Nine new secondary school subjects are coming to New Zealand

Nine new subjects have been announced as being developed for secondary school students with a sight to implement them in classrooms by 2029. In this article we’ll be looking at these subjects through our own techy lense. We’ll let you know  what the subjects are, which are most aligned with what we do and what we can do students and schools in relation to them.

The new subjects are:

• Applied Intelligent Systems
• Construction and Built Environment
• Energy and Infrastructure
• Engineering Technology
• Food and Fibre Systems
• Health Services and Care
• Hospitality Food and Beverage
• Next-Gen Manufacturing
• Tourism

There is still plenty of work to be done before we know exactly what each subject will look like in the classroom. From our perspective at Techtorium though, we’ve spotted three that immediately stand out to us: Applied Intelligent Systems, Engineering Technology and Next-Gen Manufacturing.

Applied Intelligent Systems and the pathway into tech

Applied Intelligent Systems is probably the least familiar name on the list, but its proposed content is closely connected to where technology is heading.

Students will explore areas including artificial intelligence, machine learning, AI agents, large language models and workflow automation, with a focus on using these technologies to solve practical problems.

That practical focus is what makes the subject particularly interesting to us. Students won’t just be learning what AI is or how to use existing tools. They’ll also be introduced to how intelligent systems can be built and applied to different situations. It’s a chance to move from simply using technology towards understanding how it works and what you can create with it.

Students also won’t need extensive programming experience before they can get started. The proposed subject includes low-code and no-code platforms, allowing them to experiment with intelligent systems while developing their technical understanding along the way.

For some students, this could be their first real taste of the kind of problem-solving involved in a technology career. Those who enjoy the building and programming side may find a natural next step in software development, while others may become more interested in the wider IT systems that make modern technology work.

Technology doesn’t sit neatly in one subject

Outside of Applied Intelligent Systems, there is inevitably some IT presence in every field of work, but the two others that really catch our eye are Engineering Technology and Next-Gen Manufacturing.

Software, automation, networks, data and connected devices increasingly sit alongside more traditional engineering and manufacturing skills. As students explore these subjects, some may find themselves particularly interested in the technology behind the systems they’re working with.

That matters when they’re thinking about what comes after school. At 16 or 17, you don’t necessarily need to know the exact job you want. Discovering the kinds of problems you enjoy solving can be just as useful.

Giving students a chance to try technology

That’s also where schools and training providers can work together.

At Techtorium, we can support schools through workshops, practical activities, school visits and pathway advice, giving students opportunities to experience technology rather than only hear about the careers available in it.

As subjects such as Applied Intelligent Systems are developed, we’d like to help students make the connection between what they’re discovering at school and where those interests could take them afterwards.

Not all nine new subjects relate to what we teach at Techtorium, and we’re not going to pretend they do. But the technology connections within Applied Intelligent Systems, Engineering Technology and Next-Gen Manufacturing are worth watching.

For some students, one of these new subjects could be where an interest in technology starts. Our job is to help them work out where they can take it next.

Keen to find out more about these subjects and what they entail? Find out more at the Tahurangi Page where they break down each subject in depth some more depth.

To find out more about our programmes and sign up, follow one of the links below.