Parents’ Alliance backs teaching kids about money as a life skill

MEDIA RELEASE

24 October 2026

Parents’ Alliance backs teaching kids about money as a life skill

The Parents’ Alliance supports teaching every child how to manage money. It says financial literacy is a life skill that belongs in every classroom.

Financial education is now a core part of the refreshed social sciences curriculum for Years 1 to 10, and it was reannounced today as part of National’s Parents’ Policy. Students learn to save, budget and understand interest, tax and investing. Schools can use the curriculum from 2026, and it will be taught to all children from 2027 subject to the outcome of the general election. 

Parents’ Alliance Chair Cameron Bagrie says the refreshment is overdue.

“Money touches lots of big decisions in life: your first job, a student loan, KiwiSaver, buying a house. We shouldn’t leave kids to learn those lessons the hard way, through debt or a scam they didn’t see coming. This is a life skill, just like reading and writing, and teaching it in school gives every child a fairer start, whether or not their family talks about money at home.”

The OECD treats financial literacy as an essential life skill. Its PISA 2022 assessment found around 18 per cent of 15-year-olds across participating OECD countries lacked the baseline skills to make simple everyday spending decisions.

Mr Bagrie says the idea has support across Parliament.

“In 2023 Labour announced a policy to make financial literacy compulsory in every school, starting in primary. It would have covered saving, budgeting, setting goals, consumer rights and tax, taught through maths and social studies. As Labour said at the time, these are practical skills children will use for life.”

“ACT’s Every Student an Investor policy would give every Year 11 student $500 to invest over the school year. It’s a bold way to turn theory into practice, because kids learn best with real skin in the game.”

“This is an example of many parties having common ground.”

“Whoever forms the next Government must keep this curriculum on track so every student learns these key life skills. Parents will want to know their children can budget, understand interest and spot a bad deal by the time they leave school.”

ENDS

Media contact: Cameron Bagrie, Chair, The Parents’ Alliance 027 290 9844

About the Parents' Alliance: The Parents’ Alliance Te Kotahitanga o ngā Mātua, Le Lotogatasi o Mātua, 家长联盟, पारिवारिक मंच is a national group building a collective voice for parents, grandparents and whānau in education.

More information: parentsalliance.nz