Welcome, karakia and introductions#

• Andy Jackson chaired the meeting.
• Andy welcomed the group and Cathy Wilson opened the meeting with a karakia. 
• Apologies and member movements were noted.
• Tere Gilbert acknowledged the passing of some key figures in the early learning sector; Hirini Moko Mead, Whatarangi Winiata, Lady Tilly Reedy and Tā Tamati Reedy.
• Andy acknowledged Norma Roberts, who was awarded a King’s Service Medal for services to early childhood education in the recent King’s Birthday honours list.
• April minutes were confirmed.

What's on top#

Literature review#

Members had questions about the literature review by Martin Jenkins for the Ministry looking at the relationships between ECEC structural quality and children’s outcomes, as two academics had sent a critique of this to ECAC members. Andy explained this review was done to help inform the work of the MAG and the Ministry and was part of a range of evidence and information considered. There is time to have a more structured conversation, including at the next ECAC meeting in September.

ECE food programme#

Members brought up that while they appreciate the ECE food programme and its benefits, there are added costs that come with the programme. Many centres employ an extra person for two hours a day to prepare and cook the meals, help serve, and clean up afterwards. This is a significant cost for some organisations. Some services have also had to purchase larger, or different, appliances.

Police vets#

Members mentioned that the process for police vetting seems to have slowed again, and there is no transparency over which applications will take longer. The changes to the Children’s Act may have increased the demand for police vets.

Actions#

Agenda item on the Martin Jenkins lit review and the critique of this at 16 Sept ECAC hui. (Andy Jackson, 16 September)

Refer the issue raised by member about additional costs from the ECE food programme to Kids Can and relevant Ministry team, and update ECAC in September. (Andy Jackson, 16 September)

Set up Teams meeting with Police to discuss police vets. (Kristen Sharma, 16 September)

Update: implementing recommendations from the Regulatory Review of ECE#

Paul Scholey gave this update.

• Implementation of the first priorities from the Regulatory Review recommendations is complete with the ECE regulation changes going live next week.
• The System Reform Bill, which included the shift of Director of Regulation and ECE regulatory functions to ERO, passed its third reading last night. The ECE changes will take effect on 1 November 2026 unless the date is set earlier by an Order of Council. At the moment, ERO and the Ministry are planning for the change to happen on 1 September.
• The Ministry has been preparing for this shift with ERO since last year, and ERO has had sessions with ECAC on operationalisation.
• Sector comms will come out tomorrow (25 June).
• A question was asked about who providers will go to, as they have strong relationships with Ministry staff in the regions. Ray will talk more about this in the next session.
• Amendments to ECE regulations take effect on 29 June 2026.
• The summary of the consultation feedback has been published, and advice and Cabinet papers have been proactively released. Further information about changes will be in tomorrow’s Early Learning Bulletin.
  Early Learning Bulletin 26 June
• System improvements - Recommendation 10 (greater flexibility in workforce qualifications) and Recommendation 11 (review Person Responsible requirements): Ministry for Regulation suggestions have been analysed, and advice to the Minister are being developed with consultation options. Timing of public consultation is subject to Ministerial decisions and yet to be confirmed.
• There was some discussion around the timing and content of potential consultation of recs 10 and 11 relative to the MAG consultation on the funding system.
• Andy suggested focusing on the MAG consultation first as funding impacts service operations.
• In its discussions with ECAC and the Ministry’s early learning regulatory advisory group, and other sector groups, the Ministry has heard the sector values qualified and certified teachers and doesn’t see the current regulated qualification requirement as a significant barrier to ECE service provision.
• The Ministry is continuing to work with the Home-based advisory group on reviewing person responsible requirements and Recommendation 12 (develop strategic plan for home-based services).

Proposed transition of ECE functions to ERO, Education Amendment Regulations#

This presentation was given by Ray McMillan, Clement Tang and Karen Quinn.

• Ray introduced himself and his role of Director of Regulation. Now that the System Reform Bill has passed its third reading, the Director of Regulation role will move to ERO on 13 July.
• Other early learning functions will move from the Ministry to ERO by 1 November, but aiming for earlier. The legislation change still needs Royal Assent.
• Regarding earlier question on the continuity of relationships with Ministry regions, it is hoped these will remain but it is still to be confirmed.
• Core functions will be kept stable during the transfer so that any incidents can be responded to.
• Clement and Karen went through some key changes that are coming into effect on 29 June 2026. There will be a Bulletin article tomorrow with links to webpages of updated information.
  Early Learning Bulletin 26 June
• There was a question about when the sector was previously informed about these changes; they were in the 16 April Early Learning Bulletin
  Early Learning Bulletin 16 April
• Questions were asked about the following:
  • Reg 29F – public notice of non-compliance. The Legislation Act provides options for public notice. For example, through the New Zealand Gazette or the regulator’s website.
  • Reg 59A – public notification of investigation. Will this give a timeframe for the investigation? Likely not, as the timeframe might be hard to judge.
  • What happens if an investigation involves an employment issue such as an allegation or complaint? It depends on the case, but usually only regulation and licencing criteria will be investigated by the Director (and other investigations by the appropriate authority, such as Police).
• Comments from members included: centres need to be able to investigate incidents before the regulator, so that centres know what happened; public notification of small centres means staff would be identifiable and therefore vulnerable. Ray stressed the need to follow good regulatory practice and work in the public interest.

Curriculum update: new resources#

Hayley Welch and Bradley Hannigan presented this item.

