This instrument is made, under section 124(1)(d) of the Social Security Act 1964, by the Minister for Social Development.

Instrument

1. Title—This instrument is the Guaranteed Childcare Assistance Payment Amendment 2017.

2. Commencement—This instrument comes into force on 1 January 2018.

3. Principal programme—This instrument amends the Guaranteed Childcare Assistance Payment Programme (as established and approved on 13 August 2012¹) (the principal programme).

4. Clause 4 amended (Interpretation)—In clause 4(1): insert in its appropriate alphabetical order:

“cohort entry policy, in relation to a school, means a cohort entry policy adopted by the school under section 5A of the Education Act 1989.”

5. Clause 14 replaced—Replace clause 14 with:

“14. Ending and continuation of GCAP in certain circumstances

(1) If an eligible child in respect of whom GCAP has been granted under clause 6 or 7 enrols in a school with a cohort entry policy before the child turns 5, GCAP ends on the date the child starts school.

(2) If a child in respect of whom GCAP has been granted under clause 6 or 7 attains the age of 5 years and may not be enrolled in school until the term start date of the next term, GCAP ends on the start date of that next term (under section 5B(2) of the Education Act 1989).

(3) If a child in respect of whom GCAP has been granted under clause 6 or 7 attains the age of 5 years and is transitioning from early childhood education to attendance at school, the chief executive may, as if the child had not attained that age, continue to grant GCAP in respect of the child until a date no later than 4 weeks after the child turns 5 years.”

Dated at Wellington this 16th day of November 2017.

Hon CARMEL SEPULONI, Minister for Social Development.

Explanatory note

This note is not part of the instrument, but is intended to indicate its general effect.

This instrument, which comes into force on 1 January 2018, amends the Guaranteed Childcare Assistance Payment Programme (“Programme”) under the Social Security Act 1964 (“Act”) to make changes to align the Programme with cohort entry policy changes under the Education Act 1989. The amendment inserts a new definition of cohort entry policy in clause 4 and replaces clause 14. The new clause 14 describes exceptions to eligibility for GCAP by:

• making it clear that GCAP payments end when a child starts school, if she or he starts school before the age of 5 due to the school’s cohort entry policy:
• making it clear that GCAP payments continue until the first next term start date if a child is not able to start school before the age of 5 due to the school’s cohort entry policy:
• as currently, providing that GCAP can continue for up to 4 weeks after the child turns 5 to provide for transition to school where the school is one without a cohort entry policy.

1 New Zealand Gazette, 16 August 2012, No. 98, page 2739