New Zealand has one of the lowest ratios of full-time equivalent children to ECE teachers, with on average 7 children per teacher, compared with the OECD average of 14 full-time equivalent children to every teacher.
2012 BCE
Around 87% of 3 year-olds and 94% of 4 year-olds in New Zealand were enrolled in centre-based ECE in 2012.
2011 BCE
New Zealand had the third highest combined public and private expenditure per full-time equivalent child in ECE, around 49% higher than the OECD average.
2011 BCE
Literacy in Early Childhood Services: Good Practice
2010 BCE
Budget: announces removal of 100% funding rate. 20 hours extended to include- 5 yr olds, Kohanga Reo and Playcentre. 80-100% new funding rate will be reduced. Reduction in funding for 80% rate
2008 BCE
Updated Early childhood regulations released
2007 BCE
20 Hours Free introduced by labour Government
2004 BCE
Kei Tua o te Pae Assessment for Learning, Early Childhood Exemplars
2003 BCE
6 centres of Innovation Named
2002 BCE
10 Year Strategic plan
1998 BCE
Quality in Action (DOP's) and Regulations released
1996 BCE
First New Zealand curriculum for early childhood (Te Whāriki)
1991 BCE
First University to establish an Early Childhood Department (Waikato University)
1991 BCE
Impact of budget: Fees go up and wages go down, Cut in kindergarten ratios but increase of roll numbers, Ratio’s for funding for under 2 children was reduced and redirected towards a government led initiative “PAFT’
1990 BCE
E.C.E Curriculum acknowledged a bi-cultural nation was under development
Period: 1990 BCE to 1997 BCE
From 1990 to 1997 there was 1029 New E.C.E Centres opened
1989 BCE
“Before Fives” reform
1988 BCE
Department of Education replaced by Ministry of Education, whose primary role was to focus on policy development and funding
1988 BCE
Government report on E.C.E published “Education to be more”
1986 BCE
Labour Government transfers Early childhood services from department of Social Welfare to Department of Education
1983 BCE
Government introduces grants to support early childhood training
1982 BCE
Forerunner to Kohanga, Reo Hine Potaka developed the idea of Māori Curriculum for Māori Children
1981 BCE
National car seat rental programme introduced
1976 BCE
Government commissioned a report into childcare issues, Which found the need for better regulations and more trained staff (5 years until it was released in 1981)
1974 BCE
Government introduced fee subsidies for parents unable to afford costs of childcare
1970 BCE
Funding cuts caused closure of Karitane Hospitals replaced by day units (Plunket Karitane Family Centre)
1970 BCE
Plunket philosophy changes and Identifies child’s development (0-5)
1965 BCE
All Kindergartens staffed with fully trained teachers
1964 BCE
Cultural awareness is accept in centres and schools
1961 BCE
First married woman accepted into primary and kindergarten training
1960 BCE
First New Zealand Childcare regulations
1958 BCE
NZTKA Negotiates employment conditions
1954 BCE
New Zealand Free Kindergarten Association is formed
1954 BCE
Government tries to get more co-operation between Playcentres and kindergartens
1953 BCE
92 Playcentres
1951 BCE
– Recruitment and training of teachers was moved to teachers colleges
Period: 1950 BCE to 1960 BCE
From 1950 to 1960 Playcentre receive 2,635 pounds and kindergartens 247,000 pounds from the government
1949 BCE
Moira Bell (Nee Callagher) promotes child centred programmes
1948 BCE
New Zealand Playcentre federation is constituted
1946 BCE
40 playcenters across New Zealand
1940 BCE
New Playcentre movement
Period: 1939 BCE to 1945 BCE
World War Two
1936 BCE
34 Free Kindergartens 2 charitable crèches
1933 BCE
Elizabeth McCombs first woman member of parliament
1933 BCE
Elizabeth McCombs helped establish a community crèche run by a city council
1930 BCE
The Dunedin Nursery established
Period: 1929 BCE to 1939 BCE
The Great Depression
Period: 1914 BCE to 1918 BCE
World War One
1913 BCE
Mother craft manual “Feeding & Care of Baby”
1912 BCE
60 Branches formed with plunket nurses and 6 Karitane hospitals opened
1908 BCE
Karitane Home for babies opened in Dunedin
1907 BCE
Infant mortalities dropped to become the lowest in the world
1907 BCE
Plunket movement started in Dunedin
1906 BCE
Professional baby farmer (Mary Ann Guy) convicted of murder
1903 BCE
First Crèche in Wellington
1903 BCE
Mother Aubert established a crèche for children of unmarried mothers
1900 BCE
Mothering was seen as an occupation of value
1897 BCE
World congress for women
1897 BCE
Legislated the protection of children in family and workplaces
1895 BCE
Adoption of children Act
1893 BCE
Infant life protection act
1890 BCE
New Zealand's first foundling home
1890 BCE
Mother Aubert childrens protection Act
1890 BCE
Infants under one accounted for a quarter of deaths in the population
1889 BCE
First Kindergarten opened in Dunedin
1882 BCE
Industrial schools Act allowed for fostering
1879 BCE
Dunedin Creche formed
1879 BCE
Baby farming in New Zealand
1876 BCE
10 institutes established for orphaned and destitute children
1867 BCE
Neglected criminal childrens Act passed in New Zealand
1866 BCE
The Anglican church opened Parnell Orphan Home in Auckland
1850 BCE
Sisters of Mercy founded an orphanage in Auckland
1837 BCE
Kindergartens spread through Germany
1803 BCE
In Australia Protestant and Catholic orphan schools opened
1748 BCE
Dr William Cadgon wrote the first book on child rearing.
1741 BCE
The start of London foundling homes for infants
1722 BCE
In Parish work houses there was a 100% infant mortality rate (Older children survived)