Political Coverage — Promises, Positions, Actions

OPINION/ANALYSIS —  29 October 2025

After 16 years, the Ministry of Education has finally reviewed the Terms of Reference for its Early Childhood Advisory Committee (ECAC). While this might seem like a step forward, it instead exposes deep-rooted problems within our early childhood education system—problems that have left the sector fragile, divided, and declining in quality.

ECAC itself reflects the Ministry’s ongoing issues with oversight and governance. The way it continues to operate only further undermines the integrity and effectiveness of early childhood education in Aotearoa.

The ECAC review was a closed-shop exercise: only sitting committee members were invited to give feedback on it, thus essentially rewriting the rules that govern their own influence.

There was no public scrutiny, no broad stakeholder input, no fresh perspectives.

And yet, in the words of one Ministry official, ECAC’s role is “in advising on the real-world impacts of policy.”

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We welcome your thoughts and comments on ECAC. Add your reply below. What would a well-functioning, truly representative early childhood advisory committee to the Ministry of Education look like—one equipped with the knowledge, expertise, and diversity needed to provide meaningful, sector-wide advice?

Initially, I set out to write a straightforward description of the Early Childhood Advisory Committee (ECAC). I reviewed newsletters, clippings, quotes, and documents relating to ECAC since its inception in 2009. The topic has often come up in conversations with colleagues, including those who have served on the committee. I also examined Ministry of Education responses to Official Information Act requests: September 2024 (OIA 1335686) and October 2020 (OIA 1243402).

As I began compiling the information, it became clear that ECAC is far more complex than it first appears.

I uncovered details that many in the early childhood education (ECE) sector likely do not know—risks that may even be unknown to some government ministers.

Importantly, ECAC members are under no obligation to look beyond the interests of their own businesses or service types. There is no requirement to consider the broader needs of the sector or the rights and interests of children.

The Ministry of Education has also confirmed that it does not know which licensed services are represented on ECAC, nor how many are excluded.

It has stated that it does not hold this information.