What every NZ centre needs to do
ECE Licensing Criteria Changes
New ECE licensing criteria take effect on 20 April 2026. Immunisations, emergency drills, medicines, display requirements and more have all changed. Here's your plain-English guide.
Immunisation Records Removed
On 8 January 2026, the Health (Immunisation) Regulations 1995 were revoked. You must stop collecting vaccination certificates now, archive existing records for currently enrolled children, and update your enrolment forms.
The Aotearoa Immunisation Register (AIR) has replaced this function at a national level.
Emergency Drills (HS106)
Drill frequency changes from every 3 months to every 4 months (3 drills per year instead of 4). You need to review your Emergency Management Plan and confirm alignment with FENZ fire drill requirements — these operate on a separate cycle.
Every 3 months
Every 4 months
Medicine Administration (HS122)
Medicine categories have been restructured. What were Category II medicines now require Category I administration forms. Medication Action Plans now sit under Category II. Brief your team, update your procedures, and revise enrolment forms accordingly.
Update procedures & forms
Philosophy Statement Removed
The philosophy statement is no longer a licensing requirement. You'll need to make a team decision: retain it as a good-practice document, or let it go. It doesn't need to be in your policies for compliance purposes — but many centres are choosing to keep it.
Fridge Temperature (PF115)
For non-MPI certified kitchens, the maximum fridge temperature has changed. Update your food safety practices and daily monitoring accordingly.
Max 4°C
Max 5°C
Annual Planning (GMA107/108)
Annual budgets and annual plans are no longer mandated for licensed services. Only required for new services. You'll need to decide whether to continue producing them as a good-practice tool–many governance boards will want to retain them regardless.
Operational Review (GMA104)
Internal evaluation has moved to the Curriculum criteria. You'll need to ensure your self-review cycle is documented as a "review" process under the new structure. This is primarily a documentation update rather than a practice change.
Wall Thermometers (HS118)
Wall-mounted thermometers must be out of reach of children, with a maximum height of 150cm. Temperaturs should still be measured at 50cm high. Many services are switching to portable thermometers to simplify this.
Your compliance timeline
01
8 January 2026
Immunisation requirements revoked
Health (Immunisation) Regulations 1995 revoked. Centres should have already stopped collecting vaccination certificates and archived existing records.
02
Now → 20 April 2026
Prepare for all remaining changes
Update emergency management plans, medicine procedures, enrolment forms, parent information systems, and ensure all written policies reflect the new criteria numbers and wording.
03
20 April 2026 deadline
New licensing criteria take full effect
All centre-based and home-based services must be fully compliant. ERO review officers will assess against the new criteria from this date.
04
Ongoing
Policy reviews and staff briefings
Brief your team on the changes – particularly medicines, emergency drills, and the new parent information access approach. We also recommend reflecting on strategic policy and procedure changes as part of your policy review cycle.
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Policies already updated for the 20 April 2026 changes.
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Save your spot
- Montessori focus: Licensing Changes Made Simple WebinarTue, 24 MarMicrosoft Teams
- Licensing Changes Made Simple WebinarFri, 27 MarMicrosoft Teams