What is ChildForum and How Can You Be Involved? 

We bring fresh thinking to early childcare and education.  Research, policy, and practice is brought together to inform, educate, and assist.

ChildForum is a modern, nonpartisan, inclusive membership organisation with a strong basis in early childhood expertise and practical experience.

Our members are people who are keen to make a positive difference for young children by accessing information and research, giving comment, reading what others say, and being part of a forum.

How else might you be involved?  If you are keen to contribute more in any way such as by writing articles, reviewing manuscripts, or even helping to organise events, please do tell us. Your ideas and feedback also, will help us to grow this service for the benefit of young children's early care and education. 

A Brief History

The NZ Early Childhood Research Network was founded in 1998 and quickly grew its membership to just over 1,000 researchers and people interested in early childhood research.  In the same year the first issue of the NZ Research in Early Childhood Education Journal was published by the Network. 

In August 2010 ChildForum expanded its expertise to provide information and support on childcare and teaching, and early childhood service management. 

Click on the video to learn more about ChildForum.

Our Team

Read below about the people working behind the scenes to bring you ChildForum.

Dr Sarah Farquhar – National Coordinator

Sarah's background is in early childhood education, research, management and publishing.  

She is a mother of five young children, and is a former Massey University academic, Wellington College of Education lecturer, Riverton kindergarten head teacher, and CE0 of an early childhood sector management lobby group. 

Her research areas have included defining quality in early childhood services, men in teaching and childcare,  and breastfeeding-friendly ECE services.  She's undertaken research contracts for a Best Evidence synthesis on "quality teaching: early foundations" and a study of the Parents as First Teachers Programme.

Now with experience in all key elements of parenting, teaching, research, publishing, policy analysis, media relations, and knowing the needs of ECE operators Sarah heads ChildForum.  

Arwen Hann – Communications Manager

Arwen was born and brought up in the south-east of England where she worked as a journalist before moving to New Zealand with her husband in 2005.

She joined The Press newspaper in Christchurch as a general reporter. In 2006 Arwen became the Education reporter specialising in schools and early childhood education.

She has one child, born in 2008. Arwen revelled in the role of stay-at-home mum before returning to work as ChildForum’s Communications Manager.

Arwen is a skilled writer with an understanding of public views of early childhood care and education and what key stories of interest are.  She is enthusiastic about supporting families and the early childhood sector, helping us to ask the right questions and get the information we need to make informed decisions. 

Reg Ponniah - Chief Editor

We warmly welcome Reg to our team. Formerly a senior reporter with the New Zealand Press Association,  Reg brings with him substantial experience in editing and writing for print media as well as editing academic papers and theses. 

Sue Hurst - Book Review Editor

Sue Hurst has been involved in early childhood education for 24 years and a member of ChildForum's early childhood research network. 

After her two children graduated from Playcentre Sue went on to work in a Waldorf (Rudolf Steiner) Kindergarten, first as an assistant, then a teacher and finally as a co-ordinator.  She currently teaches two days a week.  

Sue's enthusiasm for early childhood education is evident to all her met her.  She has a strong interest in the value of play and how to ensure that childhood is valued for it's own sake. 

To submit books for review contact us or post to:  ChildForum Book Review Editor, PO Box 58-078, Whitby, Porirua 5245, New Zealand.

NZ Research in Early Childhood Education Journal Editorial Board 2012

Dr Mary Jane Shuker (University of Victoria, Wellington)
Dr Wendy Boyd (Southern Cross University, New South Wales)
Dr Andrew Geddis (Auckland University of Technology)
Dr Kaye Cederman (Trinity College, Ireland)
Dr Elspeth McInnes (University of South Australia, Adelaide) 

with Dr Sarah Farquhar (ChildForum) as managing Editor
All enquiries about the NZRECE Journal and submitting a manuscript should in the first instance be sent to Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it