I’m hearing stories of a boom in planning for and
New figures show the early childhood education sector remained largely
Waiting times for early childhood education have dropped across the
Staff meetings can work really well with the right Agenda and planning. Here’s how to achieve and cover what is important and make sure no meeting is a waste of valuable time.
Scroll to near the end of this page for a sample Agenda and sample planning docs.
There is no specific regulatory requirement to hold staff meetings. But services fi
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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Discover the key organisations and sector groups shaping early childhood education in New Zealand – who they are, what they do, and how they influence the services, policies, and people at the heart of the ECE sector.
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 titles, authors and abstracts for papers published in the NZ Research in Early Childhood Education Journal, Volume 7, 2004 are shown below.
To view any paper, scroll to the end of this page for copies.
Archive fragments: Infant Schools for the Youngest Settler Children in the Colony of New Zealand, 1840-50s
Helen MayVicto
Children’s Day in NZ is usually held on the first Sunday of March.
A number of countries have a similar special day for children on their events calendars.
It is an opportunity for parents, grandparents and other family members to celebrate the special day with children.
It is also an opportunity for early childhood
The Ministry of Education received 481 complaints about ECE services in 2024, but the content of the complaints has not been made public.
The Office of Early Childhood Education has been trying to obtain detailed information about complaints against ECE services from the Ministry of Education and encourage transparency in its response to complaints for many years.
This year, the Ministry finally agreed to provide broad data, which the OECE has analysed.
Comment on the value of complaints and the Ministry of Education’s management of complaints and transparency is provided.
Low Indoor Room Temperature. Opinion article. By an early childhood teacher (name withheld). As a teacher I never thought I would find myself having to
Are Kindergartens Willing to Let Other ECEs Have Same Funding and Pay Parity? July 1, 2022. Click on the video play button Share the video
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.
Help spread this vital ECE information, join our free social and email groups and become a member of OECE.
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