This article unpacks what a knowledge-rich curriculum means and how this concept has shaped the refreshed Aotearoa New Zealand curriculum. It looks at the whakapapa of the idea and how it connects with the science of learning. It explores the advantages and disadvantages of fact-based curricula and considers the essential place of mātauranga Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand curricula. Finally, it offers a series of prompts for educators to consider as they implement the new curricula.