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Our current newsletter:
OMEP Aotearoa Pānui #8
Mahuru September 2026
OMEP Aotearoa Pānui #7 2026. Mahuru / September
Kia ora e te whānau
Whangaia ka tupu ka puāwai
That which is nurtured blossoms and grows
Mahuru marks the beginning of spring, and the welcome evidence of this surrounds us. In my home garden the ngutakākā flowered early and have excelled themselves, providing an ongoing source of joy and promise of the warmer days to come. Once again, there’s plenty to read in this Pānui, commencing with a message from Fleur and Lynley. (Contributions welcome: deadline the 20th of each month.)
Marianne
Co-Presidents’ Message:
Kia ora koutou katoa,
As we move through September, there is much happening across early childhood communities in Aotearoa that deserves our attention and collective action. With local elections approaching, now is an important time to consider how children’s rights and wellbeing are reflected in political priorities. I encourage members to take a look at the Tick4Kids election scorecards, which provide a useful snapshot of where parties stand on issues affecting children and young people.
There are also several opportunities to contribute to the ongoing development of knowledge and practice in our field. The International Journal of Early Childhood (IJEC) currently has a number of calls for submissions, offering a valuable platform for sharing research, innovation, and practice-based insights from Aotearoa. If you have been considering writing about your work, this may be the perfect opportunity to contribute to the international conversation.
At a time when many challenges continue to shape the early childhood sector, I want to acknowledge and thank everyone for the work you do each day. Whether through teaching, research, leadership, advocacy, or community engagement, your commitment helps ensure that children remain at the heart of what we do. Together as an OMEP community, we can continue to uphold children's rights to high-quality, inclusive, and equitable education.
Ngā manaakitanga,
Fleur and Lynley
NOTICE OF AGM – SAVE THE DATE!
The 34th AGM of OMEP Aotearoa New Zealand will be held online on
Monday, 9 November, 2026 at 7 pm.
AGM information, including nomination forms and proxy voting forms, will be
sent to members in early October.
ELECTION 2026 - POLITICAL PARTIES’ POLICIES AFFECTING CHILDREN
Note: At the date of this Pānui, some parties have yet to announce their ECE policies.
Tick4Kids:
OMEP is a member of the Tick4Kids collective of advocacy organisations, and we’ve recently launched the 2026 Election Scorecards. Questions were sent to the political parties soliciting their responses on various issues affecting children, with a view to ease of comparison between the various parties. The topics covered are:
- Care and Protection
- Climate Action
- Education
- Health and Wellbeing
- Inclusion
- Incomes
- Protecting our Rights
- Youth Justice
This link takes you to the complete set:
Tick4Kids scorecards
Other sources from which to compare election policies:
- OECE Election Guide to Political Parties’ promises for ECE:
The OECE has been regularly updating information specific to the various political parties’ policies on ECE, see:
OECE summary: political parties' ECE policies
- Radio New Zealand Election Policy Guide:
Policies are listed in order of release - RNZ election policy guide
OMEP WORLD (https://omepworld.org/)
The first two items below provide really interesting insights into OMEP World’s reach at UN level.
OMEP contributes to UNESCO's Global Expert Symposium on Education for Sustainable Development Beyond 2030
Munich, Germany, 1-2 September 2026 – OMEP took part in the UNESCO Global Expert Symposium “Education for Sustainable Development Beyond 2030: Foresight Consultation” held in Munich and hosted by the German Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth together with the German Commission for UNESCO. The symposium brought together a select international group of experts to shape the Munich Foresight: Education for Sustainable Development Beyond 2030, a vision paper that will fee into the 2027 World Conference on ESD in Kenya and the expected Nairobi Consensus.
For more information, and details of OMEP’s submission, see: OMEP contribution to ESD protocols
OMEP Brings the Case for Early Childhood to the UN - But the Fight for Recognition Isn't Over
September 2026 – OMEP told the United Nations this week that a child’s right to education does not begin at the schoolhouse door – it begins at birth. The message landed at the second session of the UN Working Group considering a new Optional Protocol on education, but the session also exposed how much work remains before that principle is written into international law. Read more at: Right to education from birth
International Day of Peace – celebrated each year on September 21st
The 2026 International Day of Peace theme is “Invest in Peace - for Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day.” In observance of this day, the Subcommittee on Children in Migration of the NGO Committee on Migration has developed a statement titled "Invest in Children, Invest in Peace: Advancing Children's Rights in Conflict and Displacement."
The statement highlights the profound impacts of conflict and displacement on children, particularly during the critical early childhood years, and underscores the importance of investing in Early Childhood Development (ECD) as both a humanitarian priority and a strategy for prevention, peacebuilding, and social cohesion.
