Need-to-know | Me mātua mōhio#
Financial reporting due 30 June#
Licensed early learning services that have operated for a full financial year and received more than $80,000 (including GST) from us during the financial year ending 2024 need to submit the following by 30 June:
• audited financial statements
• an independent auditor’s report
• a completed declaration form.
Please send these documents to [email protected].
Declaration form for the Financial Year Ending 2024 [pdf, 1.02 MB]
A reminder of the financial reporting requirements is outlined here:
Financial reporting requirements [PDF, 119 KB]
If you are a new service/owner that has not completed a full financial year of operation or you have received income of less than $80,000 (including GST) from us during the financial year ending 2024, you are required to complete a declaration form to confirm your exemption to the financial reporting requirements.
2025 Influenza Immunisation Programme starts 1 April#
Health New Zealand is encouraging kaimahi working with children to get immunised against flu.
Yearly immunisation helps to stop the spread of flu around your community and can prevent those more likely to experience severe illness from getting the flu.
The vaccine is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and over and is free for those who have a health condition that may mean they are at risk of getting very sick from a flu infection. See eligibility criteria here:
Pharmac eligibility criteria for 2025 funded influenza vaccination [PDF, 304 KB]
The flu vaccine is available from 1 April from your local pharmacy, doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. You can book via:
Book a Vaccine – Health New Zealand
Read more about the Influenza Immunisation Programme here:
Influenza Immunisation Programme – Immunisation Advisory Centre
Pertussis (whooping cough) reminder#
Pertussis, or whooping cough, can be particularly severe for babies, and last November an epidemic was declared across New Zealand.
Whooping cough epidemic declared across Aotearoa New Zealand – Health New Zealand
You can find more information on pertussis here:
Whooping cough – Health New Zealand
Whooping cough (Pertussis) – Facebook
Protect Tamariki from whooping cough – YouTube
The whooping cough vaccine is recommended every five to ten years for those who are in regular contact with infants. It is also free and recommended for all pregnant people for each pregnancy to protect every baby.
Protect against measles#
With growing cases of measles internationally and low immunisation rates locally, New Zealand is at increased risk.
Immunisation is our best line of defence and when you have your flu or whooping cough vaccines, your vaccinator can also check that you are fully protected against measles.
For information about what to do if there is a measles case in your education setting, check here:
Measles: A guide for education settings - Health New Zealand
More information can be found here:
Measles – Health New Zealand
You can check your immunisation status here:
My Health Record – Health New Zealand
Kaimahi and whānau who have recently arrived from overseas should be encouraged to have their overseas immunisations reviewed by their medical centre or vaccinator to ensure they are fully protected in New Zealand.
Immunisations are free for everyone under 18 years of age regardless of their visa status. Many vaccines, including measles, are free for adults who are eligible for healthcare in Aotearoa.
To book a vaccine call 0800 28 29 26, or do it here:
Heads-up | He kupu puaki#
Home-based services – First aid unit standard 25459 expiring on 31 December#
Toitū te Waiora, the Workforce Development Council responsible for setting first aid qualification unit standards, is expiring first aid unit standard 25459 on 31 December.
You may find that some first aid training providers are starting to phase out the availability of this course.
From 1 January 2026, home-based educators:
• without a current first aid certificate must complete a certificate with unit standards 6401 and 6402 to meet licensing requirements
• holding a current first aid certificate with unit standard 25459 will continue to meet licensing requirements until their certificate expires. Then they need to gain a new certificate with unit standards 6401 and 6402.
Refreshed PDFs for licensing criteria and certification now available#
We've refreshed the PDFs for licensing criteria across all service types and playgroup certification and these are now available on our website.
The licensing criteria remain unchanged and there is no requirement for services to display the refreshed versions.
Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education & Care Services 2008 [PDF, 6.39 MB]
Licensing Criteria for Home-based Education & Care Services 2008 [PDF, 8.18 MB]
Licensing Criteria for Hospital-based Education & Care Services 2008 [PDF, 5.93 MB]
Certification criteria for playgroups – Ministry of Education
