Welcome to ACE Aotearoa
home | contact | site map | email a friend
Mail to >
Send to:      
Your email:

History of ACE organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand

History of ACE Aotearoa

ACE Aotearoa became an incorporated society in 2002. It had previously been known as the Association for Continuing Education which was formed in 1974, at a meeting called by the Auckland WEA, and attended by representatives of the university and the newly established community schools.  It was seen as a coordinating body for community education activities, a grass roots organization, which would reflect new developments in education.  The first AGM and conference was held on 7 December, 1974.  Its title was "Community Education for All".

Between 2002-2003 the National Resource Centre merged with ACE Aotearoa after the National Resource Centre decided it was more beneficial for the sector to have one lead a organisation rather than two. The National Resource Centre was established in 1989 and took over the assets of the National Council for Adult and Community Education and operated as a coordinating body and centre for the dissemination of information and the promotion of research.  However, it had limited resources and was never able to fund research. It functioned mainly as a provider of information through its publication, Lifelong Learning in Aotearoa.  

ACE Aotearoa owns the premises and maintains an office at 192 Tinakori Road, Thorndon, Wellington. The distinctive building was passed onto ACE Aotearoa by the National Resource Centre. The premises have been the location for past ACE umbrella organisations, the National Resource Centre and the National Council of Adult Education. The very distinctive building was built in 1909 and had been inhabited by the National Council of Adult Education since 1949. The Council purchased the building in 1952.

The timeline below charts some of the key events in the history of the sector.
 

Timeline

  • 1915: The Workers' Educational Association is established in New Zealand.
  • 1921: The Country Women's Institute, the first rurally-based national women's organisations is established. Later adult education opportunities are also provided by the Women's Division of Federated Farmers (1925) and the Association for Country Education (1935).
  • 1938: The Education Amendment Act establishes a representative Council of Adult Education (CAE) to coordinate the activities of adult education organisations and promote adult education.  At this time no other country has a statutory body to coordinate the activities of adult education organisations.
  • 1947: The Adult Education Act establishes a National Council of Adult Education (NCAE), served by an executive officer. NCAE's primary function is "to promote and foster adult education and the cultivation of the arts".  Funding for adult education is doubled.
  • 1955: NCAE funding peaks.
  • 1970: UNESCO designated International Education Year prompts a government review of adult education.
  • 1971: The first Officer for Continuing Education is appointed at a senior level in the Department of Education. There are other new initiatives: University Extension Departments; the first community colleges; and innovative community education services in both Nelson and the Wairarapa. The Educational Development Conference involves some 60,000 New Zealanders in group discussions.  Lifelong Learning is seen to be an important part of the education system.  
  • 1974: The membership organisation, the Association of New Zealand Community Education (ANZCE), is formed. [In 1977 the name is changed to the New Zealand Association of Continuing and Community Education (NZACCE)].
  • 1979: The Rural Education Activities Programme (REAP) is established.
  • 1988: NCAE is disestablished.
  • 1988 - 92: Government funding cuts bring to a close the work of agencies such as the, Wairarapa Community Action Plan and the Nelson Community Education Service. In 1992 all funding to WEAs is removed.  
  • 1989: Community Learning Aotearoa/New Zealand (CLANZ) is established to advise the Minister and allocate small grants to community groups.  CLANZ is not given legal status and can not employ staff.  CLANZ's advisory powers are removed in 1991, and its annual allocation for distribution to groups reduced by 60 percent.
  • 1989: The National Resource Centre Trust is established. It functions mainly as a provider of information, and has limited resources.
  • 1992: NZACCE co-organises a five-day conference with the Asian South Pacific Bureau of Education, marking the 150th anniversary of the Treaty of Waitangi.  From now on the Association has a Maori and non-Maori co-chair. Without a well resourced government agency the NZACCE becomes the focal point of the sector.
  • 1998: CLASS, (Community Learning Association Through Schools) is established to serve the interests of adult educators working from schools.
  • 2001: The Working Party on Adult Education and Community Learning's report, Koia Koia is published, and the current era of adult and community education begins.   ACE becomes part of the government's tertiary education system.
  • 2002: NZACCE is renamed ACE Aotearoa, takes over the role and resources of the NRC. The organisation is later contracted by the Tertiary Education Commission to deliver specific services, including an annual conference, a newsletter and Adult Learners' Week.