Event information
The 2025 Early Childhood Council Awards will take place at our annual Gala Dinner, taking 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. We invite you to nominate individuals or teams who have demonstrated excellence in the following categories:
- Outstanding achievement: This award honours an individual who has demonstrated exceptional skill, dedication, and impact in their field, achieving remarkable success and setting a high standard for excellence.
- Contribution to the sector: This award recognises an individual who has made significant contributions to the ECE community through volunteer work, leadership, or other forms of service, making a positive difference in the lives of others.
- Teaching Excellence Award (new in 2025): This award recognises a kaiako or teaching staff who demonstrates outstanding commitment for the learning and wellbeing of tamariki.
- Innovation Award: This award celebrates a centre that has implemented innovative practices or programs which may promote diversity, inclusion, or sustainability, setting an example for others to follow and drive positive change.
- Exceptional community-based centre: This award recognises a community-based centre that has demonstrated outstanding commitment to providing high quality education and care for tamariki, engaging with local communities and setting a benchmark for excellence in the sector.
- Exceptional private centre: This award recognises a privately-owned centre that has demonstrated outstanding commitment to providing high quality education and care for tamariki, engaging with local communities and setting a benchmark for excellence in the sector.
Registration information
Registration for the award ceremony includes the Gala Dinner. All guests will be treated to dinner, a free drink and live entertainment from band Third Space!
Our dress up theme this year is 🔥Fire & Ice❄️ - whether you decide to channel bold reds or shimmering silvers, come dressed to impress!
Nomination criteria
Nominees can be self or peer nominated but must fit in to the following criteria:
- Either a current member centre or employee of the member, or
- a Life Member, or
- currently serving on the Executive Committee.
- Must be registered for the Gala Dinner and Awards to collect the award on Saturday 16 August at Te Puia in Rotorua. Conference registration is not required.
There are no limitations on the number of awards a person or centre can win. Please submit one nomination form per category. ECC reserves the right to exclude a nomination if they do not fit the above criteria.
Nominations will close at 5pm on Wednesday 9 July 2025 and all awards will be announced at the ECC Awards ceremony on Saturday 16 August at Te Puia in Rotorua.
Event sponsor
The ECC Gala Dinner and Awards Evening is 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. We look forward to sharing in this annual highlight of the ECC conference with you in August!
