• The disruption to school as we know it caused by COVID-19, and the government's efforts to contain it, provide an opportunity to explore new ways of thinking about school and how to improve our education system. This means making it more equitable and better able to support education success for Māori and Pasifika students. • Diverse voices provide valuable perspectives that are critical for understanding the complexity of the system. Hearing from parents of Māori and Pasifika students and other groups underserved by our current education system is particularly important. • There is the potential to build on the experiences of school-led learning at home to strengthen the partnerships between schools and the communities they serve.