In a move backed by a local education expert, schools in Wellington are suggesting lighter reading material, along with crosswords and board games to boost word skills.
Auckland University professor John Hattie told The Dominion Post there was "zero evidence" to suggest homework had any impact on time management or study skills.
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The principal of Karori Normal School in the capital, said she didn't think taking school work home had any positive impact on the primary school students.
"In fact, there is a growing body of evidence to suggest the opposite," Diane Leggett wrote in a letter to parents.
The school scrapped homework sheets and encouraged parents to stimulate their childs' imagination and creativity.
"It doesn't matter what your child reads as long as they get a balance of reading it to you, reading with you and reading for themselves," Ms Leggett wrote.
"Books, magazines, comics, newspapers, model aeroplane instructions, the back of the Weet-Bix packet... whatever, it doesn't matter."
The principal said parents were feeling "positive" about the shift away from traditional learning methods - a move embraced in at least two other schools in Wellington.
