For more than 50 years one voluntary organisation has met the changing needs of families and their communities and today remains highly active in the early childhood education sector.

• Playcentre is an internationally recognised early childhood organisation unique to New Zealand.

• It evolved in the 1930s & 1940s to support families and promote new developments in early childhood education.

• The National Federation was formed in 1948, based on the original philosophies of child initiated play and the importance of parents as educators of their own children.

• Today there are 512 Playcentres affiliated to the New Zealand Playcentre Federation through each of the 33 regional Associations

• Playcentre acknowledges Te Tiriti o Waitangi as the founding document of Aotearoa and is committed to incorporation the principles of partnership in its policies and practices.