More information: International Day of Peace 2026
World OMEP Blog – Invitation to Contribute!
Consider sharing your work – in so doing you’d be joining an international audience of professionals and civil society leaders, amplifying successful models and ensuring that the voices of children and their educators remain at the centre of the global development agenda.
The OMEP Blog Refreshed, reconnected, and ready for Your voice
Welcome to the OMEP Blog – Rights from the Start!
“As part of our commitment to the newly updated OMEP website, we are delighted to reintroduce this space as your platform for the global dialogue on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE). For years, this blog has served as a bridge between theory and practice, and as we look toward the future, we are revitalizing this space to better serve our international community. Whether you are a researcher, educator, or advocate, this is your home for sharing critical insights, documenting impactful initiatives, and engaging with the pressing policy challenges facing children worldwide. We invite you to explore our fresh look and join us as we continue to elevate the voices that shape the early years.
Our blog is open for new entries—and we want to hear from you.
We are renewing our invitation to our members and partners across the globe to contribute. We are looking for perspectives that challenge, inform, and inspire our community. We welcome articles that highlight:
• Innovative practices: Share projects that are making a real difference, from community-based initiatives to classroom-level breakthroughs.
• Policy & Advocacy: Offer your perspective on how national or local policies impact children’s rights and how they align with global goals.
• Critical reflections: Engage with current topics - such as the digital divide, sustainability, peace education, or the impact of global crises on early learning.
• Research to practice: Turn your academic insights into actionable advice that practitioners can use on the ground.”
OMEP World blog guidelines
IJEC (International Journal for Early Childhood)
From OMEP Life Member and IJEC Editor-in-Chief, Jayne White:
On IJEC news - we have several special issues to encourage members to consider contributing to. They can be found here:
https://link.springer.com/journal/13158/collections?filter=All
A special issue around Digital ECE will be out next month, so something for members to watch out for.
Call for Papers – “Voices of Children in the Present and for the Future”, closes 31 December
IJEC Call for Papers
UPDATES FROM AFFILIATED ORGANISATIONS:
AGM and Presentation – 30 September. 12 noon – 1.30 pm
The guest speakers, Dr Amanda D’Souza and Leon Tan from CRAANZ will continue the “fireside conversation” theme and explore the role of civil society in incorporating the UNCRC into domestic law. Incorporating the UNCRC into Aotearoa New Zealand law
Leon Tan is a practising solicitor in civil and regulatory litigation with a longstanding interest in children's rights, public law and public international law.
Dr Amanda D’Souza is a public health physician at the Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington. Amanda convenes and teaches the postgraduate course on public policy and health systems and teaches medical students.
For more information see: CRAANZ AGM information
See the latest news from ARNEC at
ARNEC Community Update September
IPA (International Play Association:
REMINDER: World Conference, 2-5 November, Ōtautahi Christchurch
The full programme is now available –with many local and international presenters, see
IPA Conference Full Programme, 2026
Save the Children:
“Kiwi Kids Vote” – SCF have set up a hub through which children too young to vote in the general election can nevertheless vote for their preferred Prime Minister, share their views on why they chose that person, say what they think the Prime Minister should do, and check out potential candidates. There’s also a resource for teachers.
https://www.savethechildren.org.nz/news/education-hub/kiwi-kids-vote
ECE Hub – If you’ve not already explored this, there’s a wealth of resources relating to young children and their rights.
ECE resources
OTHER NEWS AND RECOMMENDED READING
Message from the new Children’s Commissioner, Jane Searle:
To read about her background and how she sees the role, see:
Mana Mokopuna Children's Commissioner
Ministry of Education:
For those of you who don’t receive it, the Ministry of Education has put out a Special Bulletin on the transfer of regulatory functions to the ERO, a change that took place on 1 September. From that date, the Education Review Office (ERO) will license and certify early childhood education (ECE) providers, license school hostels, register private schools, and deliver associated activities for these regulatory functions. ERO is also now responsible for receiving and managing complaints relating to early learning regulations; ERO is also the contact for reporting incidents.
MoE Special Bulletin, September 2026
Membership
To join OMEP or renew your subscription, just complete the 2026 membership form and pay the sub. You can pay either by bank transfer to OMEP Aotearoa/New Zealand, 02-0312-0043392-000, reference SUBS26, or by credit card, see https://www.omepaotearoa.org.nz/join.html
Don’t forget to include your surname with your bank details so there’s
no confusion about who the payment has come from.
