Learn about the Director of Regulation
The Director of Regulation is responsible for leading ERO’s regulatory functions and has overall accountability for regulatory decision-making.
From 1 September 2026, ERO became responsible for a range of regulatory functions in early childhood education and kōhungahunga, including licensing, certification, compliance monitoring, complaints, incident responses and enforcement activities. As part of these changes, the Director of Regulation role transferred from the Ministry of Education to ERO.
The Director of Regulation provides strategic leadership and oversight of ERO’s regulatory work, helping to ensure decisions are made independently, consistently, fairly and in accordance with the law. The role supports a risk-informed approach to regulation that promotes quality, safety and compliance across the sector.
Purpose of the Director of Regulations
The Director of Regulation was established to strengthen leadership, accountability and oversight within the early childhood regulatory system. The role was introduced through the Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act 2025 following a review that found regulatory responsibilities were unclear, accountability was fragmented, and enforcement was not always applied consistently.
As ERO’s accountable regulatory decision-maker, the Director of Regulation is responsible for key regulatory functions, including licensing and certification, compliance monitoring, responding to complaints and incidents, and taking enforcement action when required. The role helps ensure regulatory decisions are transparent, consistent and focused on protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of children while supporting high-quality early learning.
By providing clear and independent regulatory leadership, the Director of Regulation helps build confidence in the regulatory system, supports consistent decision-making across the sector, and contributes to positive outcomes for children, mokopuna, their whānau and communities.
How the role operates within ERO
Within ERO, the statutory responsibilities and powers of the Director of Regulation are held by the Deputy Chief Executive, Regulation and Early Childhood Education. In this capacity, the Deputy Chief Executive is accountable for ERO’s regulatory functions and for exercising the powers and responsibilities assigned to the Director of Regulation under legislation.
This arrangement ensures regulatory leadership is integrated within ERO’s wider work while maintaining clear accountability for regulatory decision-making and oversight of the early childhood regulatory system.
The Director of Regulation works closely with ERO’s Deputy Chief Executive, Review and Improvement Services Māori, who retains strategic responsibility for ERO’s engagement with kaupapa Māori and Māori-medium education, including Kōhanga Reo, Puna Reo and other Māori-medium settings. This helps ensure regulatory approaches are culturally responsive and informed by mātauranga Māori, te reo Māori and the aspirations of Māori communities.
Read the legislation relating to the Director of Regulation
Relating to the transfer of the role to the Education Review Office Education and Training (System Reform) Amendment Act 2026 Commencement Order 2026 (SL 2026/212) Explanatory note – New Zealand Legislation
Relating to the creation of the Director of Regulation Role Education and Training (System Reform) Amendment Act 2026 Commencement Order 2026 (SL 2026/212) Contents – New Zealand Legislation