Regulations 5A to 5C apply only to State schools (other than distance schools) on and after the first day after 25 January 2026 on which the school is open for instruction.

(2)

Regulations 6 and 7 apply to only to State schools (other than distance schools) on and after—

(a)

1 July 2025, in relation to a State school that is governed by a specified kura board:

(b)

1 January 2025, in relation to any other State school.

5 Regulation 4 amended (Interpretation)

In regulation 4, insert in its appropriate alphabetical order:

attendance management plan, for a school, means an attendance management plan required by section 137A of the Act

6 New regulations 5A to 5C and cross-heading inserted

After regulation 5, insert:

Attendance management plans

5A Thresholds for actions and responses under attendance management plan

The thresholds of absence that trigger a school’s actions and responses under its attendance management plan in respect of a student are 5, 10, and 15 days of non-attendance by the student at the school within a school term.

5B Contents of attendance management plan

An attendance management plan must—

(a)

set out the board’s overarching attendance objectives and strategic priorities relating to student absences; and

(b)

specify the processes that the school uses to identify—

(i)

patterns of student absence:

(ii)

students’ barriers to attendance:

(iii)

any underlying causes of student absence; and

(c)

explain how the board will monitor and measure progress relating to student attendance (including, without limitation, through any targets set by the board or the Government); and

(d)

describe the strategies, actions, or interventions that the board will use at each of the thresholds of absence specified in regulation 5A to address the underlying causes of student absence; and

(e)

contain a statement that each time a student reaches a threshold of absence specified in regulation 5A, the board will—

(i)

investigate that student’s absences; and

(ii)

respond to those absences in accordance with the school’s strategy and processes for responding to the relevant threshold of absence; and

(iii)

record the action the board has taken in relation to those absences (including where no action was taken, and why).

5C Review of attendance management plan

A board must review its attendance management plan at least once every 3 years or when directed to do so by the Secretary.

Rachel Hayward,
Clerk of the Executive Council.

Explanatory note

This note is not part of the regulations but is intended to indicate their general effect.

These regulations, which come into force on 15 January 2026, amend the Education (School Attendance) Regulations 2024 (the principal regulations) to prescribe matters relating to attendance management plans that State schools (other than distance schools) must have under section 137A of the Education and Training Act 2020.

The main amendments insert into the principal regulations new regulations 5A to 5C, which—

specify the thresholds of absence within a school term that trigger a school’s actions and responses to student absence under its attendance management plan; and
prescribe the content of attendance management plans; and
require a board to review its attendance management plan at least once every 3 years or when directed to do so by the Secretary for Education.

Issued under the authority of the Legislation Act 2019.

Date of notification in Gazette: 11 December 2025.

These regulations are administered by the Ministry of Education.

Education (School Attendance) Amendment Regulations 2025