Is it Time for an EdRising?
A collaboration for transforming education.
Imagine an education system in Aotearoa New Zealand that truly sings. One where the te ao Māori flows as naturally as our rivers alongside the best of learning from around the global. Where our tamariki and rangatahi are not just learning facts, but are growing into grounded, innovative, and compassionate leaders of tomorrow.
Does this resonate with you? Do you feel a stirring for something more in our education system?
For too long, the conversations around education have often felt… fragmented and overly politicised. Focused on targets, on comparisons, on the immediate challenges. But what if we lifted our gaze? What if we dared to envision a truly transformative future for learning in our motu?
This is the seed of an idea we’re calling EdRising. It’s not a top-down initiative or another set of mandates. Instead, it’s a groundswell – a potential movement fueled by the shared desire for a different way. A way that truly honours the promise of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, connecting generations, empowering whānau, and nurturing kaitiakitanga for our precious environment.
What does this different way look like?
Imagine a system that deeply values:
Honouring Te Tiriti and Our Full History: We believe in building an equitable future by deeply understanding our shared history through the enacting of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. This includes acknowledging the diverse worldviews present at its signing, the promises made, and the subsequent impacts and challenges that have shaped Aotearoa.
Valuing Diverse Knowledge Systems: Recognising that mātauranga Māori and Western knowledge are both invaluable and offer unique perspectives for our learners.
Whānau at the Heart: Building an education system that understands and supports the wellbeing and agency of the entire whānau, knowing that strong families build strong learners.
Connected Learning: Fostering connections between learners, their communities, their culture, and the natural world, understanding that we are all interconnected.
Future-Focused Innovation: Equipping our young people with the skills, knowledge, and mindsets to not just navigate, but to shape a rapidly evolving world.
This is just a glimpse. At its heart, EdRising believes in the inherent potential of every learner and the power of communities to collectively nurture that potential. We envision an education system where young people are empowered to thrive, becoming creative problem-solvers, innovative thinkers, and lifelong learners who will contribute to a positive future for themselves, their whānau, their communities, and the world.
This is just the beginning…
The idea of EdRising is still taking shape. We believe the most powerful movements are those that are co-created, built from the ground up by the people who care most deeply about education – educators, parents, students, iwi, and community members.
So, what do you think? What does an "EdRising" look like to you?
What are the key shifts you believe are essential for a truly thriving education system in Aotearoa? What values should be at its core? What questions do we need to be asking?
We invite you to be part of shaping this conversation. Share your thoughts, your hopes, and your ideas in the comments below. Let's explore together what an education system that truly rises to meet the needs of all our learners could look like.
This is just the first ripple. Let's see if together, we can create a wave of positive change for education in Aotearoa.
Click here to register your interest in finding out more and to receive further information about our upcoming convening.
Check out the EdRising website for more information.
Ngā mihi nui,
Derek