Ngā Tikanga Matatika | The Code
The purpose of the Code
Ngā Tikanga Matatika | The Code of Professional Responsibility sets out the standards of behaviour and integrity that the teaching profession is built on. It reflects what your colleagues, learners, their families and whānau, and the wider public expect from you as a teacher.
This is a set of aspirations for professional behaviour - not a list of punitive rules. It’s about the kind of teacher you aspire to be, and the trust society places in you to uphold those standards.
Every teacher plays a part in maintaining the reputation of the profession. When one person doesn’t meet the expectations in the Code, it can affect how the public sees all teachers - and how the profession is valued.
The Code applies to all registered and certificated teachers, as well as those with a Limited Authority to Teach (LAT). As part of the Education and Training Act 2020, section 485, it is binding on all teachers.
Resources
Examples in practice
This resource provides positive examples of what the Code | Ngā Tikanga Matatika statements might look like in practice. It also gives examples of behaviour that is unacceptable and would be in breach of the Code's expectations.
Resources
Managing Beliefs
All teachers are required to ensure their learners well-being is put first. Teaching is not about sharing an individual view but teaching our children and young people to interpret the world around them and make their own decisions.
Personal beliefs and ideologies such as political, ethical, and religious perspectives are all an important part of who we are, and they shape the norms of our society over time. All teachers are entitled to hold personal beliefs/ideologies; but the Teaching Council expects that they do not express these to students in ways that exploit their vulnerability or causes them distress.
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Bringing the Code to life
Schools and centres have begun to unpack what it means to be part of the profession and what the Code looks like as it is brought to life.
We have created six short videos explore how Newtown School in Wellington interprets the Code, and how the teaching team are working to meet the four commitment statements. All videos have subtitles and a transcript is available for download.
View the videos on Youtube.
FAQs
The Code reflects the expectations of conduct and integrity that we all share; what we expect of each other and what our learners, their families and whānau, their communities, and the public can expect of us. It is a set of aspirations for professional behaviour - not a list of punitive rules.
It reflects the expectations teachers and society place on the profession. Upholding the expectations in Ngā Tikanga Matatika | Code is the responsibility of each of us. If one of us breaches Ngā Tikanga Matatika | Code, it can affect us all, changing how others see us and how the profession is valued.
The Education and Training Act 2020 makes it binding on all teachers and holders of Limited Authorities to Teach (LAT).
Your go-to hub: My Rawa
My Rawa brings the Code and Standards to life with practical tools and real-world guidance. No matter where you are in your journey, it helps you stay grounded and connected to the heart of the profession.
