Early learning sector organisations
The Ministry works with various education agencies as well as organisations dedicated to early learning to both support the sector and help develop strategic policies.
A number of sector organisations are members of the Early Childhood Advisory Committee (ECAC), with whom the Ministry works closely to achieve common goals.
- The organisations are grouped under:
- Agencies that support early learning
- Early learning service providers and member organisations
Agencies that support the early learning sector
| Organisation | Areas of work | Contact |
|---|---|---|
The Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand | Matatū Aotearoa |
The Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand is the professional organisation for teachers. It represents all teachers from early childhood education through to primary and secondary schooling in English and Māori medium schools. The council promotes all that’s best about teaching – good practice, new ideas, inspirational leadership. The council provides leadership and helps strengthen the regulatory framework and disciplinary regime for teaching. It aims to boost the status of teaching, strengthening accountability and bringing consistently high standards across the education system. |
Tel: 04 471 0852 |
Education Review Office (ERO) |
The Education Review Office is the government department that evaluates and reports on the education and care of learners in schools, kura, Kōhanga Reo, puna reo and early childhood services. ERO reports are used by parents, teachers, early childhood education managers, school principals and trustees, and by government policy makers. |
Tel: 04 499 2489 |
New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) |
The New Zealand Qualifications Authority administers the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) for secondary school students and is responsible for the quality assurance of non-university tertiary training providers. NZQA’s priority is to support a diverse range of clients by providing effective and efficient services, within its statutory mandate, that meet its clients’ specific needs. NZQA ensures that New Zealand qualifications are valued as credible and robust both nationally and internationally. |
Tel: 0800 697 296 |
Te Kura – The Correspondence School |
Te Kura provides distance education from early childhood education to year 13. Their learning advisors, teachers and in-region staff work with students, their whānau and communities to help children and students achieve their potential. |
Tel: 04 473 6841 or 0800 65 99 88 |
Teachers' Refresher Course Committee |
The Teachers’ Refresher Course Committee provides inspirational and unique professional development for professional learning communities within and across the education sectors. |
Tel: 0800 872 211 |
Teaching and Learning Research Initiative (TLRI) |
The Teaching and Learning Research Initiative seeks to enhance the links between educational research and teaching practices to improve outcomes for learners. |
|
New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER) |
The New Zealand Council for Educational Research is an independent educational research organisation generating ideas, questions, tools, products and services to meet educational needs. |
Tel: 04 384 7939 |
New Zealand Association for Research in Education (NZARE) |
As a national organisation, NZARE connects those interested in education research, tertiary institutions, schools and early childhood education services, government agencies such as the Ministry of Education, and the New Zealand Council for Research in Education. |
|
Education Gazette |
The New Zealand Education Gazette is the official magazine of the Ministry of Education. It is published under the authority of the Minister of Education, always on a Monday, every 2 (occasionally 3) weeks, excluding January. |
Tel: 04 917 3990 |
Te Kete Ipurangi (TKI) – the online knowledge basket |
TKI is a bilingual education portal. An initiative of the Ministry of Education, it provides New Zealand schools and students with a wealth of information, resources, and curriculum materials to enhance teaching and learning, raise student achievement, and advance professional development for teaching staff and school managers. |
Early learning service provider and member organisations
| Organisations we work with through ECAC | Areas of work | Contact |
|---|---|---|
Advocates for Early Learning Excellence |
An online social media forum for teachers and other early learning professionals to discuss various ECE topics. |
|
Barnardos New Zealand |
Barnardos New Zealand provides child and family services in communities around the country. Their services vary from area to area. |
Phone: 04 385 7560 or 0800 BARNARDOS |
BestStart |
BestStart have over 270 centres nationwide and is committed to being a progressive and responsive leader in early-childhood education. |
Phone: 0508 BESTSTART |
The Christian Early Childhood Education Association of Aotearoa (CECEAA) |
The Christian Early Childhood Education Association is an interdenominational organisation that aims to support unit services and individuals in the early childhood education field who work from a Christian world view. It provides advice, support, resources and friendship to teachers, parents, children, early childhood education services and churches. | Phone: 027 937 9340 Christian Early Childhood Education Association website(external link) |