Membership carries through until 31 December 2027
Mahuru September 2026
OMEP Aotearoa Pānui #7 2026. Mahuru / September
Kia ora e te whānau
Whangaia ka tupu ka puāwai
That which is nurtured blossoms and grows
Mahuru marks the beginning of spring, and the welcome evidence of this surrounds us. In my home garden the ngutakākā flowered early and have excelled themselves, providing an ongoing source of joy and promise of the warmer days to come. Once again, there’s plenty to read in this Pānui, commencing with a message from Fleur and Lynley. (Contributions welcome: deadline the 20th of each month.)
Marianne
Co-Presidents’ Message:
Kia ora koutou katoa,
As we move through September, there is much happening across early childhood communities in Aotearoa that deserves our attention and collective action. With local elections approaching, now is an important time to consider how children’s rights and wellbeing are reflected in political priorities. I encourage members to take a look at the Tick4Kids election scorecards, which provide a useful snapshot of where parties stand on issues affecting children and young people.
There are also several opportunities to contribute to the ongoing development of knowledge and practice in our field. The International Journal of Early Childhood (IJEC) currently has a number of calls for submissions, offering a valuable platform for sharing research, innovation, and practice-based insights from Aotearoa. If you have been considering writing about your work, this may be the perfect opportunity to contribute to the international conversation.
At a time when many challenges continue to shape the early childhood sector, I want to acknowledge and thank everyone for the work you do each day. Whether through teaching, research, leadership, advocacy, or community engagement, your commitment helps ensure that children remain at the heart of what we do. Together as an OMEP community, we can continue to uphold children's rights to high-quality, inclusive, and equitable education.
Ngā manaakitanga,
Fleur and Lynley
NOTICE OF AGM – SAVE THE DATE!
The 34th AGM of OMEP Aotearoa New Zealand will be held online on
Monday, 9 November, 2026 at 7 pm.
AGM information, including nomination forms and proxy voting forms, will be
sent to members in early October.
ELECTION 2026 - POLITICAL PARTIES’ POLICIES AFFECTING CHILDREN
Note: At the date of this Pānui, some parties have yet to announce their ECE policies.
Tick4Kids:
OMEP is a member of the Tick4Kids collective of advocacy organisations, and we’ve recently launched the 2026 Election Scorecards. Questions were sent to the political parties soliciting their responses on various issues affecting children, with a view to ease of comparison between the various parties. The topics covered are:
- Care and Protection
- Climate Action
- Education
- Health and Wellbeing
- Inclusion
- Incomes
- Protecting our Rights
- Youth Justice
This link takes you to the complete set:
Tick4Kids scorecards
Other sources from which to compare election policies:
- OECE Election Guide to Political Parties’ promises for ECE:
The OECE has been regularly updating information specific to the various political parties’ policies on ECE, see:
OECE summary: political parties' ECE policies
- Radio New Zealand Election Policy Guide:
Policies are listed in order of release - RNZ election policy guide
OMEP WORLD (https://omepworld.org/)
The first two items below provide really interesting insights into OMEP World’s reach at UN level.
OMEP contributes to UNESCO's Global Expert Symposium on Education for Sustainable Development Beyond 2030
Munich, Germany, 1-2 September 2026 – OMEP took part in the UNESCO Global Expert Symposium “Education for Sustainable Development Beyond 2030: Foresight Consultation” held in Munich and hosted by the German Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth together with the German Commission for UNESCO. The symposium brought together a select international group of experts to shape the Munich Foresight: Education for Sustainable Development Beyond 2030, a vision paper that will fee into the 2027 World Conference on ESD in Kenya and the expected Nairobi Consensus.
For more information, and details of OMEP’s submission, see: OMEP contribution to ESD protocols
OMEP Brings the Case for Early Childhood to the UN - But the Fight for Recognition Isn't Over
September 2026 – OMEP told the United Nations this week that a child’s right to education does not begin at the schoolhouse door – it begins at birth. The message landed at the second session of the UN Working Group considering a new Optional Protocol on education, but the session also exposed how much work remains before that principle is written into international law. Read more at: Right to education from birth
International Day of Peace – celebrated each year on September 21st
The 2026 International Day of Peace theme is “Invest in Peace - for Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day.” In observance of this day, the Subcommittee on Children in Migration of the NGO Committee on Migration has developed a statement titled "Invest in Children, Invest in Peace: Advancing Children's Rights in Conflict and Displacement."
The statement highlights the profound impacts of conflict and displacement on children, particularly during the critical early childhood years, and underscores the importance of investing in Early Childhood Development (ECD) as both a humanitarian priority and a strategy for prevention, peacebuilding, and social cohesion.
More information: International Day of Peace 2026
World OMEP Blog – Invitation to Contribute!
Consider sharing your work – in so doing you’d be joining an international audience of professionals and civil society leaders, amplifying successful models and ensuring that the voices of children and their educators remain at the centre of the global development agenda.
