About Us
Who We Are
New Zealand Kindergartens is a National For-Purpose Peak Body representing the interests of teacher-led, community-based Kindergartens across the motu. We support our members to deliver high-quality education that enhances social, emotional, economic, and environmental outcomes for Tamariki and their whānau.
We focus on four strategic pillars:
- Governance Excellence
- Leadership Excellence
- Business Excellence
- Advocacy Excellence
NZK is an Incorporated Society and Registered Charity, operating under a contemporary Constitution adopted on 16 November 2023.
NZK’s operating income is sourced from member levies, investment returns, supplier rebates, and service contracts. We are led by a Chief Executive Officer, working in partnership with the General Managers and Chief Executives of local Kindergarten Associations. We are a twenty-one person Network Leadership Team. Collectively we work to advance our strategic goals and strengthen the voice of Kindergarten nationwide.
Our Network, Reach and Impact
Today, NZK represents 19 of the 27 Kindergarten Associations across Aotearoa – over 70% of the national network.
Together, we:
- Provide early education and care for over 14,000 Tamariki
- Employ approximately 1,785 qualified Kaiako
- Employ over 380 support and administrative staff.
Collectively our members educate and care for...
More than
Over
Our Heart
At the heart of everything we do are the enduring principles of Friedrich Froebel and the uniquely Aotearoa vision of Te Whāriki.
Froebel, the founder of kindergarten, believed that early childhood was a sacred time of growth and discovery. He coined the term kindergarten — “children’s garden” — to reflect his belief that children, like plants, thrive when nurtured with care, freedom, and connection to the natural world.
Froebel introduced the idea of education through play, creativity, and hands-on exploration. His gifts — simple learning materials designed to awaken curiosity, patterning, and imagination — continue to inspire our approach today. Alongside these foundations, Te Whāriki offers a rich, culturally grounded curriculum that recognises children as competent, confident learners shaped by their relationships, identities, and environments. Together, Froebelian principles and Te Whāriki guide us in creating joyful, inclusive, and empowering early learning experiences.
They are not just ideas we follow — they are the heart of who we are.
Meet The NZK Board
Governance Excellence at NZK: Guided by the Institute of Directors' Four Pillars
The New Zealand Kindergartens Board governs the work of the Peak Body, as well as nine local Kindergarten Associations. It is committed to governance excellence through the adoption of the Institute of Directors’ Four Pillars of Governance Best Practice and the Good Governance Code – Waehere Whakahaere Tika. These frameworks shape how the Board leads with clarity, integrity, transparency and accountability.
- Determining Purpose
The Board actively leads and affirms NZK’s purpose—to advocate for and support high-quality, teacher-led early childhood education across Aotearoa. It takes full ownership of strategic direction, ensuring all decisions align with our enduring mission and values. - An Effective Governance Culture
NZK’s governance culture is grounded in trust, ethics, transparency and open dialogue. The Board fosters diversity of thought, respectful challenge, and shared responsibility, supporting a collaborative environment that nurtures bold thinking and principled decision-making. - Holding to Account
With a clear separation of governance and management, the Board ensures robust oversight of organisational performance. Through informed monitoring, transparent reporting, and constructive engagement with the Chief Executive, the Board holds itself and management accountable for delivering on strategic goals. - Effective Compliance
NZK’s Board upholds high standards of legal and fiduciary responsibility, ensuring compliance with both the letter and the spirit of the law. Governance excellence is maintained through sound processes, regular evaluations, and a deep commitment to public trust and sector leadership.
Together, these pillars underpin the Board’s role as kaitiaki of New Zealand Kindergartens’ legacy and future—ensuring the organisation remains fit-for-purpose, future-focused, and deeply connected to the communities it serves.
Our NZK Network Leadership Team
Our local Kindergarten Association General Managers and Chief Executives work together with our NZK Chief Executive Officer as a virtual leadership team focusing on operational and strategic priorities to enhance the future of teacher-led, quality early childhood education.
