Login / Logout
Join
Take Action!

ECE Newsroom

NZ’s very own newsroom for the latest early childhood education and childcare national news, local stories, in-depth analysis, and opinion-editorials.

Bringing you news and insights you won’t find any where else!

Search Newsroom Posts
Bringing you leading news and the latest stories on early childhood education and care news and in-depth analysis
colourful preschool blocks
News & Opinion — ECE NZ

The 13 Big Changes the Government Has Made to ECE

The National-Act-NZ First Coalition Government took office in November 2023. Erica Stanford became Minister of Education. In early 2024, David Seymour was given the early childhood education (ECE) portfolio. Shortly afterwards, he announced that ECE would be the first sector reviewed by the newly established Ministry for Regulation.

Read More »
Ministry of Education
ECE Newsroom Restricted

Who is the Director of Regulation (ECE)

New Zealand’s new Director of Regulation (ECE) position remains without a permanent appointee, even though legislation requires the role to be in place from 23 February 2026.

The Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Bill, passed on 26 November 2025, created the Director of Regulation as an independent statutory position.

This is a member/subscriber only post. To access it, please see the message below for details on access and joining.

Read More »
high teacher attrition and children leaving
ECE Newsroom Restricted

Reports of Children Overheating Expose Regulatory Gap in Heat‑Safety Protections in ECE

Children in early childhood education services have no legal protection against exposure to excessive heat, even though minimum indoor temperatures have long been regulated.

Current rules require indoor rooms to remain above 18°C, but the Office of Early Childhood Education has received reports of children experiencing discomfort and distress during periods of high summer temperatures.

A recent review of ECE regulations has confirmed that minimum indoor temperature requirements will remain in place, but no corresponding maximum temperature limit will be introduced.

This is a member/subscriber only post. To access it, please see the message below for details on access and joining.

Read More »
Infant holds large ball at early childhood centre
Submissions and Policy Reviews

Submission: Proposed transfer of ECE from the Ministry of Education to the Education Review Office

This submission responds to the Committee’s invitation to provide views on whether regulatory functions for early childhood education (ECE) should remain within the Ministry of Education or be transferred to a Director of Regulation located in the Education Review Office (ERO). It sets out the Office of Early Childhood Education’s (OECE) assessment of the proposal, the evidence base underpinning it, and the likely implications for the ECE system.

Read More »
NZ Infrastructure early childhood education and childcare
ECE Newsroom Restricted

ECE Deserts: Limited Choice of Early Childhood Services for Families in Many Parts of Aotearoa

In some New Zealand towns families have just one option for full day early childhood education care for under 2-year-olds, while in other parts of the country they don’t have access to certain kinds of early childhood services (including free kindergarten, Playcentre or kaupapa Māori services) at all.

These are just some of our findings. Continue reading below for full details.

Toward the end of last year, the Office of Early Childhood Education undertook a project to analyse and map early childhood services across Aotearoa, identifying ECE “deserts” (large areas where families have significantly limited options).

This work drew on data from

This is a member/subscriber only post. To access it, please see the message below for details on access and joining.

Read More »
Child tells the story of the hungry caterpillar to friends at ECE centre
News & Opinion — ECE NZ

2025 in review: News (and views) on ECE over the past year

Here, we sum up the major stories we’ve covered in the past year.

If we had to sum up what 2025 had in store for the ECE Sector in one word, it would be “flux”.

The sector has experienced rapid and significant change over the past 12 months and not all of it positive. There is still considerable uncertainty about what comes next.

To keep our members updated on everything they’ve needed to know about what’s going on in the sector, the Office of Early Childhood Education launched a newsroom, through which we’ve published articles regularly (usually weekly).

Read More »
parents with their toddlers meet together
Speaking Up — Voices in ECE

Speaking Up: Witnessing the good and bad of ECE as a first time mum

Every morning I would feel overwhelmed by the noise level – music was always blasting, kids were crying as we walked in. I felt bad leaving my son in such a chaotic environment, but I had to go to work.

The final straw was when, minutes before I entered that squalid toilet area, I witnessed the team leader leave another child unattended while eating.

Read More »
The Office of ECE
Categories
Categories

The Office of ECE Login

Take Action!

Help spread this vital ECE information, join our free social and email groups and become a member of OECE.

pay parity funding policy

1. Share This Information

2. Follow Our Social Pages

Facebook Instagram Linkedin Youtube X-twitter

3. Get Regular Updates

Sign up to our free newsletters.

4. Become a Member

Membership Options