Media Releases

Fair Funding For Children Welcomed 14/11/04

Don Brash's announcement that the National Party would put an end to the discrimination in early childhood funding is welcomed by the Early Childhood Council. "We have strongly opposed the Labour Government's 20 free hours funding policy as it unfairly discriminates against children on the basis of the ownership of the early childhood service they attend," said Mrs Thorne, Chief Executive of the Early Childhood Council. Labour's funding policy, to be introduced in 2007, will see less funding provided to children who attend privately owned services than community owned. In claiming that "private centres will certainly not miss out", Minister Mallard simply highlights his pre-occupation with service ownership rather than the needs of children and families. "It's not centres that miss out when funding policies discriminate, it's children and their families who miss out," said Mrs Thorne. The majority of 3 -4 year olds from working families will not receive the benefit of the additional funding for 20 free hours if this policy it is allowed to proceed in its current form. 45,000 children will be disadvantaged simply because Trevor Mallard has an aversion to private education. By focussing on the needs of the child and their family, Don Brash has demonstrated that National does trust parents. A fair funding system would recognise and respect the rights of all parents to choose the best early childhood education for their children and would not discriminate against them on the basis of their choice. The Early Childhood Council believes that the parents who use early childhood services have the right to choose between a wide range of services and that each child should be entitled to the same level of government funding irrespective of the type of centre or management style they choose; and that the provision of quality childcare services can be effectively and efficiently met by a broad range of individually managed and motivated centres that provide a choice for parents and children. The Early Childhood Council represents the managers and owners of over 800 community owned and privately owned services throughout New Zealand.

14/11/04 - Sue Thorne