Prime Minister John Key says changes to the funding of early childhood centres may help spread qualified teachers throughout the industry.
From next year, funding for childcare centres with more than 80% of their teachers registered will be lowered.
The change will affect about half of the current centres and will save the Government $295 million over the next four years.
Mr Key says the change will create incentives to spread qualified staff more evenly through the sector.
He says he personally would be happy for any hypothetical future children of his own to go to a centre with 80% qualified teachers.
