Six weeks ago, we opened our (virtual) doors. Today, we celebrate a new milestone for our school - 450 full-time student enrolments at Aotearoa Infinite Academy
Aotearoa Infinite Academy is New Zealand’s first tuition-fee-free online school. We are also now officially the largest charter school in New Zealand's history. To put this into perspective, last year, eight charter schools were approved across New Zealand, with all eight having a combined total roll of 427 students.
Late last year, Aotearoa Infinite Academy was given government approval to open our school for 200 full-time students. We filled those places in the first four hours. With clear proof of demand among families across New Zealand seeking greater choice for how their students learn, we secured approval for a new total of 450 full-time students for Term 1.
We are already seeing:
With such an incredible start, we are proud to share that we have received the government's go-ahead to welcome up to 600 full time students in Term 2! Along with student growth, we will be supporting the expansion of our teacher team too, as we aim to maintain 20-student per class averages.
Showing up with Courage: Forming Connections
As we reflect on our first cohort of students, we realise something remarkable has begun to unfold. Beyond the logistical feat of delivering live online classes, timetables, and reporting… what we have witnessed in these first weeks goes far beyond operational. It is about people. It is about courage. It is about connection.
The changes we started to observe were small at first:
These are what we call our bright spots. And they are everywhere.
Every time a student logs in, asks a question, contributes to a discussion, or shows up despite nerves or uncertainty, we notice. We celebrate it. Because in a new environment, showing up takes courage.
Our Year 9 students have been diving into the states of matter, exploring how solids, liquids, and gases transform through heat energy. They are now stepping confidently into atomic structure and the differences between elements, compounds, and mixtures, building foundations in chemistry, biology, and physics that will serve them for years to come.
Year 10 students are unlocking the secrets of the Periodic Table - discovering how it reveals an element’s “address,” subatomic particles, valence electrons, and more. A standout moment? Creating an “Element Book” profile for a chosen element, complete with electron configurations as profile pictures and “friend lists” from the same group or period. Science has been anything but abstract.
In Year 9 Social Science, students explored identity through the Māori concept of whakapapa. In the “Build Your Constellation” activity, learners mapped the people, places, and values shaping their lives as interconnected stars.
The result was powerful: students recognising identity not as something fixed, but as something living and evolving - deeply personal, yet beautifully interconnected.
From unpacking the art of poetry in Years 9 and 10 to analysing Romeo and Juliet in Year 11, English classes have been filled with enthusiasm and thoughtful discussion.
A highlight? A voluntary “movie afternoon” to watch the Baz Luhrmann adaptation of Shakespeare’s play: students giving up their own time to deepen their understanding and build community. It’s a small example of something bigger: curiosity thriving beyond the timetable.
Year 12 students have begun crafting personal responses for their NCEA Internal Assessments, stepping confidently into the rigour of senior study.
Year 9 students have been studying local Samoan artist Darcy Solia, currently exhibiting at Whirinaki Whare Taonga. After sending him thoughtful interview questions, they received a 20-minute video response discussing his process, motifs, and inspiration.
Students are now creating their own mini-masterpieces inspired by his work, which will be digitally collated and shared with both the community and the artist himself. Real-world connection. Real creative pride.
Maths can be a polarising subject. Yet many families have written to say their children are genuinely enjoying their mathematics lessons.
That feedback means everything. It tells us that when students feel supported and engaged - even in traditionally challenging subjects, confidence grows.
Our Thrive programme has been a genuine highlight.
Year 9 students have been exploring Te Whare Tapa Whā: the four walls of wellbeing:
In an online environment, especially, learning how to care for each of these “walls” is essential.
Year 10 students have shown remarkable perseverance in navigating the shift to digital learning, while relationships between students, teachers, and families deepen each week.
Years 11 and 12 have created personal “user manuals,” outlining learning preferences, strengths, and communication styles, building mutual understanding and ownership of their growth.
Our Special Education Needs Coordinator has shared how powerful it has been to see students thrive in this environment.
We are not simply a traditional school placed on a screen. We are a setting where:
For many students, this environment wasn’t just wanted, it was needed.
We are delighted to share that our application for Consent to Assess with NZQA has been recommended, an important milestone as we continue building strong pathways for our senior students.
For our Year 12 families, we will soon be hosting a Community Evening Workshop to guide you through NCEA Level 2, a pivotal year that requires balance, planning, and sustained effort.
We are now an official member of the New Zealand Secondary School Sports Association and active on the Sporty platform, enabling participation in individual and future team events.
We are cheering on our Infinite riders competing in the North Island School Mountain Biking Championships in Wellington, and we couldn’t be prouder.
Our official online merch store has launched, giving families new ways to show their Infinite pride. Our soon-to-be-announced mascot and Infinite Talent celebrations are further building school spirit.
We may be online, but we are not distant.
As with any new school, there have been glitches. We will never pretend otherwise.
Building something from the ground up means refining systems, listening closely, and improving continuously. Your feedback, the positive and the challenging, is essential to that process.
We are paying attention. We are listening. We are adjusting.
And we are grateful.
To our students:
We see you. Your resilience. Your curiosity. Your bravery in trying something new.
You are already exceeding every expectation.
To our whānau:
Choosing this school was an act of trust. We do not take that lightly. Partnership is not a slogan here, it is how we operate. Your voice is not just welcome; it is essential.
Three weeks in.
And we are just getting started.
We'll be heading out into the community to meet with our Infinite families, potential students, and growing faculty. We hope to see you on the road!