Taxpayer funding of pre-school education is to be scrutinised by an expert panel.
The eight-member taskforce includes academics from Auckland and Otago universities and Early Childhood Council chief executive Peter Reynolds.
The sector gets about $1.3 billion of taxpayer funding each year.
The panel's job is to conduct a value-for-money review and come up with fresh ideas about learning by March next year.
Education Minister Anne Tolley is adamant she has not set up the taskforce as a cost-cutting measure.
Mrs Tolley told Checkpoint on Thursday that the time is right to have a close look at the systems in place to ensure the sector is fit for the next decade.
