Written by Dr Craig Hansen, New Zealand’s leading AI educator, digital specialist, and founder of the Summit Institute.
More than 1,000 schools across New Zealand trust Craig and the Summit Institute—a New Zealand private training provider—to navigate safe and responsible AI in schools, professional development, and strategic roadmaps. As we enter the next phase of this global shift, we must address the ultimate paradigm: “AI is the biggest equity move we can make in our generation.”
🎓 Introducing Summit Institute’s AI Micro-credential for New Zealand High Schools
Give your Year 11-13 students a head start in AI — with an NZQA-approved micro-credential they can earn right in your classroom.
📚 What is it?
The “Introduction to AI Technology and AI Assistant Creation” micro-credential gives students 15 NCEA Level 3 credits (Unit Standard 29024) while learning to design, build, and deploy real AI assistants. It’s project-based, future-focused, and fully supported.
🏫 How does it work?
• 10 teacher-led lessons using our ready-made lesson plans and PowerPoints
• 150 total learning hours, deliverable in any school term
• Fortnightly teacher support meetings
• 2 live student sessions per term
• Teachers don’t need AI expertise — we provide everything
💰 Pricing
Just $45+GST per student for Te Ara Teitei Community of Learning members (normally $195+GST).
✅ Register your school
📋 Micro-credential Registration: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe_gXizPcDHai8KrbE5-1dmcGYKP73wHhnwEaAc9QMD9boQrQ/viewform
🤝 Join Te Ara Teitei CoL: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdqFcDJhAp6-JQ5FirdTS7QcdZWoVRq49gqC5jIJRZ6Uhip1Q/viewform
Please join our Community of Learning so your students get a much reduced cost for this course and your teachers receive free professional development and AI.
📞 Contact
Dr Craig Hansen — craig@summitinstitute.ac.nz | 0211213097
🌐 summitinstitute.ac.nz
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To avoid systemic irrelevance, the first action for school boards and intermediate, secondary, and tertiary principals is to remove blanket bans. Banning a tool that is now ubiquitous only hides student usage while depriving them of prompt literacy and critical thinking. Craig argues that we must position AI as an assistant, not a replacement. Re-framing these environments allows Kiwi teachers and school leaders to navigate assessment workloads, lesson planning, and bicultural alignment efficiently, without compromising academic rigor.
💬 What New Zealand Educators Are Saying:
“AI has significantly improved my workflow by helping me plan lessons quickly, provide targeted feedback using e-asTTle rubrics, and create culturally responsive content. It saves time, allowing me to focus on active student interaction.”
— Primary School Digital Tech Lead, Auckland
Responsible AI Governance & Implementation
Developing a robust school AI policy that is safe, responsible, and culturally responsive is the cornerstone of strategy. Leaders in Aotearoa New Zealand must align school policy to support digital fluency, ensure data privacy, and protect critical assessment integrity under the NCEA. By integrating localized legislation directly into our curriculum and Te Mātaiaho framework maps, schools can build an environment that fosters innovative, self-directed learning.
For deep, step-by-step guidance, explore our complete list of educational strategies and workshops on our official YouTube Channel Masterclass.
