About this resource
This page provides the draft knowledge overview and teaching sequences for the subjects in the Phase 5 (Year 11–13) The Arts learning area when they become available. Content will become available for wider feedback and familiarisation from mid-May 2026. The current Year 11–13 The Arts curriculum remains in effect until the staged implementation of the new curriculum from 2028, you can still find the current New Zealand Curriculum Phase 5 content here.
Consultation is now open on the second group of 26 subjects in the new Years | Tau 11–13 curriculum, and we welcome feedback through to 8 July. To provide your feedback, complete the online feedback survey here.
The Arts
Through Phase 5 The Arts | Toi Ihiihi, students build on knowledge and practices developed in earlier phases across Visual Arts, Drama, Music, and Te Ao Haka. Students deepen their understanding of how ideas, identities, and narratives are expressed and shaped through creative practice. They develop the ability to analyse artists, music, and significant works, then interpret, create, express, and communicate meaning by drawing on disciplinary conventions, techniques, and cultural perspectives, including Te Ao Māori frameworks. Through creating, making, performing, and responding, students refine their use of materials, movement, sound, voice, and visual language to explore and express ideas with increasing intentionality and coherence. This enables them to investigate and represent experiences, collaborate with others, and engage audiences in ways that are purposeful, relevant, and connected to personal, local, national, and global contexts.
See the File Downloads section below to download the draft curriculum content and supporting resources.
Consultation is currently open until 8 July 2026 for:
- Drama (Year 11–13)
- Music (Year 11–13)
- Music Technology (Year 12–13)
- Visual Arts (Year 11)
- Visual Arts - Design (Year 12–13)
- Visual Arts - Painting (Year 12–13)
- Visual Arts - Photography (Year 12–13)
- Visual Arts - Printmaking and Sculpture (Year 12–13)
- Te Ao Haka (Year 11–13)
Further Phase 5 content will be available soon
Year 11 subjects | Year 12 subjects | Year 13 subjects | |
|---|---|---|---|
The Arts | Dance | Dance | Dance |
Drama | Drama | Drama | |
Music | Music | Music | |
Music Technology | Music Technology | ||
Te Ao Haka | Te Ao Haka | Te Ao Haka | |
Visual Arts | Visual Arts – Creative Arts | Visual Arts – Creative Arts | |
Visual Arts – Design | Visual Arts – Design | ||
Visual Arts – Painting | Visual Arts – Painting | ||
Visual Arts – Photography & Moving Image | Visual Arts – Photography & Moving Image |
Links to The Arts supports and resources:
File Downloads
No files available for download.