Our
Mission Statement
Te Tari Puna
Ora o Aotearoa /NZ Childcare Association is a bi-cultural
organisation committed to the promotion and maintenance of high
standards of early childhood education and care in Aotearoa/New
Zealand.
Our Vision
The
Association’s vision is that all children in Aotearoa/New Zealand
can access early childhood services that provide high quality
learning opportunities, complement and support their families’
lives and enable them to know and embrace the cultural heritage of
Aotearoa/New Zealand.
Te
Tari Puna Ora o Aotearoa/NZ Childcare Association was formed in
1963 by Sonia Davies and ECE centre licencees who sought to lift
the standards of education and care for young children in New
Zealand.
TTPOoA/NZCAToday, the Association continues that passion for early
childhood education through its programmes and services for people
working in the ECE sector. These services are underpinned by a
commitment to the principles Te Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of
Waitangi.
We
help early childhood education and care services and teachers
navigate changes in ECE through the following:
·
Advocacy for early childhood education and care in key policy
forums
·
Delivery of initial teacher education programmes—Diploma of
Teaching (ECE) and National Diploma in Teaching (ECE Pasifika)
in 16 locations nationwide.
·
Centre support, advice and current information for members
·
Our annual conference and professional development programmes
·
Advice and guidance programme for provisionally registered
teachers
·
Publications and resources for early childhood services.
The Association is governed by a Council made up of elected and
appointed members and led by a National President, supported by
National Kaumatua and a Kaiwhakahaere. Maori and Pasifika
interests are well represented and the Council includes academics
and centre owners.
National Office is based in Wellington and coordinates our key
activities in advocacy, membership services, teacher education and
professional development.
We
represent over 400 community-based and privately-owned early
education childcare services in New Zealand.
With 16 teaching bases nationwide, we are one of the largest
providers of initial early childhood teacher education in the
country.
Our History
Launched the Teacher Registration Advice and Guidance programme
Diploma
of Teaching (ECE) programme was re-developed and re-approved
–
Initiated customised professional development workshops and
seminars through Fuel – Te Kai Rangatira
–
Delivered its first national professional development contract for
Kei Tua o te Pae Assessment for Learning: Early Childhood
Exemplars and General Pasifika Professional Development programmes
to centres in Auckland
Received approval from NZQA
and Teachers Council to offer a (Level 7) National Diploma in
Teaching (ECE Pasifika)
– Commissioned an external review of its structures, leading to
adoption of a new governance model
– Received approval from NZQA and Teachers Council to offer a
(Level 7) Diploma of Teaching (Early Childhood Education)
–
Developed a relationship with Pacific Nations peoples culminating
in a joint training initiative with PACIFICA Inc
–
Registered as a Private Training Establishment accredited to offer
the (level 6) Certificate in Childcare by NZQA
–
The Association adopted its current name as an outward sign of its
commitment to the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of
Waitangi and changes to its structures and policies
-
NZ Association of Child Care Centres Inc. was born as a result of
the vision of early activists, Sonja Davies and Joyce Coss. Early
activities included lobbying for changes to the childcare
regulations and setting up field-based training for staff in
childcare centres
