60 Years Of Advocacy And Leadership For Early Childhood Education.

By Kathy Wolfe, Chief Executive | Pou Whakahaere, Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand

In 2023, Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand celebrates 60 years of advocacy and leadership for early childhood education in Aotearoa New Zealand.

I’m proud to lead an organisation which, for six decades, has challenged attitudes, stood up to Governments and driven positive change for young tamariki, whānau and parents (especially women), early childhood education services and kaiako.

Early childhood education is an essential service for young tamariki and whānau in our modern society, but sixty years ago the idea was a controversial topic.

Although more and more women in the 1960s wanted or needed to work and have careers, many people believed that children should be at home along with their mothers, and that childcare was bad for children.

With no government funding, standards or support for childcare services or training for staff, it’s true that quality in the early 1960s was a mixed bag. While some centres delivered wonderful early childhood education, others had no idea of children’s needs.

Led by women’s rights activist, politician and social justice campaigner Sonja Davies, the New Zealand Association of Childcare Centres formed to promote high standards supported by beneficial legislation and Government funding for early childhood education services.

Since 1963, our organisation and members have challenged attitudes about early childhood education and care; developed training and qualifications; influenced government policy; and grown knowledge and best practice in bicultural early childhood education.

We’ve changed our name. We’ve become leaders in bicultural learning and teaching. We’ve become an established and respected tertiary education provider growing qualified teachers, leaders and experts in early childhood and primary education.

And we’re still standing up for our members, speaking out for equity and recognition for early childhood education so all young tamariki get their chance to learn and thrive in the most important developmental years of their lives.

For our diamond 60th anniversary year, we’re sharing stories of the change-makers and diamonds of early childhood education. We’re also giving away gifts to our members, launching a book, uniting our sector for a national conference and hikoi to Parliament and making a big noise for early childhood education.

You can read these stories and more on our website: 60 years with mokopuna at heart (ecnz.ac.nz)

Kua tawhiti kē tō haerenga mai, kia kore e haere tonu. He nui rawa ō mahi, kia kore e mahi tonu.

You have come too far not to go further. You have done too much not to do more.

(Sir James Henare)

About Te Rito Maioha

Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand is a leading provider of bicultural early childhood and primary teacher education, new knowledge, best practice and advocacy.

As a membership organisation for ECE centres and kaiako, we are a strong voice for young tamariki and quality early childhood education. We advocate for our sector and connect our members with the latest professional development, issues and policy.

As a specialist tertiary education provider, we grow valued teachers, educators, leaders and experts with diploma, degree and postgraduate qualifications in bicultural early childhood and primary education. Our research and knowledge shapes teacher education, professional development and best practice.

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