How it all began
Te Tari Puna Ora o Aotearoa/NZ Childcare Association is a national organisation that was formed as NZ Association of Child Care Centres Inc in 1963 by Sonja Davies and other childcare licencees. This group advocated for regulatory improvements and funding to support quality improvements in early childhood education.
Here are some significant milestones in the history of NZCA:
1980
We registered with New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) as a Private Training Establishment accredited to offer the (Level 6) Certificate in Childcare
1988
We developed a relationship with Pacific Nations peoples culminating in a joint training initiative with PACIFICA Inc
1997
We received approval from NZQA and New Zealand Teachers Council to offer a (Level 7) Diploma of Teaching (Early Childhood Education)
1999
We adopted our current name as an outward sign of our commitment to the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and made changes to our structures and policies
1999
We commissioned an external review of our structures, leading to adoption of a new governance model
2004
We received approval from NZQA and NZTC to offer a (Level 7) National Diploma in Teaching (Early Childhood Education Pasifika)
2005
We won our first Ministry of Education national professional development contract to introduce Kei Tua o te Pae Assessment for Learning: Early Childhood Exemplars to early childhood services. We also won a general professional development programmes contract in partnership with Teuila consultancy to deliver professional development to Pasifika centres in Auckland
2006
Our own customised professional development workshops, Fuel Te Kai a te Rangatira were offered for the first time
2007
We launched our Teacher Registration Advice and Guidance programme
2008
We gained an exemption from the moratorium on developing new ECE degree programmes.
2009
Started work on developing the NZCA degree programme.
The history of NZCA from 1963 to 2003 is documented in Concerning Women Considering Children (May, Helen. 2003. New Zealand). The book is available from this website in the resources section
Tribute to Sonja Davies
By Helen May, Life Member
Sonja Davies, the founder and Patron of NZCA and staunch advocate for women and families, passed away in Wellington on Sunday 12 June 2005.
We pay tribute to this remarkable New Zealander whose untiring work and support for standards in childcare and training for early childhood workers began the journey toward current day developments. We remember gratefully that the journey was begun less than fifty years ago by Sonja and those she gathered around her to demand higher standards, government regulation and financial support for childcare centres.
Sonja was a pioneer who always led by example. The Early Childhood Workers Union became a reality in 1982 due to Sonja’s support of women who worked in childcare. She was also the first woman Vice President of the Federation of Labour, a founder of the NZ Working Women’s Council and a member of the World Peace Council. In 1987 she was elected to Parliament and was among the first recipients of the Order of New Zealand.
Sonja’s remarkable contribution to women and children will not be forgotten as her work is carried on by past and present members of NZCA.