Not enough New Zealanders are immunised against measles, which means there is a very high risk of an outbreak. 

The best protection against measles is two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine – which is free for all children aged 18 and under in New Zealand and all adults over the age of 18 who are eligible for free New Zealand healthcare.  

Parents and caregivers are encouraged to make sure children have had two doses of the vaccine and it is never too late to catch up. 

The first symptoms of measles are fever, cough, runny nose and sore red eyes. This is followed by a red or dark pink rash that usually starts on the face or behind the ears three days after the first symptoms before moving down the body. If you observe these symptoms in any tamariki, please encourage parents and/or caregivers to contact their healthcare provider or for free advice contact Healthline 0800 611 116 immediately. 

Te Whatu Ora also encourages all workers in education settings to make sure their own vaccinations are up to date. If you’re unsure if you’ve had two doses of MMR vaccine or had measles previously, it’s recommended that you get vaccinated. There’s no additional risk in getting an extra dose. 

You can check your vaccination records with Te Whatu Ora or by talking to your GP.

My Health Record – Te Whatu Ora

The Ministry for Regulation’s engagement hub is now live. This is where you can have your say and make a submission on the Early Childhood Education regulatory review that Associate Education Minister Hon Seymour announced in June.

The engagement hub provides a platform for feedback and the hub will be where the Ministry for Regulation will publish their findings and reports, including final recommendations. 

Consultation on the Early Childhood Education regulation review is now open until 16 August. For more information on the consultation and review, including how to provide feedback, visit:

Early Childhood Education regulatory review – Ministry for Regulation

You may wish to share the consultation document with your centre's parent community.