The Board and staff of the New Zealand Catholic Education Office extend a warm welcome and invite you to attend the 2027 Catholic Education Convention.

The 2027 Convention will bring together Catholic educators, bishops, priests, school boards, and a range of other stakeholders associated with our national Catholic education system. 

Our Catholic schools make up 8% of the total schooling provision for New Zealand children and educate approximately 69,000 students. It is a high-achieving sector aligned with the mission of the Church.

At the Convention, participants will come together as a Catholic community to be strengthened by the spirit of hope, oriented towards holiness, and renewed in our shared sense of mission. 

Convention theme

The theme of the Convention is:

Education in Hope: Forming Resilient Disciples in a Change of Era

Education in hope stands at the heart of the Church’s mission in a rapidly changing and uncertain world, described by Pope Francis as a change of era rather than simply an era of change.

In Drawing New Maps of Hope, Pope Leo XIV reaffirms that education is not an ancillary task of the Church but “forms the very fabric of evangelisation”, where the Gospel is translated into relationships, culture, and concrete educational practice.

In this vision, education becomes a profound act of hope. It prepares young people not merely to adapt to change, but to engage with it faithfully, critically, and courageously. 

Speakers

A range of international and local speakers will support and challenge us. Meeting and sharing with colleagues from other schools will complete the Convention experience. 

NZCEO values the work you do in our schools and looks forward to sharing this time together. The Convention also provides an opportunity for boards to thank the staff who work tirelessly throughout the year.

I am confident you will enjoy Convention 2027. I look forward to welcoming you and sharing the experience together. 

Ngā manaakitanga

Kevin Shore
Chief Executive Office