Need-to-know | Me mātua mōhio#
Immunisation record requirements#
On 8 January, the regulation requiring Early Childhood Education centres (ECEs) and primary schools to maintain immunisation records was revoked. This means ECEs and primary schools no longer need to keep immunisation records.
Why the change was made
The Aotearoa Immunisation Register (AIR), introduced in 2023, is the national register of vaccines administered. AIR enables authorised healthcare providers to access immunisation records. Now that we have AIR, ECE and primary school immunisation registers are no longer required. You can read more about AIR here:
Aotearoa Immunisation Register (AIR) – Health New Zealand
What this means for your ECE
- You will no longer need to collect and record immunisation information.
- Archive all immunisation records in accordance with your organisation’s policies.
- Your centre will remain an essential channel for promoting immunisation to parents.
Free resources are available at HealthEd.
Update to sample enrolment form#
As advised in the article above, the Health (Immunisation) Regulations 1995, requiring Early Childhood Education (ECE) centres to maintain immunisations records, was revoked on 8 January 2026.
In response to this change the sample Enrolment Agreement form in Appendix 2 of the ECE Funding Handbook has been updated to reflect this. The previously required ‘Health’ section has been removed. You don’t need to include this section for future enrolments.
Enrolment agreement form [PDF, 460 KB]
Enrolment agreement form [DOCX, 369 KB]
Targeted Funding for Disadvantage reporting due 27 February#
If you received $2,000 or more in targeted funding for the 2025 calendar year, you need to report to us on how this funding was spent.
If you have not already completed and submitted your report to us, please provide this information by 27 February. Your funding contact should have received an email from us last week with instructions on how to complete the report.
The information you provide is important. It helps us better understand how this funding is used and how effective it is at supporting children.
Information on Targeted Funding can be found here.
Targeted Funding for Disadvantage
If you have any questions about completing this report, contact us.
Email: [email protected]
Critical dates for the March RS7 Return#
On 2 March, we will pay the next instalment of ECE funding to licensed early learning services.
Key dates for the upcoming March payment are as follows:
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 February | Opening date for RS7 Return submission |
| 10 February | Final date for paper RS7 returns to be received by us for funding to be paid on 2 March |
| 13 February | Final submission day for electronic RS7 returns for funding to be paid on 2 March |
| 2 March (overnight) | ECE funding payment occurs |
If you submit your electronic RS7 after 13 February, but before 7 March, you will receive funding on 20 March. Remember that this is the last 20th of the month payment run as from July we will no longer process payments on the 20th.
Your funding contact will receive an email acknowledging receipt of the RS7 Return from Pourato.
If needed, you can contact us.
Email: [email protected]
Heads-up | He kupu puaki#
Amendments to the 2008 Licensing Criteria effective from 20 April#
A new webpage is now available to help you understand and plan for the amendments to the Licensing Criteria that come into effect from 20 April.
The website outlines:
- what will be expected from services under the amended criteria, and
- how compliance will be assessed after April.
This provides a three-month preparation window for you to become familiar with the changes and make any adjustments needed within your organisation.
New licensing criteria for centre-based ECE services
New licensing criteria for home-based ECE services
New licensing criteria for hospital-based ECE services
The information on this temporary website will be transferred to our main website in April, when the amended licensing criteria become effective. Until 20 April, you need to meet the current licensing criteria.
