David Seymour Welcomes Major Shake-Up of Early Childhood Education Regulations

The Ministry recommends reducing, merging, or removing approximately 74% of these criteria, refocusing regulatory efforts on children’s welfare and educational outcomes rather than bureaucratic procedures.

Regulation Minister David Seymour has endorsed a transformative review of Early Childhood Education (ECE) regulations, accepting all 15 recommendations from the Ministry for Regulation’s first major report. The recommendations aim to modernize, simplify, and streamline the regulatory framework to ensure ECE services can focus on their primary mission: providing safe, high-quality care and education for children.

The report identifies inefficiencies and outdated practices, proposing changes to licensing, workforce management, compliance requirements, and regulations that foster innovation and growth in the sector. Minister Seymour described the initiative as a "major shake-up of the sector’s outdated system."

Key Recommendations to Overhaul ECE Regulations

Among the notable issues uncovered by the review is the excessive complexity of the current licensing system.

“Providers are currently required to meet 98 different licensing criteria for centre-based services. These include illogical and burdensome conditions such as holding immunisation records for every child over 15 months old or maintaining a constant indoor temperature of 18 degrees Celsius, which is impractical and unnecessary," Minister Seymour explained.

The Ministry recommends reducing, merging, or removing approximately 74% of these criteria, refocusing regulatory efforts on children’s welfare and educational outcomes rather than bureaucratic procedures.

Another significant finding is the overlap of regulatory responsibilities among government agencies, creating confusion and financial strain for ECE providers.

“A prime example is the differing requirements for door handle heights, with conflicting standards from Fire and Emergency NZ and MBIE, all overseen by the Ministry of Education. This redundancy drives up costs as providers grapple with unclear and sometimes contradictory guidelines,” Seymour said.

Comprehensive Engagement with the Sector

The review process involved extensive consultation, including over 2,300 submissions, feedback from parents, caregivers, providers, and workers, site visits to 16 ECE centers, and structured interviews and workshops with relevant agencies.

Minister Seymour expressed gratitude to all participants, acknowledging the critical input that shaped the recommendations.

Benefits for Providers, Parents, and the Sector

The proposed changes aim to alleviate administrative burdens, reduce compliance costs, and encourage new entrants to the sector, ultimately expanding the range of safe and affordable options for parents.

“This report is a significant step toward a thriving, competitive market that prioritizes children’s education and care without drowning providers in red tape,” Seymour said.

Next Steps

The Minister plans to present the recommendations to Cabinet early in the New Year to translate them into actionable reforms.

“We’ve set out to identify changes that reduce costs and headaches for providers while encouraging growth and quality improvements. I am pleased to see this vision coming to life,” he added.

The implementation of these recommendations could mark a turning point for the ECE sector, balancing safety, affordability, and innovation for the benefit of New Zealand’s youngest learners and their families.

A full copy of the report can be accessed here.