1978
David Worboys appointed Principal of Mirimar Christian School, utilising (exclusively) the
Accelerated Christian Education (A.C.E.) curriculum.
1983
David assists a family in Dannevirke to set up a home schooling programme utilising the A.C.E.
curriculum.
1984
• David leaves school-based education to set up an A.C.E.-based homeschooling programme
with his own family.
• David requested by Southern Cross Educational Enterprises (SCEE), the Brisbane-based
coordinator of A.C.E.’s operations in the Pacific Basin, to head up A.C.E. homeschooling services
in New Zealand. The operating title of this new organisation is Parent Home Education
Programme (PHEP).
1986
• David changes the name from PHEP to the New Zealand Christian Academy (NZCA).
• NZCA establishes an A.C.E. school in Rarotonga, Imanuela Akatemia, for the advanced
education of homeschooled students in the Cook Islands.
1990’s
• Board of Directors appointed to assist with the oversight of NZCA.
• NZCA pioneers home-educated students’ access to Auckland Medical School, Canterbury
University School of Engineering, Victoria University Schools of Music and Law, Waikato
University, and Otago University.
• NZCA roll reaches 420 families (approx. 1200 students).
1997
The New Zealand Vice-Chancellors’ Committee accepts the A.C.E. Yr 13 Certificate for admission
ad eundem statum at entrance level (i.e. it is deemed to be equivalent to the officially –
established common entry standard). NZCA is accredited to administrate this qualification.
2000
David Worboys retires. Stephen Cowley takes over as Principal of NZCA and changes the name
of the organisation to Christian Education New Zealand Academy (CENZA).
2002
Stephen Cowley resigns and Ray Green takes over as Principal.
2003
• The Christian Education New Zealand Foundation Trust (CENZ) is established as an umbrella
body to provide strategic direction, guidance, support and oversight to the ministry of CENZA.
• A conscious move is made to include a wider variety of curriculum options, apart from A.C.E.
2007
The name ‘CENZA’ is changed to ‘Home Schooling New Zealand’ (HSNZ), in order for families to
locate the organisation more easily when searching online for home schooling support options.
2011
• Ray Green resigns and Todd Roughton takes over as Principal.
• Further moves are made to include a wider variety of curriculum options outside of A.C.E.
2015
The A.C.E. Yr 13 Certificate is renamed the ‘New Zealand Accelerated Christian Education (ACE)
Level 3 Certificate’
2016
• The CENZ Trust introduces its own Certificate of Academic Achievement to replace the lower-
level A.C.E. range of certificates, releasing HSNZ students from the A.C.E.-imposed requirement
of 75% A.C.E. content.
• The CENZ Trust writes to Universities New Zealand -Te Pōkai Tara requesting their acceptance of
a new university-entrance qualification, to be known as the Christian Education New Zealand
Level III Certificate.
2017
Universities New Zealand -Te Pōkai Tara approves the Christian Education New Zealand Level III
Certificate admission ad eundem statum at entrance level (i.e. it is deemed to be equivalent to
the officially –established common entry standard).
This step removes the SCEE requirement that at least 75% of students’ courses on their Level 3
Certificate be purchased from A.C.E., freeing families to choose the best set of course options
from a global set of curriculum providers.
2019
The Trust moves to inform the wider New Zealand Christian school movement of the existence of
the new qualification framework and that they, too, can have access to it.
2024
• Courses now being offered from 103 curriculum providers from all over the world
• HSNZ roll closes in on 1500 students.
2025
• Todd Roughton retires and Peter Thomas takes over as Principal of Home Schooling New
Zealand.
• Jono Millar joins as Trust Board member