The OMEP Blog Refreshed, reconnected, and ready for Your voice
Welcome to the OMEP Blog – Rights from the Start!
“As part of our commitment to the newly updated OMEP website, we are delighted to reintroduce this space as your platform for the global dialogue on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE). For years, this blog has served as a bridge between theory and practice, and as we look toward the future, we are revitalizing this space to better serve our international community. Whether you are a researcher, educator, or advocate, this is your home for sharing critical insights, documenting impactful initiatives, and engaging with the pressing policy challenges facing children worldwide. We invite you to explore our fresh look and join us as we continue to elevate the voices that shape the early years.
Our blog is open for new entries—and we want to hear from you.
We are renewing our invitation to our members and partners across the globe to contribute. We are looking for perspectives that challenge, inform, and inspire our community. We welcome articles that highlight:
• Innovative practices: Share projects that are making a real difference, from community-based initiatives to classroom-level breakthroughs.
• Policy & Advocacy: Offer your perspective on how national or local policies impact children’s rights and how they align with global goals.
• Critical reflections: Engage with current topics - such as the digital divide, sustainability, peace education, or the impact of global crises on early learning.
• Research to practice: Turn your academic insights into actionable advice that practitioners can use on the ground.”
OMEP World blog guidelines
IJEC (International Journal for Early Childhood)
From OMEP Life Member and IJEC Editor-in-Chief, Jayne White:
On IJEC news - we have several special issues to encourage members to consider contributing to. They can be found here:
https://link.springer.com/journal/13158/collections?filter=All
A special issue around Digital ECE will be out next month, so something for members to watch out for.
Call for Papers – “Voices of Children in the Present and for the Future”, closes 31 December
IJEC Call for Papers
UPDATES FROM AFFILIATED ORGANISATIONS:
AGM and Presentation – 30 September. 12 noon – 1.30 pm
The guest speakers, Dr Amanda D’Souza and Leon Tan from CRAANZ will continue the “fireside conversation” theme and explore the role of civil society in incorporating the UNCRC into domestic law. Incorporating the UNCRC into Aotearoa New Zealand law
Leon Tan is a practising solicitor in civil and regulatory litigation with a longstanding interest in children's rights, public law and public international law.
Dr Amanda D’Souza is a public health physician at the Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington. Amanda convenes and teaches the postgraduate course on public policy and health systems and teaches medical students.
For more information see: CRAANZ AGM information
See the latest news from ARNEC at
ARNEC Community Update September
IPA (International Play Association:
REMINDER: World Conference, 2-5 November, Ōtautahi Christchurch
The full programme is now available –with many local and international presenters, see
IPA Conference Full Programme, 2026
Save the Children:
“Kiwi Kids Vote” – SCF have set up a hub through which children too young to vote in the general election can nevertheless vote for their preferred Prime Minister, share their views on why they chose that person, say what they think the Prime Minister should do, and check out potential candidates. There’s also a resource for teachers.
https://www.savethechildren.org.nz/news/education-hub/kiwi-kids-vote
ECE Hub – If you’ve not already explored this, there’s a wealth of resources relating to young children and their rights.
ECE resources
OTHER NEWS AND RECOMMENDED READING
Message from the new Children’s Commissioner, Jane Searle:
To read about her background and how she sees the role, see:
Mana Mokopuna Children's Commissioner
Ministry of Education:
For those of you who don’t receive it, the Ministry of Education has put out a Special Bulletin on the transfer of regulatory functions to the ERO, a change that took place on 1 September. From that date, the Education Review Office (ERO) will license and certify early childhood education (ECE) providers, license school hostels, register private schools, and deliver associated activities for these regulatory functions. ERO is also now responsible for receiving and managing complaints relating to early learning regulations; ERO is also the contact for reporting incidents.
MoE Special Bulletin, September 2026
Membership
To join OMEP or renew your subscription, just complete the 2026 membership form and pay the sub. You can pay either by bank transfer to OMEP Aotearoa/New Zealand, 02-0312-0043392-000, reference SUBS26, or by credit card, see https://www.omepaotearoa.org.nz/join.html
Don’t forget to include your surname with your bank details so there’s
no confusion about who the payment has come from.
Membership carries through until 31 December 2027
Newsletter Archive
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| omep_aotearoa_pānui_2_april_2026.pdf |
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| omep_newsletter_no_4_september_2023.pdf |
| omep_newsletter_no._1_feb_2023.pdf |
| omep_newsletter_june_2022.pdf |
| omep_newsletter_april_2022.pdf |
| omep_newsletter_february_2022.pdf |
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