ABSTRACT
New Zealand shares features of its traditional success in literacy with other small developed countries. The education system contains a diverse, non-mandatory early childhood sector catering for children from birth through five; children can and mostly do enter the primary school on their fifth birthday. National Standards introduced in 2010 define success in reading and writing in English-medium and Ma-ori-medium schools at the end of each school year and on which schools are required to report. While some reduction of inequities is noted in the areas of accuracy and fluency, disparities continue in the reading comprehension which is required if students are to use their literacy skill to access the curriculum. The increasingly digital environment has added an additional literacy challenge for low-SES schools. In line with the historical New Zealand approach, school-led innovations seek solutions for addressing equity challenges using digital learning approaches.
