The leading voice in the ECE sector

The Early Childhood Council is the largest body for childcare centre owners and managers in the sector; representing more than 1,300 centres across New Zealand. We support and encourage the provision of quality education and care services.

Our purpose

The Early Childhood Council supports members with professional development, events, expert advice, tools and resources, discounted products and services, and advocates for the early learning sector.

Just like the sector, our membership is diverse and comprises of community-owned centres, private centres, and voluntary groups from a range of locations across the country.

Become a member today and be part of a community that is committed to improving the learning and development outcomes of children in New Zealand.

Become a member

Engage with the ECE Funding Review

The Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG) is currently undertaking public consultation across the country, use the button below to register or view our Funding Review webpage now.

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5 Percent for Under 5s

The future of quality early childhood education is at risk. More centres are closing. More are having to increase prices for parents, at a time when many whānau are struggling already. We’re calling on the government to commit to a 5 percent cost adjustment in the 2026 budget. 

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Engage with the ECE Funding Review

We encourage you to make your voice heard and get involved with the ECE Funding Review. ECC members are invited to engage with and provide feedback to ECC's Steering Group.

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Join us at the ECC Conference 2026

31 July - 1 August 2026 | Te Whanganui-a-Tara / Wellington

This two day conference in Wellington is designed to make success both actionable and achievable. We invite ECE centre owners, managers, and teachers to find their power, embrace challenges as opportunities, and make intentional choices that lead to lasting growth. Through inspiring keynotes, practical workshops, and opportunities to connect, you’ll gain the tools and confidence to turn aspiration into real sustainable success.

More information Register now

What Our Members Say About Us

“Testimonial text here from a real customer. Make it authentic and relevant to your audience"

Matthew Turner

“Testimonial text here from a real customer. Make it authentic and relevant to your audience"

Sarah Evans

“Testimonial text here from a real customer. Make it authentic and relevant to your audience"

“100% worth every cent, the support and information you can get from a membership with ECC is incredibly valuable”

Natasha

"The ECC is my go to first stop when I am faced with an unknown in ownership or challenge. My job would be so much harder without the support and resources provided through my ECC membership. Thanks a bunch!"

Alana

”I've been in the ECE industry for 10 years and an ECC member from the start. It's the best money I spend each year, and I recommend it to everyone. I don’t know what I’d do without ECC!”

Rhiannon

"ECC is very informative and have been my go to over the past 2-3 years, being new to management and having to learn everything from scratch with no hand over from previous manager! The tools, resources, PD, webinars and discussions have been very useful (and continue to be so)."

Tania

“We appreciate the hard work that has gone into developing policy templates and other tools that we can customise for use in our Aoga. We would recommend ECC membership for other Pacific ECE centres who would benefit from your services.”

Eirenei

"As a small centre owner and manager you cannot appreciate how wonderful it is to have definitive information about regulations and Government intiatives like those shared by ECC. Thank you for your amazing ongoing support and continued advocacy for our sector!"

Lynda

Events & Professional Development

The Early Childhood Council offers a range of online and in-person events for ECE professionals. These events cover professional development for all roles across the sector, informational webinars and networking opportunities to help you build connections.

Access all events through our platform partner ECE Learning Unlimited.

ECC Learning Centre

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News & Articles

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The Power of Supportive Storytelling in ECE

May 5th 2026Tamariki nod, recalling the physical effort, the slips, and the eventual triumph of making it across. What once felt impossible slowly became manageable, not because the equipment had changed, butRead more

Five Ways to Keep Your Centre Healthier This Winter

May 5th 2026It’s every centre manager’s nightmare: another outbreak of illness. Sickness in early childhood education settings is incredibly common and the reasons are obvious: Young children have developingRead more

Why ECEs need to take cyber risks seriously

April 8th 2026Digital tools now play a crucial role in the day to day running of early childhood centres. Enrolment systems, payroll, attendance tracking, parent communication apps, and stored records all relyRead more

Learning through Visual Art: Sketching Chicks

April 8th 2026Take a blank sheet of paper and try drawing something. For many adults, it’s unexpectedly nerve-wracking. What do you draw? Where do you start? Overthinking quickly takesRead more

5 Percent to Secure Our Children’s Future

March 3rd 2026Simon Laube, ECC CEO, says Government funding for the sector has not been keeping up with inflation. Since 2019, this has equated to a drop in funding by more than 11 percent in real terms. GrowingRead more

Compliance is not the Enemy; Confusion is

March 2nd 2026Early childhood education has a long memory. Leaders remember the fear years, the uncertain years, the “are we doing this right?” years. And here’s the uncomfortable truth: most of what theRead more

Supporting Blind Low Vision Children in ECE

March 2nd 2026In New Zealand there are many blind low vision children who experience difficulty transitioning into and out of ECEs. There is also lack of training or professional development for teachers in relatiRead more

Noticing Children Who May Need Extra Support in ECE, Without Labels or Guesswork

February 2nd 2026In early learning settings, difference is normal. Some children may benefit from extra support for attention, communication, sensory needs, or behaviour. Often the hardest part is knowing what toRead more

Dance: More than Just Music and Movement

December 1st 2025Often in early learning settings dance comes as an add-on to music, as suggested by the phrase ‘Music and Movement’, but there is more to dance than this. This article considers the benefits ofRead more

The Hidden Cost of Outdated Fee Schedules

November 25th 2025In today’s economic climate, every dollar counts for families and services alike. With rent, insurance, and wage costs rising faster than government contributions, private revenue from fees has nevRead more

Celebrating 20 Years of Support for New Zealand’s Early Childhood Sector

November 4th 2025In 2005, after owning and operating Strawberry Fields childcare centres in Auckland, I founded New Zealand Childcare Finance - a specialist finance company to help early childhood operators accessRead more

Te Kete Rangimārie: Our Story

October 28th 2025Rangimārie: 1. (noun) a state of peacefulness, harmony and acceptance. Te Kete: 1. (noun) the basket or kit. Tōtara Kids Early Learning Centre is the realisation of Elise’s lifelong dream to ownRead more

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Interested in becoming a member?

Membership with the Early Childhood Council unlocks a range of benefits for your service and its staff. Join more than 1,300 member centres in New Zealand and become a member today.

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