Child Care News
Measles epidemic: Auckland schools told to send people home if they get a measles case
NZ Herald - Simon Collins - July 22, 2019Auckland schools and childcare centres have been told to send home all unvaccinated children and staff if they get a case of measles this term. The move comes as schools reopen today after a two-week holiday in which 70 new measles cases were reported across Auckland...
Auckland measles outbreak: Case confirmed at Life Childcare Centre
Stuff - Danielle Clent - July 20, 2019Unvaccinated children and staff will need to stay away from an Auckland childcare centre after a confirmed measles case. It comes as the Auckland Regional Public Health Service says it is expecting more cases with the third school term starting on Monday...
Kindy teachers' union to vote on new $75m pay offer
NZ Herald - July 16, 2019Kindergarten teachers have been offered pay parity with school teachers after four days negotiating with the Ministry of Education. The new pay offer would also see union members get a one-off lump sum of $1500. Under the settlement negotiated by NZEI Te Riu Roa, kindy teachers...
Northland Regional Council votes to provide childcare subsidy for elected members
Stuff - Denise Piper - July 16, 2019Councillors have voted to provide a childcare subsidy for elected members, in a move that is hoped to bring more diversity to this year's local body elections. The option for childcare was introduced by the Remuneration Authority after lobbying by Hurunui District Councillor and mother-of-three...
Teachers are teachers': Early childhood teachers call for pay parity
Stuff NZ - Josephine Franks - July 15, 2019Early childhood teachers facing "disillusion and burn out" say they deserve the same pay as their primary and secondary counterparts. Early childhood education (ECE) teachers have been closely following the teachers' strikes and met on Sunday to discuss pay, ChildForum's Dr Sarah Alexander said...
Properties housing three suburban childcare centres
NZ Herald - July 13, 2019Land and buildings housing a trio of modern well-established suburban early childhood care centres in Browns Bay, Henderson and Glenfield have been placed on the market. The three independent-owned suburban Auckland's properties are branded under various early learning centre chains...
Tornado rips through New Plymouth, damages two buildings
News Hub - Jamie Ensor - July 12, 2019A tornado has ripped through a New Plymouth suburb, causing destruction to two buildings. Fire services were called to Oropuriri Rd at roughly 2pm on Friday after reports of a tornado damaging two buildings. Kidszone Preschool and Nursery wrote on Facebook that due to a suspected tornado...
Childcare fees may rise as relief teachers' pay soars above $45 an hour in Auckland
NZ Herald - Simon Collins - July 9, 2019Childcare companies warn that they may have to raise fees to cover wage costs which have soared above $45 an hour for relief teachers in Auckland, as a desperate teacher shortage bites. Four early childhood sector groups have asked for an urgent meeting with Education Minister Chris Hipkins to ask...
Education Minister Chris Hipkins refuses 'crisis' meeting with ECE groups
RNZ - John Gerritsen - July 8, 2019The Early Childhood Council, Te Rito Maioha, New Zealand Kindergartens and Montessori Aotearoa New Zealand said services were struggling to survive because of chronic underfunding and a shortage of qualified teachers. The chief executive of the Early Childhood Council, Peter Reynolds...
On the brink in school holidays: Kiwis live one life event away from financial ruin
Stuff - Laine Moger - July 7, 2019As the school holidays begin, many families will be planning holidays and fun events. But others will be worrying about the extra financial stress, Laine Moger reports. When you're living from pay day to pay day, the cost of keeping the kids occupied during school holidays can throw the family budget...
New childcare centre in Papamoa
NZ Herald - July 6, 2019A purpose-built childcare centre in Tauranga's booming residential growth hub of Papamoa is for sale with a new 10-year lease. Completed earlier this year, 32-38 Te Wharo Dr and 20 Hills View Dr comprises an ultra-modern childcare centre with resource consent for up to 100 children...
ECE centres fear widening pay disparity with kindergartens
Newsie - John Gerritsen - July 5, 2019Early childhood services are worried they cannot afford to keep up if kindergarten teachers win the same big pay rises as school teachers recently got. They say their teachers are often paid $20,000 to $30,000 less than kindergarten teachers with the same qualifications and experience...
Councils must reject the “Nanny’s Charter”
Scoop - Press Release: NZ Taxpayers' Union - July 5, 2019The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling on councils across the country to reject the Childcare Allowance just introduced by the Remuneration Authority, allowing councillors and local board members to claim up to $6,000 per year from ratepayers for childcare. “Ratepayers should not be forced...
Awapuni Kindergarten closes its doors for the last time
Scoop - Press Release: Ruahine Kindergartens - July 5, 2019After 44 years, Awapuni Kindergarten closes its doors for the last time Following a period of consultation, the Board of Ruahine Kindergarten Association has confirmed that Awapuni Kindergarten will close its doors for the last time today, Friday 5th July - exactly 44 years after it first opened...
Whanganui Kindergarten Association formally joins with Porirua group
NZ Herald - July 5, 2019The next step for Whanganui kindergartens has begun after amalgamation with a Porirua-based association. The Whanganui Kindergarten Association (WKA) joined with He Whānau Manaaki (HWM) kindergarten association, which operates 85 kindergartens across the Wellington region...
