The Len Reynolds Trust has made a formal submission to Parliament opposing the Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Bill in its current form.
While we support efforts to ensure the early childhood education (ECE) regulatory framework is effective, equitable, and transparent, this Bill introduces fundamental changes that:
Shift the purpose of ECE from being child-centred to serving economic objectives.
Fail to embed Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations despite direct implications for Māori-medium ECE.
Risk lowering quality and widening inequities through deregulation.
Have been developed through a rushed, limited, and high-risk process.
Why This Matters
ECE is one of the most powerful levers for creating equity, breaking cycles of disadvantage, and fostering thriving communities. High-quality early learning has proven benefits for educational achievement, health, and social cohesion - benefits that extend across generations.
The proposed Bill reframes ECE’s purpose to “support the choice of parents and caregivers to participate in the labour market.” While economic security for whānau is important, this approach risks instrumentalising children’s education for short-term productivity gains, rather than treating it as a public good.
International research from the OECD and UNICEF is clear: long-term economic returns from quality ECE far exceed short-term workforce participation gains.
Our Key Concerns
1. Tamariki First, Economy Second
Legislation should put children’s wellbeing, safety, and learning at the centre - with workforce participation as a flow-on benefit, not the primary goal.
2. Te Tiriti o Waitangi
The Bill’s silence on Te Tiriti undermines tino rangatiratanga and risks eroding Māori-led ECE provision. The law must commit to partnership, protection of te reo Māori, and equity in outcomes.
3. Quality at Risk
A broad deregulatory agenda could dilute teacher qualification standards, ratios, and curriculum requirements - disproportionately affecting rural, low-income, and Māori communities.
4. Flawed Process
The Ministry of Education has warned of “policy failure” due to rushed timelines, limited consultation, and insufficient analysis. This is unacceptable for legislation shaping the life chances of tamariki.
Our Recommendations
We have urged the Education and Workforce Select Committee to:
Keep child wellbeing and learning as the primary legislative purpose.
Embed Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations.
Maintain and strengthen quality safeguards.
Allow the full six-month consultation period.
Require a comprehensive Regulatory Impact Assessment.
Have Your Say
This Bill is now before the Education and Workforce Select Committee, which is accepting public submissions.
📅 Deadline: 1 September 2025
📄 Make your submission here: Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Bill - New Zealand Parliament
Every voice matters — especially when the future of tamariki is at stake.