Who’s Who: Key Stakeholders in ECE and Organisations

Search Entire Website
many colours of paint concept for early childhood sector groups and early childhood education system

Teacher Organisations and Associations

NZEI – Union for the industrial interests of ECE teachers

TEU – Union for the industrial interests of ECE teachers working in ECE services at Tertiary Education Institutions

Hospital Play Specialists – An Association that supports teachers and staff working in ECE licensed services in hospitals

Early Intervention (EIAAZ) – An Association that supports early intervention practitioners

ECMenz– An Association that supports men working in ECE

Reggio Emilia Aotearoa New Zealand (REANZ) – supports teachers to critically engage with the pedagogy of Reggio Emilia within the cultural content of Aotearoa

Child-Focused Groups

OMEP Aotearoa – a country member of the OMEP world organisation for professionals concerned with the education and rights of young children.

Infant Mental Health Association Aotearoa NZ (IMHAANZ) – a country member of the World Association for Infant Mental Health (WAIMH).

Peak Bodies / Largest ECE Service Operators

Operators of more than 400 licensed services in our ECE system

Operators of between 200 – 400 licensed ECE services

  • BestStart (formerly known as Kidicorp: a private family-owned charitable trust organisation)

Operators of between 100 – 199 licensed ECE services

  • Evolve Education (a share market listed company)
  • Auckland Kindergarten Association (a charitable organisation and community-based)

Operators of between 50 – 99 licensed ECE services

  • Whānau Manaaki Kindergarten Association (a charitable organisation and community-based)
  • Kidsfirst Kindergartens (a charitable organisation and community-based)
  • Busy Bees (majority owned by Canada’s Ontario Teachers Pension Plan)

Service Provider Political Lobby Groupings

Ngā Puna Reo o Aotearoa – lobbies for Puna Reo throughout the country  

Federation of Rudolf Steiner Schools – lobbies on behalf of the interests of Steiner-based ECE services.

Home Based Early Childhood Education Association (HBCA) – the original home-based lobby group representing the business interests of home-based providers.

Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand (ECNZ) – a long-established Private Training Establishment (PTE) providing teaching qualifications and study opportunities for primary school and ECE teachers. Traditionally it has represented mostly not-for-profit centres including Barnardos. Read about a founder – Sonja Davies. More information is needed on which centres it currently represents.

Early Childhood Council (ECC) – an industry lobbyist representing the financial interests of most of the larger for-profit players in the private childcare market and undisclosed centre owners.

Montessori Aotearoa New Zealand (MANZ) – represents providers of Montessori-based centres and is a support partner for the ECC.

Kindergartens Aotearoa – represents 6 Kindergarten Associations including Whānau Manaaki which covers most of the Wellington region and KidsFirst which covers the Canterbury region

Early Childhood Leadership – represents 3 kindergarten associations (Counties Manukau, Waikato and Central Kids Kindergarten Associations)

NZ Kindergartens Inc (NZK) – represents most kindergarten associations, except for the Auckland Kindergarten Assn (AKA) and kindergartens represented by Kindergartens Aotearoa and by Early Childhood Leadership.

Updates: Please let us know of any changes or updates to information on this page

Has this been useful?  Give us your feedback.

You are welcome to add a link to this page on your website. Copyright belongs to the OECE so please do not copy any content without our written permission.

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.

Related Posts

teacher wages, pay scales, in childcare and early childhood education

What ECE Teachers and Workers Earn: Pay, Benefits and Conditions

Anyone thinking about getting a job in ECE working in ECE or thinking about moving to a different service will find clear, practical information in this article about pay rates, employment conditions, and what to expect in different roles. It explains everything from starting salaries and pay‑step calculations to workplace rights, benefits, and how to recognise a supportive, professional environment.

Read More »
child filling watering can using hose

Parenting a Gifted Child – What Parents Learn

Parenting a Gifted Child. By Melanie Wong.

Someone asked me ‘how can you manage your life with children who don’t like to sleep?’

I replied that ‘it is alright when you are used to it’.

I wish I had thought quickly enough at the time to also tell her how much I enjoy being with my children, as they did not only come into m

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

Read More »
stress headache adult

Mandatory Reporting of Teachers

Here’s information on mandatory reporting of teachers includes for not meeting the required level of competence, dismals and resignations, possible serious misconduct, and criminal convictions.

Should a confidentiality agreement be put in place as part of the settlement of an employment grievance, this may not over-ride the legal obligation to

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

Read More »
Teacher carrying a child, opens child-proof gate for protecting children in the early childhood centre.

Safety Checking of Staff and Others under the Children’s Act

Safety checking is required of every person who has or may have access to children as part of their work, such as cleaners and cooks at early childhood services, must be safety checked in accordance with the Children’s Act 2014 before being allowed to start work. The fine to the early childhood service of failing to do this is up to $10,000 upon c

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

Read More »
complaint feedback form, complaints policy, upset

Child Complaint and Parent Feedback Forms

Complaint and Parent Feedback Form. Child Feedback Form / Questionnaire.

Children’s Voice.

For a form to document children’s views on the quality of your service and understand better how to meet their individual needs and expectations click on the button below

Child feedback form

Parent and Caregiver Voice.

Does your serv

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

Read More »
The Office of ECE

Share This Information

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

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

3. Get Regular Updates

Sign up to our free newsletters.

4. Become a Member

Public Area Categories
Categories