State of the Sector | He Rāngai Kōrero: The Future of Early Childhood Education
Early childhood education in Aotearoa New Zealand is at a crossroads. Across the country, kaiako, service leaders and whānau are experiencing growing challenges from workforce shortages and funding pressures to increasing demand for additional learning support. Yet quality early childhood education remains one of the most powerful investments we can make in the future of our tamariki, communities and economy.
State of the Sector brings together the voices of those working on the frontline of early childhood education. Through a series of questions and insights gathered from across the sector, we will explore the issues shaping quality ECE today, share the real experiences of educators and services, and contribute evidence to the national conversation ahead of the 2026 General Election. Our goal is simple: to help ensure decisions about early childhood education are informed by the people who know it best.
The issues identified through the State of the Sector campaign reinforce the need for meaningful, long-term reform. That is why Te Rito Maioha has developed a Five Point Plan focused on strengthening quality early childhood education by improving child-teacher ratios, addressing workforce challenges, ensuring sustainable funding, replacing the current funding model, and simplifying regulation. We encourage you to explore the Five Point Plan and join us in building an early childhood education system that puts tamariki first.
A Great Start for Every Child - The questions every parent should ask this election
Early childhood education (ECE) is education. It is where children continue developing the relationships, language, confidence, curiosity, independence and learning dispositions that provide the foundations for their future. It is also an essential part of the infrastructure that enables parents and caregivers to work, study and participate in their communities.
Read our Election Manifesto2026 Election Briefing: The ECE Policies of Each Party
What are the political parties proposing for early childhood education and the wider education system in the 2026 General Election? This briefing from Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand summarises published party policies and commitments, exploring what they could mean for tamariki, whānau, teachers and the ECE sector.
It covers key issues including affordability, funding, teacher qualifications, pay parity, teacher-to-child ratios and quality, helping voters make informed decisions about the future of education in Aotearoa New Zealand. The briefing will be updated as further policy announcements are confirmed.
Download the Election BriefingOpinion Pieces
Parents Deserve a Voice on the Future of Early Childhood Education
29 September 2026
Every morning, thousands of New Zealand parents place their trust in someone else. They leave their child at an early learning service believing they will be safe, cared for, educated and encouraged to learn, and supported to thrive during some of the most important years of their development. That trust should never be taken for granted.
Why is New Zealand Following the Same Failed Script?
31 August 2026
There is an old saying in politics: if you can’t convince people you’re improving something, change the language around it. For anyone who thought the Trump administration couldn’t create any more damage, they now plan to dismantle large parts of America’s Head Start programme (an early childhood programme that operates in all 50 states). While that’s devastating, I was struck by how familiar the arguments sounded.
Why Ideas Matter: The Hidden Theory Shaping Early Childhood Education
27 July 2026
When people think about early childhood education policy, they often picture funding rates, teacher-child ratios, qualification requirements or regulations. But behind every policy decision sits something much more powerful. An idea.
Australia Is Sending New Zealand a Warning on Early Childhood Education.
8 July 2026
New Zealand faces an important choice about the future of early childhood education. We can continue to invest in quality, recognising that the early years are some of the most important in a child’s life. Or we can allow quality to slowly erode under the pressure of cost-cutting, workforce shortages and policies that prioritise care-availability over educational and safeguarding children outcomes.
11 March 2026
Enrolling your tamariki in ECE is a decision many New Zealand parents make knowing that ECE providers in Aotearoa are (in the main) high quality, with qualified teachers (who have a minimum of three years of degree study behind them) who understand children’s needs, how children learn, and importantly, have the skills to cope with multiple children (the current minimum ratio of teachers to children is up to five under two year olds each, or up to ten, two-five year olds).
8 July 2026
With over 3,000 members and students, Te Rito Maioha has been speaking with kaiako, centre leaders and student teachers across Aotearoa New Zealand about the challenges facing early childhood education.
Te Rito Maioha’s Five Point Plan outlines some key changes we advocate for in the early childhood sector:
1. Improve teacher: child ratios
2. Develop and implement a Strategic Teacher Workforce Plan
3. Fund ECE services sufficiently
4. Replace the ECE funding model
5. Simplify regulations
The first 1,000 days of a child’s | tamaiti life are foundational for their future growth and learning. Early childhood education (ECE) has become part of the fabric of life, with an international trend of increased enrolments, especially for those under three years old. ECE plays a crucial role in shaping a child’s learning and developmental trajectory, demonstrated by a growing body of research across various disciplines, in particular paediatrics, education, and neuroscience (OECD, 2015).
Make a submission
Have Your Say: A Guide to Making a Submission on the ECE Funding Review.
22 July 2026
The Ministerial Advisory Group’s (MAG) review of Early Childhood Education funding closes on 6 August. The decisions made through this review could shape the future of the sector for many years to come. The consultation explores seven key areas of possible change, from how funding should support children and whānau, to teacher funding, workforce sustainability, reporting requirements and whether the funding system could be simplified.
Relevant political media releases
Government's ENRICH investment shows evidence matters, now follow the evidence further.
6 July 2026
Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand has welcomed the Government’s expansion of the ENRICH oral language programme, saying the investment demonstrates the value of evidence-informed policy, and should mark the beginning of a broader commitment to strengthening the entire education system..
‘Go Rural’ Shows the Value of Paying Future Teachers While They Train
15 June 2026
“The Government has already recognised the value of supporting student teachers through the Go Rural initiative, funding up to 123 placements with grants of $4,000 each. This successful approach could be expanded to support more student teachers, including those training for early childhood education, regardless of where they undertake their placements.”.
When the Budget music stopped, ECE missed out
28 May 2026
We welcome the Budget increase of 1.5%, however, this falls well short of addressing the ongoing and growing financial pressures facing ECE services, kaiako, tamariki, and whānau across Aotearoa.
Budget 2026 must prioritise quality early childhood education
22 May 2026
Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand says Budget 2026 must deliver meaningful investment in early childhood education (ECE) to protect quality, support tamariki, and ensure services remain affordable and sustainable for whānau across Aotearoa.
We must keep the ECE lights on
25 February 2026
Thousands of families across New Zealand could lose their childcare options in the next 12 months as a massive funding hole is making it harder for early childhood education (ECE) centres to meet rising costs.
Thousands of tamariki risk losing access to ECE as funding shortfall deepens
5 November 2025
Newly released industry analysis from the ECE Sector Partnership incorporates the experiences of 500 ECE centres, shedding light on the dire situation, with a sector-wide yearly shortfall of $104 million, and some centres grappling with individual forecast deficits as high as $167,000.
Early Childhood Education Sector on the Brink
15 October 2025
New analysis from the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Sector Partnership reveals that around 400 centres, approximately 8% of the national network are at risk of closing within the next 12 months. Many of these services operate in regional and low-income communities where no alternative options exist, creating a looming crisis for families and educators alike.
