To:
- Principal
- Principal’s Nominee
- All teachers
This circular contains information regarding Digital Technologies in 2026, and the 2026 external assessment dates for Te Marautanga o Aotearoa, Te Reo Matatini me te Pāngarau, and Te Ao Haka.
Change of assessment method for Digital Technologies externally assessed standards in 2026
We have changed the external assessment method for the following Achievement Standards for 2026, as signalled in the 2026 Assessment Specifications. They are now end-of-year examinations. We expect an examination to be the method of assessment for the following standards for the foreseeable future.
- Level 1 92007: Design a digital technologies outcome.
- Level 2 91899: Present a summary of developing a digital outcome.
- Level 3 91909: Present a reflective analysis of developing a digital outcome.
For 2026, Digital Technologies has no external assessment submissions or Digital Common Assessment Tasks (DCAT). Teachers can navigate the NZQA’s search database to refer to the Assessment Specifications for 2026.
2026 TAPā intra-year external assessment dates for Te Marautanga o Aotearoa and Te Reo Matatini me te Pāngarau (TAPā 2), & end-of-year Te Ao Haka TAPā external assessments
Tēnā koutou katoa
The 2026 Tūmahi Aromatawai Pātahi (TAPā) intra-year external assessment dates have been confirmed for Te Marautanga o Aotearoa (TMoA) and Te Reo Matatini me te Pāngarau assessments (for Assessment Event 2), as well as the end-of-year Te Ao Haka TAPā assessments.
Intra-year TAPā - Te Marautanga o Aotearoa
Level 1 TMoA TAPā external assessments will be held in Term 3 across a two-week period between 7-18 September as outlined below:
|
|
Wāhanga Ako |
Level |
Standard |
2026 TAPā assessment date |
|
Te Wiki Tuatahi (7-11 o Hepetema) |
Toi Ataata |
1 |
92085 |
Tūrei 8 o Hepetema |
|
Toi Puoro |
1 |
92090 |
Wenerei 9 o Hepetema |
|
|
Ngā Mahi a te Rēhia |
1 |
92063 |
Tāite 10 o Hepetema |
|
|
Te Wiki Tuarua (14-18 o Hepetema) |
Te Reo Rangatira Hauora |
1 1 |
92075 92059 |
Tūrei 15 o Hepetema Tūrei 15 o Hepetema |
|
Te Reo Rangatira Hangarau Pūtaiao |
1 1 1 |
92076 92054 92072 |
Wenerei 16 o Hepetema Wenerei 16 o Hepetema Tāite 17 o Hepetema |
Please note: The submission due date for Level 1 TMoA Kete Manarua will be 28 October 2026.
Te Reo Matatini me Te Pāngarau (TRMPā) – TAPā 2 (Assessment Event 2)
TAPā 2, the second assessment event for Te Reo Matatini me te Pāngarau, will be held in the same two-week block as the intra-year TAPā dates for TMoA (above):
|
|
Wāhanga Ako |
Level |
Standard |
2026 TRMPā date (Event 2) |
|
Te Wiki Tuatahi (7-11 o Hepetema) |
Te Reo Matatini |
1 |
32413 |
All Week |
|
Pāngarau |
1 |
32412 |
||
|
Te Wiki Tuarua (14-18 o Hepetema) |
Te Reo Matatini |
1 |
32413 |
All Week |
|
Pāngarau |
1 |
32412 |
Te Ao Haka TAPā in the end-of-year examination timetable
From 2026, Te Ao Haka TAPā external assessments will only be delivered within the end-of-year examination timetable on the following November dates:
|
|
Wāhanga Ako |
Level |
Standard |
2026 AM or PM |
|
10 o Noema 11 o Noema |
Te Ao Haka |
1 |
91978 |
3 hour – PM 3 hour – PM |
|
Te Ao Haka |
2 |
91982 |
||
|
12 o Noema |
Te Ao Haka |
3 |
91987 |
3 hour – PM |
To support kura with this change, the following will apply:
- all Te Ao Haka TAPā will take place in the afternoon sessions (2-5pm).
- Te Ao Haka TAPā can be administered by the school or kura, or managed by the Exam Centre Manager.
- Te Ao Haka TAPā will be digital-only, with paper backups available by exception (e.g. Special Assessment Conditions (SAC), or for emergency purposes).
- NZQA will provide support for assessment delivery tailored to the specific needs of each kura. This could include:
- supporting kura to become an Exam Centre
- providing supervision staff if required, including through an affiliate Exam Centre arrangement with another nearby Exam Centre.
NZQA will provide additional information and support ahead of all TAPā assessments to ensure kura are well prepared and assessment delivery runs smoothly.
Updated external assessment information
The 2026 external assessment timetable has been updated to include the TAPā external assessment dates for TMoA, Te Reo Matatini me Te Pāngarau, and Te Ao Haka.
Download the updated 2026 timetable [PDF, 124 KB]
2026 Tautuhinga Aromatawai | Assessment Specifications
Provisional 2026 Tautuhinga Aromatawai can be found on the NZQA website.
View the provisional 2026 assessment specifications
Final versions will be published on the respective subject pages on 9 February 2026. You can navigate to the subject pages via Te Pā Mātauranga.
More information
If you have any pātai/questions or would like to have a kōrero about any of the above, please talk to your Principal’s Nominee, who will contact your School Relationship Manager for further support if required.
Enquiries
Please refer any enquiries relating to this circular to your School Relationship Manager.
School Relationship Manager
School Quality Assurance and Support
Telephone: 04 463 3000
Email: firstname.lastname@nzqa.govt.nz