The Centres of Innovation initiative is part of the Government's 10-year strategic plan for early childhood education.

The aim of the Centres of Innovation programme is to improve quality and strengthen effective teaching and learning practices in early childhood education services through researching innovative teaching processes.

The research areas for the Centres of Innovation within the Auckland Kindergarten Association are:

Mangere Bridge Kindergarten
Moving from the early childhood service to school, with a focus on understanding children's interests and strengths, and getting greater alignment between learning in school and in early childhood services.

Botany Downs Kindergarten
"How does an inclusive environment enhance the learning of all children?"

"How do visual communication tools invite and extend engagement with children and their families?"

"How do teachers support children on a journey from dependency to self-efficacy?"

Roskill South Kindergarten
The action research focuses on the use of IT and ICT, such as digital and video photography, computers, and the internet, in teaching and learning. The overarching research question is: "How does the innovative use of ICT in pedagogical practice build community, competence and continuity?"