ACE Aotearoa

More than 100 Adult Learners' Week events are about to happen across Aotearoa. Taster workshops, learners awards, podcasts, cultural learning, expos, exhibitions, roadshows and civics education, all under one kaupapa: Finding Our Voice, Ko tōku reo, ko tōku ohooho.

However you like to learn, there's a place for you this September.

Find what’s happening near you here: https://www.aceaotearoa.org.nz/events-adult-learners-week-he-tangata-m%C4%81tauranga/events-adult-learners-week-he-tangata-m%C4%81tauranga

Remembers, it's on this 7–13 September. See you there! 🎉

Have you ever found that looking after your own wellbeing made you a better educator? Or noticed how taking time to reflect can lead to small changes that make a lasting difference for both you and your learners?

Sustaining high-quality teaching depends on more than knowledge and skills. It also relies on educator wellbeing, reflective practice and ongoing professional learning. In Adult and Community Education, where educators respond to diverse learners and changing community needs, looking after yourself is an important part of supporting learner success.

Join us online on Thursday, 13 August, from 12:00–1:00 pm, for the next workshop in the 2026 ACE Teaching Standards Series. In this practical one-hour online session, you will explore strategies for sustaining your wellbeing, strengthening your professional practice through reflection and identifying realistic actions that support long-term teaching effectiveness.

Register now: https://ace-teaching-standards-online-2026.lilregie.com/

Five weeks out, and Aotearoa's nationwide celebration of lifelong learning is almost here. Adult Learners' Week runs 7–13 September, and this year's theme is Finding Our Voice, Ko tōku reo, ko tōku ohooho.

Adult Learners' Week is a UNESCO initiative celebrated in more than 40 countries. Here in Aotearoa, ACE Aotearoa has been running it for more than 25 years, showcasing the learning that happens in libraries, community halls, marae and classrooms nationwide, and celebrating the adults who go back to learning at every stage of life.

This year's theme looks at what it means to find your voice through learning: the confidence to speak up, the importance of having a say in an election year, and the power of a community learning together.

From Awanui to Alexandra, organisations across the country will be running events, workshops and celebrations throughout the week of 7–13 September. More details on what's happening near you are coming soon.

Have you ever seen learning transformed by the knowledge, relationships and experiences already present within a community? Or witnessed the impact of people from different generations learning with and from one another?

Intergenerational and community-centred learning is a defining strength of Adult and Community Education. It recognises that meaningful learning is shaped not only by educators, but also by learners, whānau, communities and the knowledge they bring.

Join us on Thursday, 6 August, from 12:00–1:00 pm, for the next workshop in the 2026 ACE Teaching Standards Series. In this one-hour online panel, experienced ACE practitioners will explore how community knowledge, lived experience and intergenerational learning strengthen teaching, learner pathways and community connections.

Register now: https://ace-teaching-standards-online-2026.lilregie.com/

The ACE Aotearoa Awards 2026 celebrated six individuals and programmes that deliver meaningful transformation in people's lives through Adult and Community Education across Aotearoa New Zealand. If you were there on the night, relive it in this highlights video. If you couldn't make it, hear directly from this year's award recipients about the impact of their mahi and how it felt to be recognised.

Watch now:

The people and programmes changing lives through Adult and Community Education in Aotearoa The ACE Aotearoa Awards 2026 celebrated six individuals and program...

Have you ever given feedback that didn't seem to make a difference? Or noticed how learners often learn just as much from each other as they do from you?

Effective feedback is more than a comment at the end of an activity. It is an ongoing conversation that helps learners recognise their progress, reflect on their learning and identify meaningful next steps.

Alongside peer learning and assessment for learning, it provides valuable information that helps educators make responsive teaching decisions.

Join us tomorrow, 23 July, for the next workshop in the 2026 ACE Teaching Standards Series. In this practical one-hour online session, we will explore how to give and encourage feedback that supports learning, use peer learning to build reflection and confidence, and use learner information to guide everyday teaching practice.

Thursday 23 July, 12–1pm online.

Register: https://ace-teaching-standards-online-2026.lilregie.com/

As an educator, have you ever found yourself in teaching sessions when a question falls flat, a learner disengages or an activity exceeds expectations? Perhaps, you receive feedback that made you think differently?

All these provide valuable insights into how we teach because each teaching session gives us an opportunity to learn, not just about our learners, but also about our own practice.

Moments like those are good points of reflection to bring about transformational change in your teaching. But reflective practice is more than looking back on what happened, it is about asking purposeful questions, examining evidence and using what we discover to improve future learning experiences.

By reflecting with curiosity rather than judgement, educators can make informed changes that strengthen learner engagement, confidence and success.

Join us this Thursday, 16 July, for the next workshop in the 2026 ACE Teaching Standards Series.

In this practical one-hour online session, we will explore simple, structured approaches to reflective practice, examine how learner progress and feedback can inform teaching decisions, and identify practical ways to turn reflection into meaningful improvements in everyday ACE practice.

Thursday 16 July, 12–1pm online.

Register now: https://ace-teaching-standards-online-2026.lilregie.com/

Matariki, or Puanga Puaka for some iwi like Kāi Tahu, marks the new year.

It is the time to remember our loved ones who have gone to the night. A time to let the land fellow, rejuvenate and rest. A time to be present and eat the harvest from the summer and be grateful for the abundance of the land.

One ways of celebrating is to gather together with whānau and friends, throw a feast with kai and drinks, look forward to new beginnings together and plan for the future.

Mānawatia a Matariki!

A challenging moment in the classroom can change quickly. A learner pushes back, a conversation becomes difficult, someone disengages or behaviour starts affecting others. How we respond in that moment matters.

Managing behaviour is not about taking control. It is about understanding what is happening, staying calm and responding in a way that protects dignity, relationships and learning.

In Adult and Community Education, every behaviour has a story behind it. The challenge for educators is knowing when to step in, what to say and how to keep the learning environment positive for everyone.

This Thursday, join the next workshop in the 2026 ACE Teaching Standards series. In this practical one-hour online session, we will explore how to respond to challenging behaviour, manage difficult moments with confidence and use strategies that maintain trust, respect and learner engagement.

Thursday 9 July, 12–1pm online.

Register: https://ace-teaching-standards-online-2026.lilregie.com/

ACE educators work with learners who bring diverse strengths, experiences, cultures and ways of learning. Inclusive teaching is not about creating different lessons for different people. It is about designing learning from the beginning so more learners can participate, engage and succeed.

Neurodiversity, varied learning preferences and lived experiences all shape how adults experience learning. Some learners thrive through discussion, others through visual or practical activities. Some need predictable routines, while others value flexibility and choice. Recognising and planning for this diversity help create learning environments where everyone feels valued and able to contribute.

This Thursday, 2 July, join the fifth workshop in the 2026 ACE Teaching Standards series. This one-hour online panel brings together experienced ACE practitioners to share practical examples, insights, and strategies for creating more inclusive learning environments across a range of ACE contexts.

We know your calendars are full, so if you’re booked up on Thursday, register anyway. Recordings and supporting resources are sent to everyone who registers, so the learning is yours to revisit when it suits.

Thursday 2 July, 12–1pm online.

Register: https://ace-teaching-standards-online-2026.lilregie.com/