ECE Funding Handbook

Welcome to the ECE Funding Handbook. This handbook is issued under section 548(5) of the Education and Training Act 2020.

Funding of certain services and certified playgroups – NZ Legislation(external link)

The funding paid to licensed services is paid subject to the terms and conditions set out under this handbook and must be complied with. The terms used in this handbook are based in the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008.

This handbook is designed to be a 'one-stop-shop' of everything you need to know about early childhood funding, including:

  • the ECE Funding Subsidy
  • 20 Hours ECE funding
  • equity funding
  • the annual top-up for isolated services

This information does not apply to certificated playgroups

The information in the Funding Handbook does not apply to certificated playgroups.

These services should contact their Ministry regional office for further information.

Local Ministry offices

Download the ECE Funding Handbook

If you would like to print a copy of this handbook, refer to the list of downloads in the contents section where you will find downloadable PDF versions of each chapter.

ECE Funding Handbook downloads

Appendix 3

This appendix lists the legal names of existing kindergarten associations that currently meet the definition of a kindergarten association in the Glossary.

Confirmed Legal Name

Ashburton Kindergarten Association
Auckland Kindergarten Association
Central Kids Kindergarten Trust
Counties Manukau Kindergarten Association Incorporated
Dannevirke Kindergarten Association
Dunedin Kindergarten Association
Geraldine District Free Kindergarten Association
Gisborne Free Kindergarten Association Incorporated
He Whānau Manaaki o Tararua Free Kindergarten Association Incorporated
Heretaunga Free Kindergarten Association
Hutt City Kindergartens Association
Tauranga Regional Free Kindergarten Association Incorporated
Northern Auckland Free Kindergarten Association Incorporated
Northland Kindergarten Association
Canterbury Westland Kindergarten Association Incorporated
Taranaki Free Kindergarten Association Incorporated
Southland Free Kindergarten Association
Marlborough Kindergarten Association
Napier Free Kindergarten Association Incorporated
Nelson District Free Kindergarten Association
Oamaru Free Kindergarten Association
Ruahine Kindergarten Association
South Canterbury Free Kindergarten Association
South Otago Free Kindergarten Association Incorporated
Te Aroha Free Kindergarten Association
Waikato Kindergarten Association
Waimate Free Kindergarten Association Incorporated
Westport Kindergarten Association