How many NZ families homeschool?
Last updated: June 2026. Data sourced from the Ministry of Education and Education Counts unless otherwise noted.
Growth over time
NZ home education has been growing steadily since at least 2017. The most significant jump was a 40.7% increase between 2021 and 2022, adding over 3,150 students in a single year. Numbers have held at the elevated level since.
| YEAR (1 JULY) | STUDENTS |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 6,008 |
| 2019 | 6,573 |
| 2020 | 7,192 |
| 2021 | 7,749 |
| 2022 | 10,899 |
| 2023 | 10,777 |
| 2024 | 10,757 |
| 2025 | 11,010 |
Source: Education Counts, MoE Homeschooling database. The MoE forecasts numbers peaking at 11,297 in 2028 then declining gradually.
Section 38 approval rates
The Ministry of Education does not publish annual approval rates as a routine release. The most recent confirmed figures come from RNZ reporting on MoE data:
- In 2021, the Ministry approved 2,655 applications and declined 78, implying an approval rate of approximately 97% for completed applications.
- About one in three applicants receives a follow-up letter from the Ministry asking for more detail. This is not a decline. Families who respond clearly to these letters almost always receive approval.
- Outright declines on a first submission are uncommon, and the Ministry does not require you to appeal. Filing a fresh application addressing the feedback is the standard approach.
Source: RNZ, citing Ministry of Education data (2021 figures). The MoE does not publish this data annually.
Why NZ families choose home education
A 2022 national survey by NCHENZ (National Council of Home Educators NZ) found that 70% of home-educating families said COVID was not the deciding factor in their choice. The surge in numbers reflects deeper dissatisfaction with mainstream schooling rather than pandemic disruption.
The most commonly cited reasons NZ families give:
- Closer family involvement in the child's education and values
- Tailored, individualised learning for the specific child
- Concerns about bullying, class sizes, or negative peer pressure
- Religious or philosophical values
- A child's special educational needs (dyslexia, ADHD, autism) not being met in mainstream school
- Geographic isolation or extended travel
Source: NCHENZ national survey (2022), cited in NZ Herald.
Who home educates in NZ
From the MoE Homeschooling database as at 1 July 2025:
61.7% of home-educated children are aged 12 or under. The average age at entry is 9 years. 37.9% of children who began home education in 2024 were aged 6.
Auckland has the highest number (2,441 students, 23% of the national total), followed by Canterbury (1,492) and Waikato (1,199).
European/Pakeha families make up 71.1% of home educators, compared to approximately 50% of the general school population. Maori families are underrepresented at around 15 to 16% of home educators versus 24% of the general school population.
75.1% of home-educated children have been home educated for fewer than 5 years. Only 3.7% have been home educated for 10 years or more.
Government funding: the gap
The Home Education Supervisory Allowance has not increased in real terms since the late 1980s. In 1990 dollars, the payment for a first child was worth approximately $1,681. Today it is $796.
For comparison: private school students now receive $1,400 per student per year after an 11% increase in Budget 2025. Home-educated families receive just over half that amount for their first child, and less for each subsequent child.
Current allowance rates (paid twice yearly):
- First child: $796 per year
- Second child: $677 per year
- Third child: $557 per year
- Each subsequent child: $398 per year
Source: Ministry of Education; NZ Herald.
International comparison
New Zealand sits at roughly the same home education participation rate as England:
| COUNTRY | STUDENTS | % OF SCHOOL AGE |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 11,010 (July 2025) | ~1.3% |
| Australia | ~45,000 (2024 est.) | ~1% |
| England | 175,900 (2024/25) | ~1.3 to 1.6% |
| United States | ~3.3 million | ~6% |
Sources: MoE (NZ); UK Department for Education official statistics (Jan 2026); The Conversation / state dept data (Australia); NHERI (US).
About this data
All New Zealand figures are drawn from the Ministry of Education Homeschooling database, published via Education Counts. The database records students who hold a current Section 38 Certificate of Exemption. It excludes students enrolled at Te Kura (the Correspondence School).
This page is updated when the MoE releases new annual figures. If you spot an error or outdated figure, email us.
Related guides
What is a Section 38 exemption? →How to apply for homeschooling in New Zealand →What does the Ministry of Education look for? →Need your Section 38 application written?
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