Life members

Ngā Hōtaka Paetahi

Life members of Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand (ECNZ) have demonstrated distinguished service in the causes of members and early childhood education and care.

This honour is given sparingly as this is the highest honour awarded by the organisation. It is only given when the service rendered has involved a level of commitment and dedication seldom seen and has been of nationwide and outstanding nature.

Our life members are:

1960s Pioneers

Sonja Davies – founder, visionary and activist

Joan Kennett – I’m going to look after children

Marge Williams – an early childcare activist

Jessie Donald – a fighting spirit

Joyce Mitchell – changing the landscape for early childhood education

Joyce Coss – a pioneer for childcare

Don Wilson – childcare is about people – their potential, our duty towards them

Margaret Lamb – a slow battle to improve childcare

Pat Hubbard – a missionary zeal for childcare and women’s opportunities

1970s-1980s

Cathy Lythe – as long as you did nothing for childcare, you could keep women in their place

Crispin Gardiner – childcare activist

1980s-1990s

Helen May – documenting the herstories of childcare and early years education

Mary Alice Bramwell – I was in a profession at the bottom of the heap. My ire was raised!

Alison Leonard – embracing biculturalism

Noreen Moorhouse – an advocate for training and bicultural ECE

Pam Croxford – a social justice champion with children at heart

Helen Orr - early learning is magical

Berys Scouse – the child is at the heart

Barbara Hale – a visionary leader

Maureen Te Wehioterangi Jehly – fighting the inequities for Māori in education

Katherine (Kathy) Baxter – we all had the same end goal

1990s-2000s

Kahuwaero Chase Katene - one who is aware of the forgotten ones

Jude Simpson - we can do better than this

Parematarangi Fawcet (Nanny Pare) – rowing together for tamariki

Heather Te Huia – I demand that children are given a better world

Jan Taouma – a champion for Pacific children