Discovery phase#

The Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG) has completed its discovery phase, hearing people’s experiences and views on the challenges and opportunities in the early childhood education (ECE) funding system. Members thank everyone who has contributed, acknowledging both the detailed and thorough submissions from organisations and the very personal experiences shared.

In total, the MAG held 56 meetings with more than 700 people, in 6 regions and online, and an open invitation to submit was issued, using web forms and using email. The MAG received more than 151 written submissions, mostly from teachers, managers, and owners of services and providers.

Views were also gathered using an open online survey for parents, and targeted surveys undertaken by research company Ipsos to ensure the MAG hears from people working in ECE, employers of those who use ECE, and parents, whānau and caregivers.

Summary of engagement#

Read more about what we heard in the summary report. It comes with a set of frequently asked questions we heard during our engagement.

Scope of summary report#

The report provides a summary of what the MAG heard from the people we talked with, met with or received written input from.  It’s important to note this does not reflect the MAG or the Ministry’s views, rather it is informed by more than 2000 perspectives gathered. The summary does not include every point of feedback received; the MAG will take all feedback into account.

Download a list of engagements and the engagement presentation below.

Next steps – consultation#

MAG members are now considering what they have heard and learned. They are developing indicative options to be shared during a consultation later in the year, when the MAG will again seek people’s views on the future of the ECE funding system.

Details on the consultation process will be published here as they are confirmed.