A New Zealand-based early childhood education and care (ECEC) approved provider has been ordered to pay more than NZ$200,000 after it failed to identify and address the risks posed by a dead tree located in the grounds of one of its centres, local news source The New Zealand Herald has reported.

Like Australia, men are underrepresented in New Zealand’s early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector. New Zealand publication, Stuff, recently spoke with men working in ECEC as early childhood teachers (ECTs) about their experiences, and with commentators from the sector, about the reasons behind this, and how it might be addressed.

An action plan to improve the support available for New Zealand children, including those engaged in early childhood education and care (ECEC), was recently announced by the Honourable Tracey Martin.

Early childhood teachers (ECTs) based in New Zealand are said to have been “closely following” recent teachers strikes in New Zealand, and will meet on Sunday to discuss wages, ChildForum spokesperson Dr Sarah Alexander has told stuffNZ.

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) service providers in New Zealand have spoken out about the challenges in covering wage costs for relief early childhood teachers (ECTs) as “a desperate teacher shortage bites”, local news source The New Zealand Herald has reported.