Need-To-Know | Me Mātua Mōhio#
H5 bird flu#
New Zealand is well prepared to respond quickly to H5 bird flu. We have added information to our website to support you, should you observe sick or dead wild birds on your property.
Bird flu information for early learning services
For the most up-to-date information, visit:
About bird flu and the risk to New Zealand – Ministry for Primary Industries
Security advisory – WordPress websites#
Recent security vulnerabilities have been identified in WordPress, a widely used platform for public-facing websites. If your early learning service uses a WordPress website, ask your website administrator to confirm that the WordPress software has been updated to the latest version. These vulnerabilities are being used to compromise and infect New Zealand websites.
You should also ask your website administrator to update any plugins and remove any that are no longer required. Taking these steps will help reduce the risk of unauthorised access, website defacement, malware distribution, or disruption to your online services.
CVE-2026-63030 and CVE-2026-60137 affecting WordPress – National Cyber Security Centre
2026 annual ECE Census update#
Thank you to the services who have already completed their ECE Census for the week of 22 to 28 June (the month of June for playgroups). If you have not yet submitted your ECE Census return, please submit it as soon as possible. The due date was 16 July.
Completing an accurate annual ECE Census is set out in the ECE Funding Handbook. Please submit your census data, or your funding may be withheld.
You can complete your census electronically via your student management system (SMS) or the Early Learning Information (ELI) Web.
For any technical queries regarding your SMS, contact your SMS provider directly.
If you are a casual education and care service, playgroup or a hospital-based service, you will have received a survey link to complete your census.
If you have not received the link or for more questions, contact us.
Email: [email protected]
Reminder – transfer of regulatory functions (for action)#
We encourage early childhood education services to submit applications by 27 July for new licenses, certifications, amendments and changes of management needed in the month of September. This will help a smooth transition of early learning monitoring, licensing, and certification functions to ERO.
More information will be provided as we work with ERO towards the transfer.
| Application | When required | Process |
|---|---|---|
|
If needed during September |
Submit your completed application to us by 27 July |
If needed from October | Submit your completed application to the ERO. More details will be provided soon. |
Heads-Up | He Kupu Puaki#
Have your say on the ECE funding system#
There’s still time to share your views on ECE funding, consultation is open until 6 August.
The Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG) reviewing ECE funding has held public meetings, which are now available on its consultation page alongside FAQs, explainer videos, a summary and the full consultation document.
Consultation on early childhood education funding system
You can share your views by emailing us or via online survey:
Email: [email protected]
ECE Funding Review survey – Survey Monkey
The MAG will consider all feedback and provide advice to the Government, which will decide on any changes.
Have your say on proposed police vetting changes#
New Zealand Police is seeking feedback on proposed changes to the Police Vetting Service.
Consultation is open until 21 August and covers proposed fee changes, waiver arrangements, and the possible introduction of an optional urgent vetting service. Early learning services that use Police vetting are encouraged to review the consultation information and provide feedback on how the proposals may affect them.
To find out more about the consultation and/or make a submission, visit:
Proposed changes to the Police Vetting Service – New Zealand Police
Workshops for mentor teachers and provisional teachers#
Te Poipoi Kaiako workshops are running across the country and online to support mentor teachers and provisional teachers.
Find out more and register at:
