A new research paper on early childhood education funding from Linda Mitchell, Retired Professor and Honorary Fellow at the University of Waikato, and Aisling Gallagher, Senior Lecturer in Geography at Massey University, discusses and appraises research-based evidence on principles and approaches to funding ECE services that have been used internationally and in Aotearoa New Zealand. It is intended to contribute to policy debate at a time when ECE funding systems are under scrutiny.