David Seymour Signals New Nationwide Approach to Combat Rising Truancy Crisis

“Chronic absence has doubled since 2015. This report reinforces that action is needed to ensure this generation reaches its full potential,” Seymour said.

The Education Review Office’s (ERO) latest report, released today, highlights an alarming rise in chronic school absence across New Zealand, which Associate Education Minister David Seymour describes as a "truancy crisis." The report reveals that chronic absence rates have doubled since 2015, underscoring an urgent need for decisive intervention to support students' educational outcomes.

“Chronic absence has doubled since 2015. This report reinforces that action is needed to ensure this generation reaches its full potential,” Seymour said. He pointed to the new Stepped Attendance Response (STAR) system as a cornerstone of this effort and shared insights from recent hui held with school leaders, attendance officers, and other frontline staff dedicated to improving student attendance across the country.

To ensure accountability and consistency, Seymour announced that, as of 2026, all schools will be required to implement an attendance management plan aligned with STAR. The Ministry of Education will collaborate with schools, the Attendance Service, and relevant agencies to provide a streamlined approach. Schools will receive best-practice templates and toolkits to tailor interventions based on the reasons for each student’s absence, allowing for a targeted and individualized approach.

The ERO report points to several key issues, including a lack of awareness of truancy’s long-term impacts, late interventions that often occur only after non-attendance has become ingrained, and insufficient information sharing among agencies—factors that collectively strain the Attendance Service. Seymour acknowledged these gaps, stating that the Government has already begun addressing them.

“We’re setting frameworks for timely interventions from schools,” he emphasized, adding that he has directed the Ministry of Education, with support from the Ministry of Social Development, Oranga Tamariki, Police, Kainga Ora, and Te Puni Kōkiri, to establish robust information-sharing agreements. This will enable relevant agencies to collaborate more effectively when a student is flagged as needing additional support.

To tackle challenges schools face in prosecuting cases of chronic absenteeism, the Ministry will assume a more active role in the prosecution process. While Seymour stopped short of implementing an infringement scheme, he signalled that it remains a potential option if current measures prove insufficient.

The Ministry of Education is also conducting an internal review to assess and enhance its support for the Attendance Service. According to Seymour, this holistic and coordinated approach is essential, as education plays a foundational role in shaping nearly every aspect of a person’s adult life.

“If we want better social outcomes, we can’t keep ignoring the truancy crisis. This Government has set itself bold targets to address attendance, and it’s a bold approach that is needed for the future,” Seymour concluded.

The STAR system and the Ministry’s intensified role represent a pivotal shift in prioritizing school attendance, aiming to reverse concerning trends and secure better educational and social outcomes for New Zealand’s youth.