The English-medium New Zealand Curriculum launched on 6 November 2007 is about human rights in its purpose, aims and much of its specific content. In general terms the Curriculum is a key part of New Zealand's implementation of the human right to education. 

Commentary on the New Zealand Curriculum and the Human Rights in Education Initiative (Word 195KB).

The purpose statement echoes Articles 1 and 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 2 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child: The New Zealand Curriculum applies…to all students in [English-medium state schools], irrespective of their gender, sexuality, ethnicity, belief, ability or disability, social or cultural background, or geographical location.

The vision, values, key competencies and curriculum principles reflect human rights values, and are comprehensively addressed by taking a human rights approach to education. Human rights-based education provides a framework that helps curriculum integration and coherence, and generalisation of learning.

Vision:  Evidence suggests that human rights-based education leads to the development of young people who are confident (positive in their identity, motivated and reliable), connected (able to relate well to others, effective members of communities, international citizens), actively involved (participants and contributors to community well-being) and lifelong learners (critical and creative thinkers, informed decision makers).

Values:  Diversity, equity, community & participation, integrity and ecological sustainability are related to the underpinning value of respect for self, others and human rights.  These values are "to be encouraged, modelled and explored" and to "be evident in the school’s philosophy, structures, curriculum, classrooms, and relationships".

Key competencies:  Human rights-based education contributes to the development of all the key competencies, but has particular impact on relating to others and participating & contributing.

Pedagogy:  A human rights approach to teaching and learning promotes effective pedagogy. It creates a supportive learning environment, encouraging reflective thought and action, and shared learning. It provides a critical toolkit that reinforces the relevance of new learning, and helps make connections to prior learning and experience. It encourages inquiry into the teaching–learning relationship.

Curriculum principles:  By taking a human rights approach the school can develop a coherent curriculum that generates high expectations, values cultural diversity and inclusion, builds community engagement, brings refreshed meaning to the Treaty of Waitangi, and provides a powerful integrating lens to address themes such as sustainability, citizenship, enterprise, and globalization.

Learning areas:  Human rights can be a powerful theme relating to achievement objectives across the learning areas. From an agreed value base, a human rights and responsibilities approach offers a “critical toolkit”, and a useful lens through which to view core concepts and to explore contentious issues.