What changed in the April 2026 ECE Licensing Criteria update?
The April 2026 New Zealand ECE licensing update reduced:
- centre-based criteria from 97 criteria to 80
- home-based criteria from 80 criteria to 70
The update also removed many documentation and record-keeping requirements previously maintained by ECE services.
How many policies are now required under the 2026 ECE Licensing Criteria?
Under the updated 2026 licensing framework, only a small core group of policies and procedures are specifically required by the licensing criteria.
Many services are still maintaining large numbers of unnecessary policies that are no longer mandated under the revised framework.
This guide identifies:
- the 13 core mandatory policy and procedure areas
- which records are still legally required
- which documentation requirements were removed
- what evidence services should still maintain for Ministry of Education and ERO review purposes
What are the new licensing criteria numbers?
The guide includes a side-by-side licensing criteria comparison table showing:
- old licensing criteria numbers
- updated 2026 licensing criteria numbers
- removed criteria
- renamed criteria
- relocated requirements
Examples include:
- HS2 → removed
- HS3 → HS103
- HS7 → HS105
- GMA6 → GMA104
- PF26 → PF121
This makes it easier to update existing ECE policies, procedures, forms, and audit systems.
What does the guide include?
The ECE Licensing Update – Fast Track Guide includes:
- Side-by-side licensing criteria code comparison tables
- A breakdown of required vs removed documentation
- Documentation retention guidance
- Explanations of operational review changes
- Clarification of evidence requirements
- Practical compliance guidance for centre-based ECE services
- Direct links to relevant licensing criteria and Ministry guidance
- Examples of unnecessary documentation many centres can now remove
What areas are no longer heavily checked under the new licensing criteria?
One of the biggest practical shifts in the 2026 licensing update is that several operational areas are now primarily managed through compliance with other legislation, certification systems, or external authorities.
Rather than requiring extensive duplicate ECE-specific policy systems, services are generally expected to maintain evidence that they are meeting the relevant external legal or certification requirements.
Examples include:
1. Food Safety & Kitchen Compliance
Food safety compliance is primarily managed through:
- Food Act registration
- National Programme requirements
- Local council registration and verification systems
2. Building Compliance & Premises Safety
Building compliance requirements are primarily demonstrated through:
- Building Warrant of Fitness (BWOF)
- Code Compliance Certificates
- compliance with the Building Act
This reduces the need for duplicate ECE-specific premises documentation covering areas already regulated through building legislation.
3. Employment Law & HR Systems
Employment matters such as:
- wage compliance
- employment agreements
- leave entitlements
- employment disputes
remain governed by employment legislation and the Employment Relations Authority.
The licensing criteria continue to require:
- induction procedures
- professional growth processes
- serious misconduct definitions
- discipline/dismissal procedures
- safety checking systems
This product is sold as a single-centre licence under our Terms and Conditions. Purchase permits exclusive use within your specific ECE service only. Distribution, file sharing, or reproduction of this editable Word document outside of your immediate organisation is strictly prohibited under New Zealand copyright law.
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