What’s in a name? The story behind Kia Maia
11 March 2026
Kia Maia means be brave, be confident, be steady.
It’s a name chosen with care - and gifted by certificated teachers | kaiako within the Teaching Council - to recognise something important: that teachers already hold deep professional knowledge, skill and experience, even if time away from the learning setting or a change in context means some skills or knowledge need refreshing.
Rather than starting from scratch, Kia Maia starts from where the teacher is now.
Teaching Council Senior Policy Analyst Julia Tinga says Kia Maia recognises that needing support is not a weakness - it’s a normal part of professional growth.
“All practising kaiako engage in professional learning and development throughout their careers to stay current and confident. Kia Maia simply provides the structure to do this in a focused, supported way at a key transition point.”
It’s an on-the-job approach that builds confidence on both sides.
For teachers, it provides clarity about what’s expected, what support is available, and how to strengthen or refresh particular areas of knowledge or practice so they can return to the classroom, kura or centre with confidence.
For principals, tumuaki and professional leaders, this provides assurance that there is a clear, structured process in place to identify strengths, target support, and help teachers succeed in their role. It also reinforces that teachers and leaders work together from the outset to agree a Kia Maia plan, including where a conditional job offer is made subject to that shared plan.
Registration Manager Ariane Madgwick says that together, the kaiako and their employing leader, can identify any areas that need strengthening or updating and agree on the support needed.
“This ensures the pathway is tailored to the individual, practical, and grounded in real teaching contexts.”
Built on what worked
Kia Maia builds on the success of the earlier Return-to-Practice Plan (RTPP), which was developed post-Covid to encourage registered teachers not currently teaching to return to the profession, particularly in relief roles.
The RTPP offered a self-directed refresh process for kaiako who weren’t currently teaching, helping them prepare to renew their practising certificate and re-enter the workforce.
Kia Maia takes that foundation further by embedding support within employment, strengthening connections with schools, kura and centres, and placing confidence, readiness and capability at the centre.
Support when it’s needed
Currently, provisionally certificated teachers are required to receive induction and mentoring as they move towards full certification. It may take a little longer for some people to complete the induction and mentoring even after one renewal. The Kia Maia offers a way back to teaching and renewing a provisional practising certificate.
Kia Maia provides a similar level of structured support for kaiako who need it to progress to, or retain, their Tūturu | Full practising certificate - recognising that professional journeys are not always linear.
At its heart, Kia Maia is about getting kaiako back where they belong - teaching.
Find out more about Kia Maia through this webpage.
