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EXCERPTS
A group of Auckland mothers say parents made family planning decisions on the pre-election promise of free early childcare, only to be let down.
Amy Malcolm yesterday told the education select committee that there was initially great excitement at the Government's pre-election promise of 20 hours' free childcare for all three and four year olds.
She said the policy was not just about extra spending money, but would have a major impact on the decisions people were making about their families, and many voters had supported Labour on the strength of it.
It impacted on decisions such as whether to return to work earlier or to have another baby.
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Ms Malcolm, Kirsty Wright and Kirsty Bamford - all mothers of young children in Auckland - were behind a petition signed by 3375 people calling on the Government to fulfil its promise that 20 hours' free education will be provided for three and four year olds. They are in a parents' lobby group called 20 Hours Free Please, set up just before the July launch of the policy.
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- reprinted from the New Zealand Herald