7th October, 2026
Whānau Manaaki Kindergartens
is co-hosting a rally in support of high-quality early
childhood education that meets the needs of our children on
Wellington’s waterfront tomorrow.
With the election
only weeks away, our rally coincides with our annual
conference for 1100 kindergarten teachers and support
staff.
Early childhood education is at risk from cuts
to funding and to qualified teacher numbers and the rally
provides an opportunity to ask MPs and candidates from the
major parties to commit to high-quality affordable early
childhood education.
As an employers’ organisation
with staff, from Waiouru to Balclutha, we are taking the
step of joining with the education union, NZEI Te Riu Roa,
to remind families and politicians what matters most when
votes are cast.
Whānau Manaaki senior manager
Caroline Mareko says early childhood education lays the
foundation for all future learning. “If we want our
children to succeed, politicians must commit to the
conditions that enable children to
thrive.”
Representatives from political parties will
answer questions about funding cuts, teacher qualifications,
Te Tiriti o Waitangi, privatisation, pay parity for teachers
and limits on fees for families.
Ka whāngaia, ka
tupu, ka puāwai
That which is nurtured,
grows then
blossoms
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