Members of the Ministerial Advisory Group – early childhood education funding system review

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Linda Meade
Chair's updates
Simon Laube
Melissa Glew (Ngāti Rangiwewehi)
Kelly Seaburg
Associate Professor Kane Meissel
Sarah Hogan
Kylie Eagle

Linda Meade

Chair

Linda brings expertise in investment strategy, governance and public sector funding system design. She has a deep understanding of social sector infrastructure including early childhood education and has been a director on several boards including Deputy Chair of Weltec and Whitireia polytechnics. In 2008 Linda co-founded Daisies Early Education and Care, 2 small family-owned centres in Wellington. She is managing director of Kalimena Advisory, founded in 2020 following a successful career at PwC and Deloitte, where she was lead New Zealand partner for Deloitte Access Economics. She has 2 adult children.

I know the positive impact consistent participation in quality ECE can have on children and families. The challenge is making sure all New Zealand households have access to affordable, quality ECE services now and in the years to come.

Linda Meade

Chair's updates#

Linda is providing regular updates on the work of the Ministerial Advisory group here.

29 October 2025

Kia ora and thank you for taking the time to read this first update. That you are here means you too care deeply about the future of ECE and its enabling funding system.

As the Ministerial Advisory Group reviewing early childhood funding, we knew we would need to hear from the many people who care passionately about the positive impacts of participation in quality early childhood education to children, their families and the wider community. I’m pleased to report that we’ve started that our listening and hearing exercise at pace, after a preliminary period of intensive discovery and scoping of the important work ahead of us.

To date we’ve held meetings in Auckland and Wellington, with services ranging from kindergartens to Barnardos, large scale providers to Sosaiete Aoga Amata I Aotearoa (SAASIA), the national network of Samoan early childhood centres. We’re holding meetings in-person and on-line – to cover as much ground as possible and to provide options for those wishing to take part.

Every meeting has been immensely beneficial – we've heard a lot of voices and shared insights into some things I personally wouldn’t have known. It’s also been a reminder for me just how diverse our communities, and services are.

We are rounding out October with a visit to Gisborne, before heading back to Auckland, then Christchurch, Dunedin, Whangarei, Wellington and Hamilton during November and December. You can find information here on our website to register for a hui. We are updating the schedule as we confirm details, and you can let us know via the online submission form if you’d like to request a meeting, provide your input that way or make another suggestion.

Please do not hesitate to get involved – we want to hear from the sector, from families, from educators and anyone else with a view on how we seize this opportunity to create the ECE funding system New Zealand needs.

Linda Meade, Chair

18 November 2025

Kia ora colleagues and whānau,

To date, we’ve held 24 meetings and have travelled from Gisborne to Ōtautahi. This week we’re meeting with the business sector as employers of those who use ECE services, unions and hospital-based services. The following week we’ve got several open online hui anyone can attend, and surveys to hear from whānau and ECE staff are opening soon.

So far, we’ve met with a wide variety of people who care passionately about ECE. This includes owners, managers, teachers - across multiple service types; as well as wider stakeholders such as providers of contracts (like Engaging Priority Families), parents, board members and sector group representatives. Almost without exception, they have welcomed the opportunity to have their voices heard and we've been happy to hear people saying they felt really listened to by the MAG members.

While funding is complicated and individual situations can vary considerably, it has been striking the different challenges between areas (even within the same region) and between different service types.

For example, a common complaint for many has been the complexity of the frequent absence rules, especially challenging for services in the most disadvantaged communities where transience is highest and parents are least able to fill out the required forms. While for others the issues boil down to financial sustainability and loss of income when income barely covers costs.

This is just one example. In the new year we’ll share a summary of what we’ve heard, before then consulting on our proposed options, likely in April or May.

For now, I want to recognise the efforts of everyone who has put their time and aroha into travelling this journey with us so far. This includes those who’ve participated and the many Ministry of Education staff in Wellington and the Tākiwa who have supported us. The amount of effort that has gone into preparing feedback and information for us, a huge range of papers, undertaking research and analysis and organising our engagement programme is immense.

It’s all so valuable, informing our work to provide advice and recommendations to improve the ECE funding system for children, parents, the sector and the economy.

Ka kite

Linda Meade

Simon Laube

Member

Simon has more than 15 years of experience in education policy, system transformation, and strategic leadership. As Chief Executive of the Early Childhood Council, he has championed the interests of 1,500 ECE centre providers nationwide, leading sector-wide advocacy, policy development, and operational reform.

