Many people are involved in teaching – including parents – but there are specific requirements for recognition as a ‘teacher’. A ‘qualified ECE teacher’ is a person who has completed training in early childhood education and gained a qualification recognised by the NZ Qualifications Authority for teaching in an ECE service. A ‘registered teacher’ is a person who holds an early childhood education, primary school, or secondary school teaching qualification and has registered with the Teaching Council as a qualified teacher. A ‘certificated teacher’ has completed registration with the Teaching Council and holds a practising certificate The ECE curriculum document Te Whāriki uses ‘kaiako’ instead of ‘teacher’, and defines a kaiako as any person who has “responsibility for the care and education of children in an ECE setting”.  These people may, or may not be, trained, qualified, registered and certificated.