Kindergarten is a proactive, innovative early childhood service able to meet the diverse needs of its communities. Kindergarten is a united professional and efficient organisation for the provision of quality early childhood services. About New Zealand Kindergartens Inc New Zealand Kindergartens Incorporated (NZKI) is the parent body of 29 Kindergarten Associations throughout New Zealand representing more than 400 hundred kindergartens. Our organisation was constituted in 1926. The national office is based in Wellington at Level 1, 32 the Terrace. The National Administrator, runs the national office. The national board is made up of a President, Vice President, an Association Manager, an Early Childhood Professional and three other members. They are charged with governing our national umbrella organisation through setting its strategic direction, and then developing and carrying out activities required to meet the strategic goals over a given time period.  NZKI is funded by levies from the 29 kindergarten associations. This allows the national organisation to work towards its goals: To lobby effectively to improve the level of resources and the operating environment for kindergarten To ensure that NZKI supports the desired outcomes and purposes of its membership To promote a unified national voice to advocate for kindergarten To promote collaborative relationships with other stakeholders in early childhood To promote opportunities for kindergarten arising from government initiatives Each of our 29 member associations has its own management office and its own autonomous board, with parent, teacher and management representation. These associations are responsible for the overall management of the kindergartens in their area, including meeting all the running costs and paying the salaries of all teachers and staff. Most of this comes from a Government "grant in aid". Any shortfalls in funding are made up by voluntary family contributions and local fundraising. For further details on individual members visit our location page. All children of eligible age are welcome at kindergarten even if their family cannot pay the suggested contribution. We place high value on: Affordable access to kindergarten Community partnership Te Tiriti O Waitangi The commitment of paid and unpaid workers Effective, honest and open communication Innovation, flair and excellence Enjoyment of our work and the celebration of our successes Kindergartens in New Zealand Kindergartens were founded in New Zealand in 1886 in Dunedin. Kindergartens are now the single largest provider of early childhood education for our country's three to five year olds. (Ministry of Education Statistics to June 1999 showed 45,956 over two's attended kindergarten, almost 30% of the NZ total in ECE). Twenty per cent of those children come from Maori or Pacific Island families. Kindergarten fundamentals are: Building relationships Empowering individuals Valuing children Investing in/reflecting the community Preparation for life Kindergartens are committed to affordable, accessible, quality early childhood education for all children of eligible age whatever their family circumstances and wherever they live. Kindergartens employ only trained, registered teachers who provide stimulating educational programmes in a positive, friendly environment that is sensitive to different cultures and well suited to helping children with special needs and/or abilities. Children choose freely from planned indoor and outdoor activities in which they are supported, guided and encouraged by at least two trained, registered teachers at a time. Kindergartens build and extend skills in numeracy and literacy, as well as technology, in a language-rich and number-rich environment where play is the basis of learning.