Social and emotional learning (SEL) to support students' wellbeing is even more critical within schools dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. This article establishes why New Zealand primary schools need strategies to support the emotional wellbeing of students and why a prescriptive approach is not appropriate for the bicultural and multicultural classroom context. It draws on Maori, Indigenous, Pasifika, international psychology and decolonialisation views to propose directions for future research in this vital area of education. Seeing SEL from different world views highlights the opportunity and ethical necessity for cultural, social and emotional learning (CSEL) to create transformative spaces that support holistic wellbeing.