ECE Funding Review Cannot Succeed Without New Investment, Says Te Rito MaiohaTe Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand is calling on the Government to rethink the way it funds early childhood education (ECE), warning that the current funding review risks redistributing scarcity rather than addressing the sector's underlying challenges. "Early childhood education is one of the smartest investments a country can make. Until the Government recognises early childhood education as a strategic national education investment, funding reforms will continue to force unnecessary trade-offs between quality, affordability and access. "For too long, early childhood education has been viewed primarily as a childcare subsidy. "High-quality early childhood education improves educational outcomes, supports workforce participation, strengthens communities and reduces future social costs.