REANZ End of Year Newsletter

November 2025

Kia ora friends of REANZ

As we head towards the end of another year, we take time to look back on the year and celebrate the highlights. 2025 has been a positive time of engaging with many of you and working together to create opportunities for kaiako to deepen their understanding and knowledge of the pedagogy of Reggio Emilia. 

Education continues to be an ever evolving micro climate of change and we are seeing this in Aotearoa presently. It is an unsettling time and one in which we have seen leaders in our educational settings, standing strong against the removal of obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. REANZ Trustees affirm our commitment to upholding the Treaty Principles; Partnership, Participation and Protection and strive to work together in a relationship based on mutual respect, good faith and cooperation. At our recent Network meeting, members identified the Tino Rangatiritanga events held during the year, as their 2025 highlight.

We look forward to moving forward and working together with you in 2026 to make the places where children in Aotearoa New Zealand grow up and learn about who they are and where they stand.

Loris Malaguzzi captures our aspirations:

As we cast our eyes forward to 2026, we are pleased to announce that REANZ will be hosting a conference on Friday 9th - Sunday 11th October 2026. The ‘Red Thread’ running through this encounter will be to bring materiality to life in our settings - exploring the dynamic relationship between materials and learners. 

We are honoured to have Caterina Pennestri, a valued colleague and presenter of Reggio Emilia Australia Information Exchange (REAIE) as a keynote speaker. 

Watch this Space and Save the dates!

In collaboration with Reggio Emilia Asia for Children (REACH), an International Member of Reggio Children based in Singapore, we are pleased to offer an online professional development designed for teachers of students in years 1 and 2 in primary schools.

This three-part webinar series (3 sessions of 2 hours each) will help you transform the way you experience numeracy. Rather than treating mathematics as an isolated subject, you will explore it as a language with its own grammar, rhythm, and infinite possibilities, encountered through discovery, relationships, and meaning-making. 

Dates: 4th, 11th and 18th March 2026 - Wednesdays 3.15 – 5.15pm
Estimated Cost: $275.00 NZD

‘Curating Engaging Environments and Spaces’ - A Three-Part Series; presentations and centre visits. Information and registration below.

• Te Ao Māori hui

• Study groups to Reggio Emilia (April - Registrations open now. Go to reanz.org) and Melbourne in September (registration of interest opening in the New Year)

• Leadership Series - Embracing Leadership Contradictions

• Introduction to the pedagogy of Reggio Emilia

• A focus on Infant and Toddlers

• Online Learning Community - 3 evenings conversations

• Special Event in April to honour Carlina Rinaldi

• Online Encounters; Click and Connect - Primary and Children and Students with Special Rights.

• Teachers Telling Stories. A partnership with Reggio Emilia Australia International Exchange (REAIE) and REANZ

• And more!

Onward and Upward to 2026!

REANZ invites you to join us for a 3 part exploration focussing on the creation of environments that support children’s curiosity, engagement and learning. 

Inspirations of Reggio Emilia in Primary and Early Learning Centres in

• Auckland - Tamaki Makaurau,

• Palmerston North - Te Papaioea; and

• Christchurch - Ōtautahi

This series includes two online meetings that will explore the principles of Reggio pedagogy as they relate to the environment, and are complimented by centre and school visits in Auckland and Christchurch and centre visits in Palmerston North.

Event Costs:

Auckland

$80.00 per person or pay for 4 teachers to attend from the SAME centre or school and receive one additional complimentary registration.

Palmerston North and Christchurch 

$65.00 per person or pay for 4 teachers to attend from the SAME centre or school and receive one additional complimentary registration.

Please note:

1. A zoom link and further information will be sent to you before 18th February 2026. Please provide personal email addresses to ensure the link gets through.

2. Please review our terms and conditions on the registration form for details about payments, cancellations and refunds.

To Register: Click on the following area you wish to have your school and centre visits at.

We appreciate the support of Kaiako from the centres and schools, and also Network members of Reggio Emilia Aotearoa Christchurch (REACH) and Reggio Emilia Manawatū (REM) to make this possible.

We wish you all the very best as you prepare for Christmas parties, farewells and preparations for the New Year.

Don’t forget to pace yourself and to take time to look after yourself so that you can carry on the great mahi that you do in your work and within your whānau.

REANZ Trustees

Helen Aitken, Chris Bayes, Karen Liley, Lorraine Manuela, Diti Hill-Denee, Brenda Soutar, Kerri Fallon , Logan Burson, Lindi Newt, Kylie Morgan, Anne Meade, Rachel Denee, Chrissy Lepper,

Visit REANZ.org for more information and to register on the REANZ database to receive information about our 2026 events. Please use your personal email so that we can always connect with you!