20/08/2026
He Whānau Manaaki for Quality Early Childhood Education,
Mā te kotahitanga o ngā whānau, ngā kaiako me ngā mokopuna ka puāwai te whenua, ka puāwai te tangata, ka puāwai anō hoki te oranga mō ngā rā kei te haere mai.
Through the unity of whānau, kaiako, and mokopuna, the land will flourish, the people will flourish, and wellbeing will flourish for generations to come.
This vision is deeply connected to the quality of education our tamariki receive in their earliest years. For this reason, we are increasingly concerned about the proposed changes to Early Childhood Education funding and the impact these changes could have on children, whānau, and teachers across Aotearoa. As qualified and registered kindergarten teachers, we have dedicated years to gaining our qualifications, maintaining our registration, and developing the knowledge and skills needed to support tamariki to thrive as lifelong learners.
Every day, we witness the power of Te Whāriki, New Zealand’s world-leading early childhood curriculum. We know that the early years are critical in shaping children’s confidence, identity, relationships, learning dispositions, and future success. It is therefore deeply concerning to consider the possibility of removing funding that supports services employing 100% qualified teachers. Such changes could result in fewer qualified teachers in centres, increased pressure on teaching teams, changes to teacher pay and conditions, and potentially the loss of valuable teaching positions.
At Katoa Kindergarten and throughout He Whānau Manaaki Kindergartens, teaching is more than a profession. It is a commitment to our tamariki, whānau, and communities. We are passionate about supporting children to develop a strong sense of identity, independence, belonging, and cultural pride. We want our tamariki to grow up confident in who they are, secure in their whakapapa, and empowered to contribute positively to the world around them.
We must also ask why the focus appears to be on reducing investment in quality early childhood education when large private ECE providers continue to generate significant profits. Quality education should never be compromised. Our tamariki deserve access to qualified, registered, and experienced teachers who understand child development and can provide rich learning opportunities that support the aspirations of whānau and communities.
Our whānau deserve confidence in knowing their children are receiving the very best start in life. Our teachers deserve recognition for the qualifications, expertise, and professional knowledge they have worked so hard to achieve. Most importantly, our tamariki deserve learning environments where relationships, culture, quality teaching, and wellbeing remain at the heart of everything we do.
This is not simply an issue for teachers. It is an issue for our tamariki, our whānau, our communities, and the future of education in Aotearoa. We encourage everyone to learn more about these proposed changes, ask questions, engage in discussions, and ensure that your voice is heard.
Our mokopuna are the reason we do what we do. Their education is a taonga that must be protected. Qualified teachers are one of the foundations that uphold that taonga. Together, we must continue to nurture, value, and strengthen quality early childhood education so that every child has the opportunity to flourish.
“He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.”
What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people.
Our tamariki matter. Their education matters. Our teachers matter. Early childhood education matters. By standing together, we can protect the quality learning experiences that help our mokopuna grow into confident, capable, and connected citizens of Aotearoa.
