Auckland, Tuesday 14 October 2025 | Webfit News
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has announced that three new charter schools will open in Term 1, 2026, expanding education choices for New Zealand students. The newly approved schools are Aotearoa Infinite Academy, Te Aratika High School, and Altum Academic.
New options for diverse learning needs
Minister Seymour said every child deserves an education that meets their individual needs and aspirations. “All of the schools announced today demonstrate the innovation enabled by the charter school model,” he said.
Aotearoa Infinite Academy will operate as an online school designed for students who face barriers to physical attendance. It will teach in small virtual classrooms, helping learners whose location or personal circumstances make traditional schooling difficult.
Te Aratika High School in Hawke’s Bay will focus on Māori and Pacific students who have become disengaged from education. The school’s vocational curriculum will prepare students for employment in the trades while integrating cultural values to build confidence and a sense of belonging.
Altum Academic, set to open in Wellington, will be the first charter school in the region. It aims to address the equity gap by offering a Classical Education model using the Trivium method, which includes three learning stages:
- Grammar stage: younger students learn facts and foundations through recitation and repetition.
- Logic stage: middle years focus on reasoning, asking “how” and “why”.
- Rhetoric stage: senior students learn to communicate and persuade effectively.
Part of a growing charter school network
The three new schools join another three charter schools announced earlier in August, bringing the total number of confirmed charter schools to 14. Seymour said more schools are expected to be announced by the end of the year, along with the first state schools converting to the charter model.
“I want to thank the Charter School Agency and the independent Authorization Board for their robust and fair application process,” Seymour said, noting that 52 applications were reviewed this year.
Expanding opportunities for young New Zealanders
Seymour said the strong demand to open charter schools shows a shared commitment to providing varied learning environments. “Positive education outcomes can lead to better health, higher incomes, job stability, and stronger community participation. These are opportunities every student deserves,” he said.
Source and reference: New Zealand Government press release via Scoop Media
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