The New Zealand Tech Alliance is a group of independent technology associations from across New Zealand that work together to ensure a strong voice for technology.
Visit Tech Alliance
EdTech in the Spotlight: Coactive Education – Weaving Identity, Culture and Curriculum Together
In this August edition of EdTech in the Spotlight, we’re proud to feature Coactive Education — a purpose-driven, Aotearoa-based EdTech company that is transforming how storytelling, literacy, and cultural identity come together in teaching and learning. With a growing footprint across New Zealand and Australia, Coactive is helping educators and students engage in learning that is meaningful, local, and deeply connected to place.
This spotlight is based on insights shared by Del Costello, Director & Education Consultant at Coactive Education.
Where Stories and Learning Meet
Coactive Education blends storytelling, indigenous knowledge, literacy development, and professional learning to deliver curriculum-aligned tools that reflect the identities, values, and histories of local communities. Through their platforms — Telling Your Stories Aotearoa and Telling Your Stories Australia — they offer bi- and multilingual digital resources, interactive educator tools, and culturally responsive content.
Their approach reflects a core belief: learning isn’t just about core subjects — it’s about weaving identity, belonging, and connection to place into the fabric of education. Coactive’s work reaches early childhood centres, primary and secondary schools, indigenous communities, and professional development providers, both locally and internationally.
Scaling Impact Across Aotearoa and Australia
It’s been a busy and exciting season for Coactive. In recent months, the team has expanded its digital platform to include interactive bilingual resources and co-authored dozens of narrative-based learning sequences that integrate local cultural perspectives with oral language and structured literacy strategies. These efforts have supported more than 7,000 students in their curriculum learning.
Coactive is also the focus of a new research project exploring the impact of their professional development model — a promising step as they continue to scale and refine their approach.
Relationships at the Heart of Growth
Strong partnerships are central to Coactive’s mission. The team collaborates with government education departments, universities, publishers, international educators, and indigenous communities across both Aotearoa and Australia.
“It’s about changing the narrative. For many years we’ve taught the stories of other people in our classrooms, now it’s time to tell ours,”
says Dr Lisa Watson, Kaiwhakaruruhau.
“It’s really important that the next generation are able to learn the kōrero and the history of Patuharakeke… and make it a part of their everyday kaupapa,”
adds Ari Carrington, Taiao Resource Coordinator, Patuharakeke.
“It has been a very enriching process to be a part of — we have reconnected with groups associated with our school and grown our community connections,”
says Sarah McAlpine, Principal, Monte Cecelia Catholic School.
Transforming Literacy Through Local Stories
Coactive’s biggest success lies in enabling culturally responsive and locally grounded literacy learning. Their work supports the refreshed New Zealand Curriculum (Te Mātaiaho) and ensures students see themselves reflected in the content they engage with.
Educators report improved student curiosity, stronger oral language skills, literacy progress, family engagement, and greater confidence to incorporate place-based content. This work is shifting education from transactional to transformational — particularly for historically underserved learners — and building deeper connections between schools and their communities.
Looking Ahead: AI with Equity at the Centre
As Coactive continues to grow, they’re also exploring how AI can be harnessed to promote equity in learning environments. Their goal is to scale culturally grounded, curriculum-aligned education without compromising relational depth or learning progress.
“We see ourselves as part of the education equity solution in a fast-paced environment. As we grow, we remain committed to honouring whakapapa, place, and people in everything we do,” says Del.
🔗 Explore Coactive Education:
www.coactiveeducation.com
www.tellingyourstories.co.nz
www.tellingyourstoriesoz.com
