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The Ministerial Advisory Group's role#
The Associate Minister of Education established the Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG) on 19 June 2025 to review funding for early learning.
The MAG is an independent body that can draw upon Ministry of Education resources to support this work.
We have been asked to provide the Associate Minister of Education with advice, develop options, and undertake public consultation, with particular emphasis on key stakeholders.
The MAG will submit a final report, in September 2026, with fiscally neutral recommendations for redesigning the ECE funding system. The Associate Minister of Education will then make any decisions about possible next steps.
Terms of reference#
Members of the MAG#
From the Chair
Linda Meade
Early childhood education services serve an important role in our society. I also know, through my own experience, the positive impact high-quality ECE services can make on individual children and families. The challenge is making sure all New Zealanders have access to affordable, high-quality ECE services now and in the years to come. To do that, we need to make sure the ECE funding system has the right settings.
When I was asked to chair the independent Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG) conducting the ECE funding system review, I knew what was being asked of the group would not be easy. We would need to test long-held assumptions, challenge our own thinking, and work with services, teachers, parents, employers, and academics to understand the real forces impacting the ECE funding system.
I am thrilled to say I believe the collective expertise and experience of the MAG members will allow us to do all those things and more.
The MAG will be listening to voices from across New Zealand, and then playing back what we hear, to make sure we’ve understood the issues that matter, before exploring potential options for the ECE funding system.
Chair of the Ministerial Advisory Group
This is the place you can come over the coming months to keep tabs on our progress, learn more about opportunities to engage with us directly, or find information about making submissions when it’s time for consultation on options.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Ngā mihi,
Linda
Work programme and engagement schedule#
A top priority is to hear from all stakeholders, including teachers and parents.
The MAG has scheduled a series of hui to hear about the challenges and opportunities for change in the early childhood education funding system.
Attend a hui#
Below is a list of hui anyone can attend.
- Gisborne – 29 October 2025
- Auckland – 05 November 2025
- Christchurch – 12 November 2025
- Hamilton – 27 November 2025
- Wellington – 02 December 2025
- Dunedin – 04 December 2025.
Register
Online submission#
If you are not able to attend a hui, you can also make an online submission.
Other meetings and online sessions#
More meetings and online sessions will be added as these are confirmed.
A full list of engagements will be published after the discovery and engagement phase.
Timeframe#
- July to October 2025
Establishing base knowledge and review focus.
- September 2025 to January 2026
Discovery and engagement. Engagement will take place October to December.
- November 2025 to March 2026
Information synthesis and option development.
- April to July 2026
Consultation on indicative options and analysis. Consultation will take place from April to June 2026.
- May to September 2026
Advice and final report provided to Minister.
