The Early Childhood Education Reforms in New Zealand :

From the Integration with Education and Care to Construction of the National Curriculum

Abstract

This research examines how the reforms in 1986-1996 were carried out under the rhetoric of increasing equity and quality within the early childhood education in New Zealand. It is evident that the role of government in early childhood policy issues is becoming more intrusive and prescriptive. There is a delicate balance of this being a good or bad thing for early childhood. It is necessary to uphold and protect this intrusion for early childhood philosophy and supports, so that the researchers encourage quality programs. Te Whariki, or "National Early Childhood Curriculum," is co-opted for political or pedagogical reasons outside of the current needs of early childhood education.