Navigating the Journey: Relationships and sexuality education
Te takahi i te ara: Te mātauranga mō ngā hononga tāngata me te hōkakatanga

The Ministry of Education is in the process of updating the New Zealand Curriculum. Navigating the Journey aligns with the current 2007 Health and Physical Education curriculum, which remains in effect until 1 January 2027. From this date, Navigating the Journey will no longer be curriculum-aligned. Visit the Ministry of Education website for more information on the curriculum update, and have your say by contributing a public submission. Find out more on our Let’s talk sex ed page.

Navigating the Journey is a comprehensive programme for educators delivering relationships and sexuality education in school-based settings. It is designed to meet rangatahi at their stage of development — and build on their previous year’s learning. Navigating the Journey is full of lesson plans and activities for years 1-10 and aligns with the Ministry of Education’s 2007 curriculum.

Find out more about Navigating the Journey, including frequently asked questions.

Navigating the Journey has five themes that remain the same throughout all year groups – the content changes to be age, and stage appropriate. 

Some of the topics that are explored in years 3-4 are: 

1. Establishing a positive learning environment: Te whakarite i tētahi ao ako huapai

• Building a positive classroom community
• Practicing cooperative skills

2. Who am I? Ko wai au?

My personal qualities

• The cultures in my classroom
• My whānau
• I am unique
• Gender diversity
• What makes me happy?

3. Relationships: Ngā whanaungatanga

• Growing healthy relationships
• Exploring manaakitanga
• Recognising and expressing my feelings
• Managing relationships and challenging situations
• Managing peer pressure
• Helping my whānau

4. Growing and changing: Te tipu me te huri o te tangata

• What do I need to grow?
• Our physical differences
• Moving my body
• My changing body
• Caring for my body

5. Staying safe: Te noho haumaru

• I’m the boss of my body
• Standing up for myself and others
• Staying safe online
• Who can help me with my worries?

Navigating the Journey comes with a guide detailing how to use the resource.  We have also developed a guide for parents, caregivers, and whānau which explains how schools utilise Navigating the Journey and what they expect their tamariki to be learning about.

Format: two downloadable PDFs – PDF links will be supplied via email.