How to Start Homeschooling in New Zealand
A practical guide for families exploring home education
Across Aotearoa New Zealand, more and more families are exploring homeschooling as a way to support their children’s curiosity, wellbeing, and love of learning.l
Whether you’re seeking a slower rhythm, more time outdoors, or a learning style better suited to your child, homeschooling can offer the flexibility to design an education that truly fits your family.
If you’re considering homeschooling in New Zealand, the process is simpler than many people expect. This guide explains the legal requirements, how to get started, and how many families build supportive learning communities around their homeschooling journey.
Is Homeschooling Legal in New Zealand?
Yes. Homeschooling (often called home education) is fully legal in New Zealand.
To homeschool your child, you need to apply for a Certificate of Exemption from Enrolment at a Registered School through the Ministry of Education.
This exemption allows your child to be educated at home instead of attending a registered school.
Once approved, parents are responsible for ensuring their child is taught “as regularly and as well as in a registered school.”
The good news is that how you do this is entirely up to you.
Many families use structured curricula, while others take a more flexible or nature-based approach.
Step 1: Apply for a Homeschooling Exemption
To begin homeschooling, you must apply for a homeschooling exemption from the Ministry of Education.
The application asks you to describe:
How you plan to teach your child
The subjects you will cover
How you will support learning progress
Your overall learning philosophy
You don’t need to follow the national curriculum exactly, but you must demonstrate that your child will receive an education at least as good as that provided in school.
Many families include examples of:
reading and writing activities
maths learning approaches
science or nature study
creative projects
community learning opportunities
Once approved, your exemption generally lasts until your child turns 16.
Step 2: Choose Your Learning Style
One of the beautiful aspects of homeschooling is that there is no single “right way” to do it.
Families across New Zealand homeschool in many different ways.
Some common approaches include:
Structured Curriculum
Some families follow a full curriculum (often from the US, UK, or Australia) to provide clear progression in subjects like maths and language arts. For Waldorf curriculum, Oak Meadow is often a top choice. For Christian curriculum, many families choose the Good and the Beautiful.
Interest-Led Learning
Children explore topics they are curious about and develop skills naturally through projects and exploration.
Nature-Based Learning
Learning is rooted in outdoor experiences, seasonal rhythms, and place-based knowledge.
Hybrid Approaches
Many families combine home learning with part-time programmes, learning communities, or outdoor education days.
This allows children to experience group learning, friendships, and specialist teaching while still enjoying the flexibility of homeschooling.
Step 3: Build Your Learning Community
One of the biggest myths about homeschooling is that children learn alone.
In reality, homeschooling families often form rich learning communities through:
co-learning groups
forest schools
science or art clubs
sports and music activities
part-time learning programmes
Many homeschoolers choose to participate in one or two structured learning days per week, giving children the opportunity to collaborate with peers while maintaining flexibility at home.
These hybrid rhythms are becoming increasingly popular across New Zealand.
Step 4: Document Learning (Simply)
You are not required to submit regular reports to the Ministry of Education unless specifically requested.
However, many families find it helpful to keep simple records of learning such as:
reading lists
photos of projects
learning journals
writing samples
reflections from the child
These can help you see your child’s growth over time and make exemption reviews straightforward if they occur.
Step 5: Find Support and Inspiration
The homeschooling community in New Zealand is growing and deeply supportive.
Many families connect through:
local homeschool groups
outdoor learning programmes
nature-based education communities
regional gatherings and events
Children often benefit from a balance of home learning, community learning, and real-world experiences.
Nature-Based Homeschool Learning at Earth School
At Earth School Aotearoa, many of our learners come from homeschooling families who want their children to experience:
outdoor learning
collaborative projects
hands-on science and ecology
storytelling and philosophy circles
practical skills like gardening, building, and cooking
Our one-day school programme allows homeschooled children to join a learning community one or two days per week while continuing their home education journey.
Children spend their days exploring forests, gardens, and farms while developing core skills in reading, maths, science, and creative thinking.
For many families, this hybrid approach offers the best of both worlds:
the freedom of homeschooling and the richness of community learning.
Is Homeschooling Right for Your Family?
Homeschooling can offer extraordinary freedom, but it also asks families to become active stewards of their child’s learning.
For many parents, the journey becomes less about replicating school at home and more about discovering how children naturally learn through curiosity, relationship, and real life.
And along the way, families often discover something unexpected:
Learning becomes something the whole family participates in.
Interested in Joining Our Homeschool Learning Community?
Earth School welcomes homeschooling families who would like to join our one-day school programme.
Children attend one or two days per week, spending the day learning outdoors alongside a small, mixed-age group of curious learners.
You can learn more here:
https://www.earthschool.nz/one-day-programs