Map of New Zealand with a network overlay

Securing the Future of Online Networked Learning in New Zealand Schools

19/05/2026

In a recent webinar hosted by FLANZ and the Kōtuitui Online Teachers Network, educators and leaders from across Aotearoa gathered to discuss a pivotal point for our education system: securing the future of online networked learning in NZ schools. This advocacy initiative, supporting the International Council for Distance Education (ICDE) Global Advocacy Campaign, aims to move networked learning from a perceived “extra” to an intrinsic, recognised part of quality public infrastructure.

The Current Landscape: Small but Significant

Currently, approximately 36,000 students (over 4% of the school sector) engage in distance education. While Te Kura serves the majority of these learners, Virtual Learning Networks (VLNs) like Kōtui Ako and NetNZ provide vital supplementary learning for approximately 2,500 school based students.¹

As a Te Tai Tokerau webinar participant highlighted, for many U1–U3 schools (those with fewer than 150 learners), these networks are not just an option—they are a lifeline. In remote regions, where specialist teachers are scarce, online learning ensures students can access a broad curriculum and higher education pathways that would otherwise be unavailable.

Beyond a “Stop-Gap”: The Benefits of Networking

Networked learning provides more than just “coverage”; it delivers sector-wide value by:

Ensuring Equity and Access: Regardless of a student’s geographic location or their school’s local budget, they can access specialist subjects and shared resources.

Optimising the Workforce: It allows for the greater utilisation of teacher expertise, bridging shortages and empowering educators to lead across school boundaries.

Building System Resilience: Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic showed that schools already experienced in VLN learning adapted more confidently to lockdowns. The NZ Royal Commission (2024) specifically recommended pivoting to remote and hybrid learning as a key strategy for future resilience.

Professional Growth: One online teacher noted, teaching in this space challenges educators to master both synchronous and asynchronous pedagogies, significantly enhancing their overall professional capability. Without a fully integrated system, talented online teachers are forced to “drift in and out” of the space due to limited funding opportunities, rather than having a clear, sustained career path.

The Barriers: Policy, Funding, and Recognition

Despite its value, the webinar participants identified significant hurdles:

Unstable Funding: Current funding models are often year-by-year and ad-hoc. A Principal noted that for small schools, tight budgets mean that if the ’shared contribution’ becomes too high, they are forced to stop participating, which directly undermines equity.

The Policy Gap: The Education and Training Act 2020 was developed for traditional schooling, leaving networked learning to be viewed as an elective “extra” rather than a fundamental component of the system.

System Fragmentation: There is a pressing need for a national networked learning strategy to maximise efficiency across multiple providers, including Te Kura and VLNs.

The Path Forward: Our Recommendations

To better integrate networked learning into the mainstream, FLANZ advocates for four key shifts:

Formal Recognition: Sustain key organisations like Kōtui Ako, NetNZ, and Te Whare Angitū as recognised public infrastructure.
Comprehensive Policy Framework: Develop guidelines that govern high-standard networked learning across the entire system.
Sustainable Funding: Equip providers and schools with long-term financial stability to allow for year-on-year curriculum planning.
Enhanced Teacher Capability: Integrate online and hybrid pedagogies into Initial Teacher Education (ITE) and ongoing professional learning.

A United Front

The webinar concluded with a strong message of unity. Participants reaffirmed that the various providers in this space are part of a single ecosystem and that together we will help our young people thrive.

As FLANZ President Ralph Springett emphasised: “Now’s not the time to stop”. We invite all stakeholders to review the full advocacy report and join us in championing a future where quality education is accessible to every learner, anywhere in Aotearoa.