New licensing criteria for early childhood education (ECE) services have
New data shows a dramatic decline in regulatory action against
The ECE sector has delivered an unexpected bright spot in
Who is Who and Does What in Relation to the
Complying with the Food Act.
All ECE services to whom the Food Act applies must apply for registration (under national programme 2) and be registered before they can provide food to children.
Exempt early childhood services
An early childhood service is not required to operate under the national programme 2 if:
It is a home-based s
Not a member? Service owners, managers, and community organisations may apply to join as a service provider.
It is prestigious to belong to the OECE. Membership is usually by invitation. Online applications can be made if you think your service meets the criteria. To be a member a service must have as its first priority a focus on being high-quality for children and families. It must also agree to follow the standards in the Code of Conduct for ECE Services.
Running a parent survey when you want to do one is simple – we handle it for you and provide you with a confidential copy of the results. We will also cover the cost of the survey.
Promoting your service online to parents is taken care of. The OECE has partnered with the My ECE website and the ECE Parents’ Council Aotearoa to give members free advertising for their service. For details directly contact My ECE
Free subscription access to the ECE Newsroom – your service provider member login will let you view everything in the ECE Newsroom.
Complimentary access to over 25 years of published NZ and international research – your service provider member login gives you free access to the Research Library and support.
Management and ECE employment resources and advice will be at your finger-tips 24/7. We have so much available in the service provider area of our website – ranging from templates for policies, guidance on managing cashflow and debtors, staff drug use, negotiating pay with staff, and through to topics such as best sandpit design.
We will make running a staff survey simple for you. You can use our specially designed survey. We collect the results and will provide you with a confidential report of the findings. (50% discount available to service provider members).
Did you know that the OECE meets personally and regularly with the Ministry of Education national team, and the regulations committee and other forums?
Political leaders and journalists are able to use the OECE to gain deeper knowledge on a topic or issue, and we provide a sounding board for ideas and feedback.
Members have a direct line of communication with Dr Sarah Alexander, to bring to Sarah’s attention and discuss what’s affecting your service and community of children, families, and staff.
We are committed to keeping membership prices affordable and providing value for money.
Membership rates start at just $250 for 12-months. Or join for 2 years for only $350. For providers with multiple licensed services, the rates reduce per service the more licensed services you operate.
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Information provided is of a general nature. It is provided ‘as is’, and we accept no liability for its accuracy or completeness. See our Terms and Conditions.
Who is Who and Does What in Relation to the ECE Sector & Contacts Teacher Organisations and Associations NZEI – Union for the industrial interests
The minimum adult wage for a worker in NZ is $23.95 an hour (from 1 April 2026). The 2026/27 Living Wage rate is $29.90. Keep reading for information specific to pay rates in the early childhood sector.
The Exploitation of Unqualified Teachers is Common. by Rachel Pratt. August 10, 2019. Exploitation of teachers in ECE is rife in the sector and unqualified
Raising awareness of the tragic potential of a head knock IN THE MEDIA: June 12, 2025. The Office of Early Childhood Education’s chief advisor Dr
Updated April 2026 with the latest guidance from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner and the ECE regulator.
Privacy requirements have tightened, and every early childhood service must now ensure its policies fully meet the Privacy Act 2020. Out‑of‑date or incomplete policies can put your service at risk – and undermine the trust families place in you.
To help you stay compliant, this page includes a ready‑to‑use sample policy template you can adapt for your service, along with practical guidance on what must be included under the latest 2026 expectations.
Log in with your member details to access the full content. If your service’s membership has lapsed or you’d like to join, get in touch and we’ll help you get set up quickly.
Early childhood services must meet the requirements of the Privacy Act 2020. Understanding and implementing the Act’s requirements allow services to protect and respect the privacy of children, their family whānau, and staff.
Funding for Full Pay Parity Coming as Promised, Well Kind Of Opinion articleSarah AlexanderMonday Sept 4, 2023 and updated on Tuesday Sept 5. There are
This paper gives a narrative of the emergence of early childhood education in Bangladesh, a country with 156.6 million people. Reference is made to the NZ Te Whāriki and Australia’s Early Years Learning Framework for Australia. Read the full paper below. Or to order a pdf copy of the article go to the main NZIRECE Journal page.
The titles, authors and abstracts for papers published in the NZ Research in Early Childhood Education Journal, Volume 14, 2011 are shown below.
To view any paper, scroll to the end of this page for copies.
Editorial
Dr Andrew Gibbons and Dr Kaye CedermanJoint NZRECE Editors for Vol. 14, 2011 Editorial, pp. 1 – 2.
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