Parents’ Perspective on Early Childhood Education in New Zealand: Voices from Pacifika Families

Abstract

AOTEAROA/NEW ZEALAND HAS a reputation for being a world leader in early childhood education. However, research indicates that many early childhood teachers in New Zealand encounter difficulties when working with children and families from diverse backgrounds. In addition, though a plethora of research has been done on early childhood teachers’ partnership with parents of multicultural backgrounds, little attention has been given by researchers to Pacifika parents’ perspective on early childhood education in New Zealand. This article draws on findings from an interpretative study on three Pacifika families’ views about their cultural practice at home and their views about early childhood education in New Zealand. It is believed that investigating parents’ views on early childhood education and early childhood services in New Zealand can provide better support for families and children from Pacifika backgrounds.