30832 (2025). Dr Lawrence Xu-Nan to the Minister of Education

Written Question
Published date: 27 Jun 2025
30832 (2025). Dr Lawrence Xu-Nan to the Minister of Education: How many, if any, homeschooling whānau as at 13 June 2025 have not returned a Statutory Declaration for the 2024/1 period (January 1st - June 30th); of those who have not returned a declaration, how many, if any, have been contacted?
Hon Erica Stanford: I am advised by the Ministry that as at 16 June 2025, there are 409 home education whānau who did not return the statutory declaration for the January to June 2024 period. Under section 38 of the Education and Training Act 2020, parents or guardians who hold a current exemption to home educate their child/ren have no legal obligation to return the Statutory Declaration to the Ministry. As at 16 June 2025, there has been no contact made with home education whānau who had not returned their Statutory Declaration for the period from 1 January 2024 to 31 June 2024.