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The Ministerial Advisory Group's role#
The Associate Minister of Education Hon David Seymour 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 advice, develop options, and undertake public consultation, with particular emphasis on key stakeholders.
The MAG will submit a final report with fiscally neutral recommendations for redesigning the ECE funding system to the Minister.
During the discovery phase initial engagement from September 2025 to January 2026, we took time to hear from providers, employers, parents and caregivers. We’re now working through insights from more than 2,000 people and considering the research and analysis we commissioned from government agencies and external providers.
Read more about this in the summary and materials we have proactively released.
Summary of engagement report – early childhood education funding system review
Ministerial Advisory Group funding system review information releases
The MAG considered we should take the time needed to get our work right, to advise Government how it might deliver a fit-for-purpose funding system and ensure that the more than $3 billion annual spend delivers.
The Minister has agreed to allow more time for development of indicative options, consultation, additional work and delivery of final advice. This means the MAG will deliver final advice in late 2026.
Terms of reference#
Members of the MAG#
Discovery phase: hearing from you#
The MAG has completed its discovery phase, hearing people’s experiences and views on the challenges and opportunities in the ECE funding system. Members thank everyone who has contributed.
Learn more about our work hearing from you, access our summary report of what we heard and what happens next during the consultation phase.
From the MAG 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.
Ministerial Advisory Group ECE Funding Review Chair
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#
Current work: January to May 2026#
MAG members are now considering what they have heard and learned during the initial engagement discovery phase from September 2025 to January 2026, undertaking the complex work to develop indicative options.
These indicative options will be shared during consultation mid-year. The MAG will again seek people’s views on the future of ECE funding before advice and recommendations are finalised.
A summary report of what we have heard is available on our engagement page, which will be kept updated.
Timeframe#
- July to October 2025
Establishing base knowledge and review focus.
- September 2025 to January 2026
Discovery and engagement. Engagement took place from September 2025 to January 2026.
- November 2025 to June 2026
Information synthesis and option development.
- Mid-2026
Consultation on indicative options and analysis. Find out more on our engagement page.
- Late 2026
Advice and recommendations finalised.
Whakapā
