ACT leader and Associate Education Minister David Seymour says Budget 2026 presents a major opportunity to expand charter schools and reshape education delivery through greater parental choice, flexibility and accountability.
As the Government prepares to unveil its latest Budget, Seymour says his focus remains on policies aimed at improving outcomes, reducing bureaucracy and giving communities more control over the services that affect them.
Education is expected to be one of the most closely watched areas of the Budget, particularly following the Government’s decision to reintroduce charter schools — now rebranded as partnership schools — after years of political debate around their effectiveness and long-term role in Aotearoa’s education system.
Seymour, one of the strongest advocates for the model, says growing interest from Māori communities reflects frustration with the mainstream education system and a desire for alternative approaches better suited to local needs and cultural realities.
Supporters of charter schools argue the model allows schools greater freedom to innovate, tailor learning environments and respond directly to communities without the same regulatory constraints faced by state schools.
The renewed push has gained momentum as several kaupapa Māori providers and education leaders signal interest in establishing partnership schools focused on Māori achievement, language revitalisation and culturally grounded teaching approaches.
Seymour says the traditional education system has failed too many Māori learners for too long, pointing to persistent disparities in attendance, literacy, numeracy and overall educational achievement.
Advocates of charter schools argue Māori-led partnership schools can create stronger relationships with whānau, provide more culturally responsive learning environments and offer pathways that better engage rangatahi who may struggle within mainstream systems.
Critics, however, continue raising concerns about accountability, funding transparency and the risk of creating a fragmented education system where public resources are diverted away from state schools already under pressure.
Teacher unions and some education experts have also questioned whether charter schools consistently deliver better educational outcomes, warning the model could deepen inequities if not carefully monitored.
Despite the criticism, the Government appears committed to expanding the programme, with increasing political support from coalition partners seeking broader reforms across the education sector.
Seymour says Budget 2026 will be critical in determining how quickly partnership schools can grow and respond to demand from communities wanting more education options.
The ACT leader says investment into charter schools should focus not only on opening new schools but also on supporting innovation, accountability and measurable student achievement.
The debate arrives at a time when education outcomes remain under intense scrutiny nationwide, with concerns around school attendance, youth disengagement, teacher shortages and achievement gaps continuing to dominate political discussion.
For many Māori communities, the charter school conversation has become part of a larger debate about tino rangatiratanga in education — including who controls learning environments, how success is measured, and whether mainstream systems are adequately serving Māori learners.
As Budget 2026 is delivered, education policy is likely to remain one of the coalition Government’s most contested reform areas, with charter schools sitting at the centre of broader ideological debates around choice, equity and the future direction of public education in Aotearoa.
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