Licensing criteria for kōhanga reo

Kōhanga reo run a total immersion te reo Māori whānau (family) programme for mokopuna (young children) from birth to six years of age to be raised within its whānau Māori, where the language of communication will be Māori.

The operation and decision making of each kōhanga reo are the responsibility of the whole whānau within the guidelines set down by Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust Board. The trust and the kōhanga reo whānau administer the kaupapa to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the mokopuna and the whānau and to ensure the survival of te reo Māori.

Kōhanga reo are currently chartered to Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust and licensed by the Ministry of Education under the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008.

Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008(external link)

The Ministry does not provide guidance for the kōhanga reo licensing criteria. Guidance is available upon request directly from Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust.

Contact – Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust(external link)

A copy of the criteria can be downloaded from the right-hand column.

The licensing criteria were last updated in September 2022.

Other sanitary facilities

  • PF24: Water temperature control
    • Premises and facilities criterion 24

      § A tempering valve or other accurate means of limiting hot water temperature is installed for the requirements of criterion HS13 to be met.

      Rationale/Intent:

      The criterion aims to uphold the safety of children by removing the risk of hot water scalding. The criterion also aims to ensure that water is kept at a comfortable temperature to encourage hygienic handwashing practices.

  • PF25: Nappy changing facilities
    • Premises and facilities criterion 25

      There are safe and stable nappy changing facilities that can be kept hygienically clean. These facilities are located in a designated area near to handwashing facilities, and are adequately separated from areas of the service used for play or food preparation to prevent the spread of infection. 

      The design, construction, and location of the facilities ensure that:

      • they are safe and appropriate for the age/weight and number of children needing to use them;
      • children's independence can be fostered as appropriate;
      • children's dignity and right to privacy is respected; and
      • some visibility from another area of the service is possible.
      Rationale/Intent:

      The criterion aims to uphold the health, safety, and wellbeing of children by ensuring that appropriate facilities are available for children wearing nappies. Nappy changing in an early childhood centre is a high risk activity from a number of perspectives, for example hygiene (as there can be large numbers of children using the facilities) and safety (risk of falls for the child, risk of back injury for adults). Nappy changing is also a personal care routine that by definition makes the young child vulnerable.

  • PF26: Bathing facilities
    • Premises and facilities criterion 26

      § Ø There are suitable facilities provided for washing sick or soiled children and a procedure outlining how hygiene and infection control outcomes will be met when washing sick and soiled children.

      Documentation required:

      A procedure outlining how the service will ensure hygiene and infection control outcomes are met when washing sick and soiled children.

      Rationale/Intent:

      The criterion aims to uphold the health and wellbeing of children by ensuring that there are suitable facilities and practices for washing children who vomit or soil themselves while attending the service so that the risk of cross-infection is reduced.

  • PF27: Isolation area
    • Premises and facilities criterion 27

      Ø § There is space (away from where food is stored, prepared, or eaten) where a sick child can:

      • be temporarily kept at a safe distance from other children (to prevent cross-infection);
      • lie down comfortably; and
      • be supervised.
      Rationale/Intent:

      The criterion aims to uphold the safety and wellbeing of children by ensuring that there are comfortable and safe facilities for the isolation of a sick child.

  • PF28 First aid kit
    • Premises and facilities criterion 28

      There is a first aid kit that:

      • complies with the requirements of Appendix 1;
      • is easily recognisable and readily accessible to adults; and
      • is inaccessible to children.
      Rationale/Intent:

      The criterion aims to uphold the safety of children by ensuring that:

      • there are adequate provisions available for the treatment of minor injuries;
      • adults can easily find the necessary provisions for administering first aid; and
      • children cannot access any hazardous materials themselves.