ECC Awards 2025
The Early Childhood Council Awards 2025 took place on Saturday 16 August at Te Puia in Rotorua.
These awards are an opportunity to recognize and honor the exceptional contributions, dedication, and hard work of our members. From sector leadership, innovation and outstanding teaching practice, our awards highlight the very best of the ECC membership and ECE sector.
The evening was proudly sponsored by New Zealand Tertiary College.
Award Winners and Nominees
In 2025 we were thrilled to receive over 70 strong nominations across six award categories. The calibre of centres and individuals reflected the depth of talent, passion, and innovation within our sector - making the judging process both inspiring and challenging. Every nominee should be proud of the incredible contributions they are making to early learning in Aotearoa.
Outstanding Achievement Award: Allen Court
The Outstanding Achievement Award honours someone whose work not only meets expectations but transforms them. This year’s winner exemplifies visionary leadership and measurable impact in early childhood education.
As Co-Founder of Kiddywinkles, Allen empowers educators to become leaders, continually lifting standards from within. In 2025, he authored Big Leaps from Little Feet: A Dad’s Guide to the Early Years, which became a #1 bestseller within five days, resonating with parents worldwide.
He also hosts the Kiddywinkles Podcast: Building Kids for Greatness, featuring guests like Suzy Cato, and sharing practical, inspiring advice for raising confident, resilient children.
Allen’s Can by Can campaign united retailers, public figures, and tamariki to donate over 2,000 food items to the Salvation Army, teaching kindness and community contribution through action.
Allen champions mentoring, leadership growth, and collaboration. His thoughtful, strategic influence is raising the standard of early learning across his centres and the wider community, with Minister Erica Stanford praising Kiddywinkles’ school-readiness focus.
Contribution to the Sector Award: Todd Painter
The Contribution to the Sector Award recognises an individual whose dedication and service have made a meaningful difference in the early childhood education community. This year’s winner is a highly respected leader with over 25 years of experience in centre management, governance, and financial leadership.
As a long-time centre owner and advisor, Todd has developed specialist expertise in funding mechanisms, strategic financial planning, and operational management. He supports centres across Aotearoa to strengthen governance, leadership frameworks, and internal systems, helping them navigate complex regulatory and funding environments with confidence.
Todd’s guidance has enabled countless services to achieve long-term stability, improve management structures, and build capacity for growth. He balances the bigger picture with the day-to-day realities of running an ECE service, helping teams streamline processes, enhance communication, and foster positive workplace cultures that retain high-quality staff.
Through his pragmatic, relationship-focused approach, Todd has made a substantial and lasting impact on the sector.
Teaching Excellence Award: Sam Haynes
The Teaching Excellence Award, new in 2025, recognises a teacher whose passion, skill, and dedication make a profound difference in the lives of tamariki. This year’s winner exemplifies these qualities through her thoughtful, intentional, and inspiring practice.
Grounded in Te Whāriki and inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy, Sam creates an environment where every child feels seen, heard, and empowered. Her daily practice embodies kindness and empathy, supporting children to express themselves confidently while fostering wellbeing and belonging.
Under Sam’s leadership, the preschool room has blossomed into a vibrant, child-led space, rich in exploration, creativity, and learning through the hundred languages — from puppets and clay to paint and open-ended materials.
She nurtures a love of literacy through storytelling, dialogue, and dramatic play, weaving language into everyday experiences and empowering children to share their voices in meaningful ways.
Sam also leads her team with heart and professionalism, encouraging collaboration, reflection, and growth. Her impact is evident not only in the learning environment she cultivates but in the joyful, confident learners she helps shape every day.
Dr. Darius Singh Innovation Award: Te Tupu o Te Tōrea
The Dr. Darius Singh Innovation Award recognises centres that implement innovative practices promoting diversity, inclusion, or sustainability, setting an example for others.
Te Tupu o Te Tōrea is a remarkable example of innovation realised through collaboration, vision, and cultural respect. More than a building, it is a carefully woven whāriki of history, purpose, and community, thoughtfully designed to take those who enter on a journey of learning, connection, and wellbeing.
Every detail, from room naming and colour palettes to hallway manifestations and hand-selected resources, reflects a thoughtful, innovative approach. The centre successfully integrates connection to whakapapa and whenua, while creating a calm, welcoming, and inspiring environment.
Te Tupu o Te Tōrea sets a benchmark for early learning spaces through creativity, cultural integrity, and collaboration, and ECC is honoured to present them with the Dr. Darius Singh Innovation Award.
Exceptional Private Centre: ACG Strathallan Preschool
From the moment children enter ACG Strathallan, they are welcomed into a calm, nurturing, and inspiring environment. They are empowered to explore, create, and express themselves, fostering confidence, curiosity, and resilience.
The curriculum is thoughtfully designed, child-led, and enriched with literacy, arts, and dramatic play, allowing every child’s voice and ideas to be celebrated.
The teaching team is exceptional—passionate, skilled, and deeply caring. They work collaboratively to deliver intentional, reflective, and innovative pedagogy, creating a culture where both children and educators thrive.
Families are valued as true partners, with warm, respectful relationships and excellent communication ensuring a sense of belonging. Through their unwavering dedication and focus on holistic development, ACG Strathallan Preschool serve as a model for other ECE centres.
Exceptional Community-Based Centre: Ako Langimalie Preschool
The Exceptional Community-Based Centre Award, recognises a centre demonstrating outstanding commitment to high-quality education while actively engaging with their local communities.
Ako Langimalie stands out for its unwavering commitment to culturally specific, bilingual education that strengthens both tamariki and their wider whānau.
Grounded in the Tongan principle of Ofa (love), the centre creates a nurturing environment where every child is seen, heard, and supported to thrive. Children receive dedicated support, and are encouraged to develop confidence, resilience, and a strong sense of identity.
The centre offers innovative learning experiences, including an immersive science playroom guided by Te Whāriki, fostering curiosity and exploration. Its whole-child, whole-whānau approach integrates early learning with community health, social services, and family support, ensuring continuity and wellbeing for generations.
Ako Langimalie’s dedicated, highly trained staff embody excellence in pedagogy and cultural responsiveness, continuously innovating to deliver outstanding education and care.
2025 Award Nominees
Outstanding Achievement
Daynah Smallwood
Joelene Waugh
Samantha Haynes
Contribution to the ECE Sector
Ivy Kathrina Garcia
Teaching Excellence Award
Anita Tumai
Helen Emery
Ivy Kathrina Garcia
Karl Bryant
Kuilani Tupou
Lavina Pockson
Toni Brown
Dr. Darius Singh Innovation Award
Borman Village Kids
Kakapo Creek Children's Garden
Tōtara Kids
Exceptional Private Centre
Explorers Early Learning Centre
Kakapo Creek Children's Garden
Kapiti Childrens Centre
Kiddywinkles Early Learning
Li'l Pumpkins Early Learning Limited
Little Waikato Scholars Prep School
Exceptional Community-Based Centre
Lake Ōkāreka Community Preschool
Event sponsor
The ECC Gala Dinner and Awards Evening 2025 was proudly sponsored by New Zealand Tertiary College (NZTC).
NZTC is proud to partner with the ECC to sponsor the Gala Dinner and awards. Honouring high-quality teaching amongst kaiako resulting in positive outcomes for ngā tamariki and their whānau, which is central to our own values as an organisation.
Phone: 0800 742 742
Email: admin@ecc.org.nz
Floor 1, Petherick Tower,
38 Waring Taylor Street, Wellington
PO Box 5649, Wellington 6140,
New Zealand