraged by the progress, Seymour emphasized that the Government is striving toward an ambitious goal: ensuring that 80% of students attend school regularly (more than 90% of the time) by 2030. Reaching this benchmark would significantly reduce long-term absenteeism and bolster student achievement across socioeconomic groups.

“These numbers are another step in the right direction,” Seymour noted. “Attending school is the first step towards achieving positive educational outcomes. Positive educational outcomes lead to better health, higher incomes, better job stability, and greater participation within communities. These are opportunities that every student deserves.”

Future Reforms and Accountability Measures

To build on current progress, the Government will roll out a series of reforms over the next year as part of its Stepped Attendance Response (STAR) framework. By Term 1 of 2026, all schools will be required to implement an attendance management plan aligned with STAR.

In addition, new funding and accountability measures are being put in place to bolster frontline support. Budget 2025 has earmarked $140 million over four years to improve attendance systems, support services, and data infrastructure.

At the core of these efforts is the introduction of a centralized case management system, which will enable real-time data sharing and streamlined coordination between the Ministry of Education, schools, and attendance service providers. Contracts for these providers will be closely monitored to ensure they are delivering tangible outcomes.

“Frontline attendance services will be more accountable, better at effectively managing cases, and data driven in their responses,” Seymour stated.

Taking Attendance Seriously: Parental Responsibility

Minister Seymour also addressed concerns around persistent non-attendance, noting that in extreme cases, the Ministry of Education may prosecute parents or guardians who willfully fail to ensure their children attend school, despite receiving support and warnings.

“Prosecution is a reality for parents who refuse to send their children to school and ignore supports,” Seymour said. “However, this will only happen in the most serious cases, where all other options have been exhausted. We will always take personal circumstances into account.”

The Ministry is already working with schools and attendance service providers to identify and refer such cases, with a view to early intervention and support rather than punishment.

A Systemic Push for Long-Term Change

This intensified focus on student attendance reflects a wider strategy by the Government to create long-term, systemic improvements in the education sector. Seymour and the Ministry believe that increased presence in classrooms is foundational to boosting literacy, numeracy, and overall educational equity.

By combining stronger enforcement with enhanced support and accountability, the Government hopes to foster a culture where school attendance is viewed as a shared responsibility between educators, families, and communities.

As the school year progresses, all eyes will be on whether the current upward trend in attendance continues—and whether these policy interventions translate into improved outcomes for New Zealand’s young learners.