For some teachers, AI has become part of the weekly routine. For others, it's still something they're curious about but haven't quite found the time to explore.
Either way, it's hard to ignore. AI is now part of everyday school life across Aotearoa.
So how are New Zealand teachers actually using it, and what does it mean for your classroom?
More than you might think.
In July 2026, the Education Review Office released Ready or Not: How Are Schools Responding to Artificial Intelligence?, the biggest survey of the sector on AI to date.
It found that more than four in five teachers are now using AI in their work, along with 93% of school leaders.
Internationally, Kiwi teachers are ahead of the curve. In the OECD's Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS 2024), 69% of New Zealand teachers said they'd used AI in the past year, placing us third in the world and well above the OECD average of 36%.
Most teachers aren't using AI to teach. They're using it to take some of the pressure off planning and preparation.
According to ERO, teachers mainly use AI to:
Marking is a different story. Only 22% of teachers use AI for marking and feedback, with many preferring to keep that judgement in their own hands.
TALIS shows the same pattern. Kiwi teachers are far less likely to mark with AI than teachers overseas.
For many, yes.
More than half of teachers (55%) told ERO that AI is making their job easier. Only 7% said it was making it harder.
Teachers reported spending less time creating tailored resources (61%) and planning lessons (52%), freeing up time for the parts of teaching that matter most.
As one teacher described it, AI is like a personal assistant. You're still the one in the driver's seat.
Like any new tool, AI comes with its challenges.
The biggest worry for teachers is the impact on students' critical thinking. More than half of teachers believe AI has had a negative effect, rising to 71% in secondary schools.
Assessment is another pressure point. Three in four secondary teachers have come across students using AI inappropriately, and many are spending extra time checking that work is genuinely their students' own.
There's also a lack of clear guidance. Around three in four schools don't yet have a planned approach to AI, and nearly half of teachers say they don't feel they know enough to use AI tools properly.
That's why ERO is now calling for a national AI framework to give schools, teachers and whānau more consistent direction.
The teachers getting the most out of AI treat it as a helping hand, not a shortcut.
A few simple habits can make a big difference:
✅ Check and personalise anything AI creates before it reaches students or whānau
✅ Keep student names and personal details out of free AI tools
✅ Stick to the tools and guidelines your school has approved
✅ Use AI for planning and admin so you have more time in the classroom
✅ Talk openly with students about how AI works and where it gets things wrong
If you're looking for a new role, it's also worth asking about a school's approach to AI at interview. It can tell you a lot about how they support their staff.
Not at all.
AI can help draft a lesson plan or adapt a resource, but it can't build relationships, read a room or understand the needs of each learner.
As one school leader told ERO, teaching needs a teacher, and you simply can't replace that.
AI is changing how teachers plan and prepare, but schools across New Zealand still need skilled, confident teachers in their classrooms.
Whether you're after a permanent position, relief work or your first role in a New Zealand school, we're here to help.
Register with us today and take the next step in your teaching career.