Simon has held senior roles in the Ministry of Education, where he oversaw charter school policy, managed complex transitions, and advised ministers on high-profile education reforms. Simon is known for his analytical rigour, systems thinking, and ability to drive meaningful change in politically sensitive environments.

This is a great opportunity to improve the system to better meet the needs of all families, enhancing access in particular for those children who stand to benefit the most, so they get a stronger start to their education.

Simon Laube

Melissa Glew (Ngāti Rangiwewehi)

Member

Melissa is a values-based leader with extensive experience across finance, governance, and organisational transformation. She has held Chief Financial Officer and cross-functional senior leadership roles in the ECE sector, overseeing portfolios spanning finance, ICT, property, and support services. She brings strong understanding of how funding systems, operational frameworks, and governance structures shape outcomes for children, families, and communities.

Her professional focus has been on ensuring transparency, accountability, and sustainability across complex, community-focused organisations. Guided by the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Melissa is deeply committed to improving equity and access within Aotearoa’s early childhood education system.

Ko te pūtake o te katoa, ko te ōritetanga me te mana taurite.

My mahi is guided by a belief that every tamaiti deserves equitable access to quality early learning — no matter where they come from or what their whānau circumstances may be.

Melissa Glew (Ngāti Rangiwewehi)

Kelly Seaburg

Member

Kelly brings 20 years’ experience in educational leadership and governance, with a strong understanding of early childhood education and literacy. As Director of New Shoots Children’s Centres (Sunnynook and Miniland), she has operated services and has deep knowledge of the funding system.

Kelly is currently involved in research projects supporting ECEs and transition-to-school programmes in vulnerable Auckland communities. A strong advocate for the early childhood sector, Kelly is committed to improving equity, quality, and access for all tamariki and whānau. Kelly is a member of the Ministry of Education’s Early Childhood Advisory Committee (ECAC).

I’ve seen firsthand the challenges our sector faces and the incredible dedication of kaiako and whānau who persevere regardless. My goal is to help shape a funding and policy environment that truly values early learning as the foundation of a strong, equitable Aotearoa.

Kelly Seaburg

Associate Professor Kane Meissel

Member

Kane has focused much of his educational research on improving educational experiences from early childhood into early adulthood. He has been involved in studies with national significance, including as Principal Investigator for the Our Voices study, and as Education Domain lead for the Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) longitudinal study from 2015-2023. His work with GUiNZ included research on early learning environments that promote early literacy, and parental decision-making around parental leave and early childhood education.

Ko te mātauranga te pou tokomanawa o te oranga – education is the cornerstone of life. Never is this more important than the early years. Equitable access to affordable, high-quality ECE is fundamental to lifelong learning. This review is an opportunity to shape funding systems to support this aim.

Associate Professor Kane Meissel

Sarah Hogan

Member

Sarah is deputy chief executive (Wellington) and principal economist at NZIER, bringing significant knowledge and expertise in economic principles and market dynamics. Her experience includes providing economic advice and supporting cost-benefit analysis at the Ministry of Health, developing systematic reviews, cost-effectiveness analysis reports, and health technology assessments for the Canadian, Australian and New Zealand health sectors, and teaching economics at both tertiary and secondary levels.

The critical role of a child’s environment in the early years on later outcomes has been demonstrated time and again, and in today’s world ECE is a direct enabler of labour force participation and family wellbeing. The challenge is to ensure the investment in ECE maximises those benefits.

Sarah Hogan

Kylie Eagle

Member

Brings a strong understanding of how quality early childhood education supports working parents and those wanting to enter the workforce, and contributes to more inclusive workplaces. She has extensive experience in People and Culture leadership roles across professional services, property, and telecommunications and is currently Chief People Officer at Fletcher Building. Kylie also brings a personal perspective on the value of ECE as a mum and step-mum to five children, and ‘Kiki’ to her (step) mokopuna, Riley, Aria and Hunter.

New Zealand needs parents to have access to good-quality, affordable and accessible childcare. Through my interest in in lifting the representation of women in traditionally male-dominated fields, I’ve seen the enormous benefits ECE brings to businesses, communities, and most importantly, whānau.

Kylie Eagle

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29 October 2025

18 November 2025

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