No, all schools, kindergartens and early childhood settings are independent. SEANZ is the umbrella organisation for all schools, early childhood settings and training institutions that embrace the Steiner Waldorf approach to education.

No, eight of the schools are state-integrated schools and three are private. Some early childhood settings are governed by a trust, and one is privately owned. Membership criteria guide how Steiner Waldorf settings operate using the names ‘Steiner’ and ‘Waldorf’.

SEANZ is a support body rather than a controlling one and does not have funds to start schools or centres. These are generally initiated by parents or teachers desiring Steiner education, often starting with a playgroup. Playgroups are the easiest to start from scratch. Sometimes a playgroup’s growing numbers allow a kindergarten to form. Private schools and early childhood centres require approval from the Ministry of Education. State-integrated schools involve a partnership with the Crown.

The New Zealand Teachers Council deals with the registration of school and early childhood teachers. For both, a state tertiary qualification is required involving graduate or post-graduate study. For those with overseas qualifications, transcripts must be submitted to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/) who will assess overseas qualifications for New Zealand equivalency. If you are interested in professional development to support working in Steiner Waldorf settings click here.

Some schools and early childhood centers use the terminology Steiner, others use Waldorf. Steiner and Waldorf are terms often used interchangeably. Both refer to educational institutions inspired by Rudolf Steiner's philosophy.

Some whānau choose to home-school their Tamariki (children). For more information about SEANZ approach to homeschooling click here.

Whilst the educational settings of Steiner Waldorf and Montessori might look similar in terms of environment, they have distinct pedagogical approaches. Our website shares our approach and we invite you to visit Montessori to discover what suits your whānau.

The various state-integrated schools, private schools, kindergartens, and Steiner Waldorf early childhood settings are all independently governed and so have various approaches to financial sustainability. We invite you to visit individual settings to find out more about fees, optional charges or donations. Visit our directory to find a setting near you.