Opinion – Lynley TullochRecent discussion surrounding the funding review has increasingly described early childhood education as a merit good rather than a public good. By Dr Lynley Tulloch, Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at Auckland University of Technology and Co-President (Tangata Tiriti), OMEP Aotearoa New ZealandRight now, the Government is deciding the future of early childhood education in Aotearoa. Recent discussion surrounding the funding review has increasingly described early childhood education as a merit good rather than a public good. This understanding supports the idea of free, high-quality early childhood education that is universally available to every child. The public call to respond to the New Zealand Early Childhood Education (ECE) funding system review is open, with feedback closing on 6 August 2026.