Playcentre is a unique New Zealand early childhood organisation. It began as a parent co-operative during the 1940s to support families and promote new developments in early childhood education and quickly grew. The New Zealand Playcentre Federation formed as a national organisation in 1948. For more than 60 years this largely voluntary organisation has met the changing needs of families and their communities. Today, Playcentre remains highly actively in New Zealand's early childhood education sector.