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Growing pains? Change in the NZ childcare market 2006-2016

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Author: 
Gallagher, A.
Format: 
Article
Publication Date: 
28 Feb 2017

Abstract

There has been a significant growth in childcare in New Zealand since 2006. Shaped by debates in geography, social policy and education around the marketization of childcare, this paper will make some key observations about the childcare market in NZ, and examine how this has changed with the introduction of the 20 hours ece scheme in 2007. In doing so I will illustrate how the landscape of childcare has changed in favour of a burgeoning private sector, and consider the recent impetus for corporatisation. Finally I will examine the discourse of parental ‘choice’ which pervades policy discussions around ece in New Zealand and how this plays out in the face of an expanding private for-profit sector.

-reprinted from Research Gate