Together for educational equity in Aotearoa

We stand with communities designing the future - driving local solutions to end education inequality in Aotearoa, for good. Start a conversation about how we can partner for educational equity.
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Why educational equity in New Zealand can’t wait

Education inequality in New Zealand remains one of our most urgent challenges. Too many Tamariki are still held back by systemic barriers - inequitable funding, postcode-driven access, and disconnected career pathways. These disparities hit hardest in underserved communities, where foundational skills like literacy, digital fluency, and well-being are often left behind.

This is not just an education issue - it’s a nationwide equity problem. When young people fall through the cracks of the education system, the impact ripples into workforce readiness, community health, and intergenerational opportunity.

We believe every learner, no matter where they’re from, deserves the tools to thrive. That’s why EPIT partners with schools, whānau, and local leaders to transform education from the inside out.

Our Solution

From idea to impact
EPIT backs bold ideas that lead to scalable impact - especially in communities facing the greatest education inequality. We partner with schools, iwi, funders, and community leaders to co-design and deliver transformational education initiatives.
Our approach blends:
Evaluation as a Service (EaaS) to generate evidence and insights
Digital equity, literacy, and transitions as levers for change
Innovation in education through cross-sector collaboration
We focus on what works - and what can grow. Every initiative we support is built for long-term relevance, rooted in equity, and designed to create meaningful outcomes for learners and whānau across Aotearoa.

What Drives Us

Equity, innovation, and impact
We believe every young person in Aotearoa deserves the opportunity to thrive - no matter their background, postcode, or learning journey. At the heart of EPIT’s work is a commitment to educational equity, powered by innovation in education and grounded in real community need.

Our focus on foundational skills development - literacy, wellbeing, and digital capability - creates a strong platform for future learning. We’re especially committed to career pathways for Māori and Pasifika youth, who face some of the most entrenched systemic barriers in the education system.

We work in deep partnership with local leaders, schools, and funders to deliver change that lasts.
Learn more about our story

Let’s turn shared values into shared impact

If you’re aligned with our vision for equity, innovation, and long-term change -we’d love to work with you. Together, we can co-design solutions that transform outcomes for learners across Aotearoa.
Partner with Us

How we create impact with our partners

We support community-led education projects that are grounded in local insight and built to last. From small pilot programmes to national initiatives, our role is to connect people, funding, and evaluation to drive real, measurable change.

Here’s how we help:
Facilitate education funding partnerships across sectors
Back transformational education initiatives in literacy, wellbeing, and digital equity
Support community-led education projects through design and delivery expertise
Offer Evaluation as a Service to help initiatives grow, improve, and scale
Create opportunities for cross-sector collaboration and collective problem-solving
Whether you're an educator, funder, iwi partner or changemaker - EPIT exists to help you go further, together.
Innovative Education ProjectsEducation Innovation Partners

Communities we stood with

EPIT works alongside communities right across Aotearoa - from South Auckland to Te Tai Tokerau, from the Bay of Plenty to Ōtepoti Dunedin.

Our impact spans a diverse mix of rural and urban communities, each facing different challenges in the journey toward educational equity. We’ve helped deliver digital access in Dargaville, career transition support in Tauranga, and wellbeing-focused learning models in Tāmaki Makaurau.

Through cross-sector education partnerships, we support initiatives that improve youth transitions, develop foundational skills, and empower local leadership.
Each project is co-designed with those closest to the challenge - ensuring our work is grounded, scalable, and meaningful for every learner it touches.
Meet our Partners

Let’s build equitable futures together

Whether you're an educator, funder, iwi partner or community leader - let’s kōrero. Together, we can co-design solutions that shift outcomes for learners across Aotearoa.
Start a ConversationStart a Project

What our partners say

Real change happens through relationships - and our partners are at the heart of every initiative we support. These partnership testimonials reflect the impact stories that matter most: rangatahi gaining confidence, whānau re-engaging with learning, and schools reshaping their approach through co-design experience.

Across Aotearoa, we’re proud to work alongside leaders who are bold, local, and deeply committed to educational equity. Here’s what some of them have shared about the journey we’re on together.
“They don’t need fixing. But together, through a partnership, we might co-construct a sustainable project that could create excitement about the power of talk in the early years.”

— Partner, Talking Matters Charitable Trust.

“The kids shared their story books to the whole school. Two of the kids stepped up when before they would have been very shy to talk about what they had done - they didn’t hesitate…”

— Partner, Talking Matters Charitable Trust.

“I now have a renewed optimism for my job and believe I have developed the skills needed to lead my school through a period of change within the hugely challenging educational environment that exists in NZ.”

— Partner, Talking Matters Charitable Trust.

Spotlight on impact

From the Digital Access Programme - Northland to career transitions in South Auckland and wellbeing initiatives in Tāmaki Makaurau, EPIT backs community-led projects that address education inequality across Aotearoa. Each one is a step toward transformational change, co-designed for impact, equity, and scale.

Akomanga Kaihanga - Tāmaki Makaurau

Wellbeing and achievement through social innovation
Led by Tāmaki College, this initiative focuses on integrating student wellbeing into the heart of learning. By combining social innovation, culturally responsive practice, and strong local leadership, it fosters confidence, resilience, and deeper engagement in school.

Empowering Our Youth – South Auckland

Researching career transitions for equity
This project explores how schools can better support young people into meaningful life pathways. With a focus on low-income communities, it identifies best practices in career support and highlights the role of strong school leadership in enabling equitable youth transitions.

Stand Tall - Bay of Plenty

Digital and entrepreneurial pathways for rangatahi
Stand Tall is widening access to digital and entrepreneurial skills training for Māori and Pacific youth. The programme uses a co-design approach, working with local partners to break down access barriers and pilot new content that meets the needs of underserved communities.

We’d love to hear from you

Whether you’re exploring a new project, interested in funding partnerships, or want to kōrero about educational equity in Aotearoa - let’s connect.
Fill out the form and we’ll be in touch.
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He waka eke noa

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