• Hayley acknowledged the 30-year anniversary of Te Whāriki, and the passing of Lady Tilly Reedy and Tā Tamati Reedy and their contributions to Te Whāriki. 
  There is a special edition of Education Gazette, celebrating the anniversary of Te Whāriki 
  Education Gazette 105.6 by Education Gazette | Tukutuku Kōrero - Issuu
• Te Uepū Reo Māori update: From Budget 2025, contracts with Kōhanga Reo and Puna Reo for Kaiako supports and resources. Deliverables for Puna Reo are coming out from September.
• Update on Pacific mahi: resources will be delivered at the end of next financial year. The team is currently having fono about what the Pacific early learning sector would like.
• Phonemic awareness resources: examples of good practice from Kōwhiti Whakapae and Te Whāriki are being provided, in English, te reo Māori, Samoan and Tongan.
• Refreshing Te Kōrerorero: loved but outdated. The refresh is happening in tranches. Tranche 2 will have video resources showing good practice to support kaiako.
• Resources for home-based: work is progressing on the development of resources, based on focus group feedback. Whānau update: work is about to start on an app platform for resources for parents/whānau to support oral language at home.
• Hayley gave a summary of the New Zealand Curriculum refresh, and explained the phonics and numeracy checks
• Members asked questions about PLD.
  • Budget 2026: primary/secondary teachers getting more PLD than early learning teachers: Hayley explained that primary and secondary teachers have received a lot of PDL as the refreshed curriculum is significantly different, meaning teachers had to rapidly upskill to build their competencies in the refreshed curriculum.
  • Early learning PLD is mostly funded through operating budgets. These budgets are diminishing as costs increase, so early learning PLD is getting behind. There is some Ministry funding for early learning PLD.
  • A barrier to early learning PLD is teachers are unable to get time off work to engage in it. Bite-sized nuggets of information might help with this.
  • Puna Reo have cards and posters, but no document so encourage a bid for funding for this.

Learning support update#

Rachael Vink gave this update.

• Bridget White, Hautū | Deputy Secretary of Te Pou Taunaki | Learning Support, introduced herself, her role, and how Te Pou Taunaki is intended to work as a practice centre.
• Rachael summarised Budget 2025’s boost for Learning Support. This is the first year of a multi-year roll-out. 
• The aim is to strengthen learning support and better transitions from early learning to school, better meet demand and increase national consistency of learning support.
• Early Intervention Specialist Service procurement was started in April this year. This aims to spread out providers across the country, to provide parents/whānau with more choice of provider. Every region will have an alternative provider to the Ministry from 1 July.
• Early Intervention Specialist Service: focus on early intervention (high and complex needs), whānau-centred support and continuity across early learning to end of year 1 (from 1 July).
• EISS contracts start 1 July. There will be no change to existing placements – learners will continue to be supported by existing providers.
• EIS panel: extra specialist capacity to respond to demand and reduce waitlists for children with more specific communication needs.
• Next ECAC: further update on the digital platform for requesting Learning Support.

Action#

Provide map of services at operational ECAC hui, once procurement is finalised. (Rachael/Kristen, 16 September ECAC meeting.)

Workshop: exploring more flexible small group settings#

Megan Hutchison and Paul Scholey led a workshop on exploring different, more flexible options for small group ECE to improve access and choice for families. 

• The Ministry for Regulation recommended consideration of a new model for home-based services that would allow 2 educators and up to 8 children in one home, and we have discussed options around expanding this concept into other premises. There are small group models overseas which allow 3 educators and 12 children.
• There are no policy proposals on this as yet; the workshop was to test ideas to see if more policy work is worth pursuing.
• Members brainstormed ideas for small group settings, focusing on the appeals or benefits to various groups – teachers/educators, parents, children, service providers, government and network. 
• The group then discussed risks or concerns and key questions around different models.
• Based on polling of the group, members generally saw potential for flexible small group options to help meet diverse community needs, provide greater choice for families and support innovation within the sector, while recognising that significant questions and risks would need to be carefully considered.
• Members can get in touch with Megan if they have other ideas. Feedback will be written up and circulated.

MAG update: funding review#

• Linda Meade, Ministerial Advisory Group Chair, updated ECAC members on the work of the MAG, including the discovery and engagement phase of the work programme, and the upcoming consultation on possible options for change to the early childhood education funding system.
• The consultation will go live shortly and be open until 6 August 2026. Details will be available from the MAG’s web page.
  Ministerial Advisory Group
• The Chair asked ECAC members to update their networks on the consultation, once it opens. 
• People are asked to complete and share the MAG’s consultation survey. It is also possible to send written submissions by email.
• MAG will hold online hui, and anyone can attend to clarify and ask questions about the options in the discussion document.
• The MAG will give advice and recommendations to the Minister by the end of 2026, and its advice must be fiscally neutral (within current spending).
• Any questions can be emailed to [email protected]

Budget 2026#

John went over Budget 2026.

• An increase of 1.5% to universal and targeted funding rates.
• As suggested at a previous ECAC, this comes into effect from 1 July 2026 (instead of the usual 1 January 2027).
• TFFD will increase by 1.5% and will apply from 1 March 2027.
• Kindergartens will receive a cost adjustment of 0.48% to account for separate staffing costs through the KTCA settlement outcomes.
• Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust has an increase to their ongoing operating funding.
• There is funding to continue the ECE food programme for the 2027 calendar year.

Reflections and wrap-up #

•    On the Chair’s behalf, John thanked members for their engagement and participation throughout the day.
•    Cathy Wilson closed with a karakia.