Early Childhood Council (ECC) |
The Early Childhood Council represents the interests of independently owned early childhood education centres in New Zealand, and promotes the provision of quality early childhood education services. Membership is voluntary, and open to all licensed independent early childhood education centres. | Tel: 0800 742 742 Email: admin@ecc.org.nz ECC website(external link) |
Early Childhood Leadership Group |
Early Childhood Leadership speaks for a grouping of kindergarten associations responsible for teaching almost 40 per cent of the kindergarten children in New Zealand. Members are committed to combining the traditional kindergarten model with modern delivery by offering different kinds of service for different kinds of family. | Phone: 09 373 5635 Email: info@ecleadership.org.nz |
Early Intervention Association of Aotearoa New Zealand (EIAANZ) |
The Early Intervention Association of Aotearoa New Zealand provides a professional body for early intervention practitioners, and operates under a charitable trust. The association has developed a national code of ethics, provides strong advocacy at national level, and has established international links in the field of early intervention. It convenes a biennial national conference and symposia, and produces a membership newsletter several times a year. | EIAANZ website(external link) |
Federation of Rudolf Steiner Schools in New Zealand |
The Federation of Rudolf Steiner Schools is a registered incorporated society that represents member schools, early childhood and adult education centres who work out of the educational indications developed by Austrian philosopher and scientist Rudolf Steiner. The federation’s purpose is to promote and safeguard the integrity of Steiner education in New Zealand and it seeks to support its continued development. |
Phone: 09 817 4386 |
Home Early Learning Organisation (HELO) |
The Home Early Learning Organisation represents children and the in-home early childhood education sector, including educators, nannies and au pairs. It works to communicate and expand the benefits of in-home early learning. HELO fosters cooperative relationships with the Ministry and Government, and strives to support its teachers, coordinators and educators. | Email: info@HELO.org.nz HELO website(external link) |
Hospital Play Specialists Association of Aotearoa/New Zealand Inc. |
Hospital Play Specialists Association of Aotearoa/New Zealand promotes play in hospitals, advocates for health care environments that support children's and young people's well-being, and supports the role of hospital play specialists. The organisation provides therapeutic play and recreation programmes for infants, children and young people, both individually and in groups. |
Email: info@hospitalplay.org.nz |
Montessori Aotearoa New Zealand |
Montessori Aotearoa New Zealand is a collective of school, organisation and individual members that work together to provide and promote Montessori education in New Zealand. Montessori Aotearoa New Zealand is governed by a voluntary council and managed by an executive and administration officer, in consultation with members. | Phone: 0800 33 66 12 Email: ce@montessori.org.nz Montessori Aotearoa website(external link) |
New Zealand Educational Institute Te Riu Roa (NZEI) |
The New Zealand Educational Institute Te Riu Roa is New Zealand's largest education union. NZEI negotiates collective agreements, provides member assistance, coordinates member activities and campaigns on education and employment issues. | Phone: 0800 NZEI HELP (0800 693 443) Email: nzei@nzei.org.nz NZEI website(external link) |
New Zealand Home Based Early Childhood Education Association |
A membership organisation that supports the delivery of quality home-based early childhood education throughout New Zealand. Membership benefits include events and training days, tools and resources, and professional advice and advocacy. | Tel: 04 974 5518 Email: admin@hbca.org.nz New Zealand Home Based Early Childhood Education Association website(external link) |
New Zealand Kindergartens Incorporated (NZK) |
New Zealand Kindergartens Incorporated is the umbrella organisation representing 26 regional kindergarten associations across New Zealand. NZK member associations are responsible for over 430 kindergartens. |
Phone: 04 471 0775 |
Playcentre Federation of New Zealand |
Playcentres are parent-led early childhood education centres that offer high quality education for children in small mixed-age groups. Playcentres also offer free parenting and early childhood education for parent members. |
Phone: 0800 PLAYNZ (0800 752 969) |
The Kōhanga Reo National Trust |
A charitable trust that aims to protect te reo, tikanga me ngā āhuatanga Māori by targeting the participation of mokopuna and whānau into the kōhanga reo movement, and its vision is to totally immerse kōhanga mokopuna in te reo, tikanga me ngā āhuatanga Māori. |
Tel: 04 381 8750 |
Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand |
Te Rito Maioha provides advocacy, advice and leadership to its members. Te Rito Maioha also offers early childhood education qualification programmes. |
Phone: 0800 244 532 Te Rito Maioha website(external link) |
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