Helen May

Helen May is an Emeritus Professor, University of Otago and an Adjunct Professor, Victoria University of Wellington. She is the author of a number of books on the history of early years education including; Discovery of early childhood (1997, 2013, NZCER Press); Politics in the playground (NZCER and BWB, 1991, University of Otago Press 2009); School Beginnings (NZCER 2005); ‘I am five and I go to school’ (University of Otago Press, 2011); and People, places and plays in the ‘child gardens’ of Dunedin (2014, Dunedin Kindergartens).

Helen May trained as a primary school teacher in the mid-1960s and in her early career taught 5-6 year olds. Later, when Helen had her own children she worked in childcare and for five years was the Coordinator of the Victoria University crèche. In 1987 she began work in teacher education at Hamilton Teachers' College, and later at the University of Waikato. During the early 1990s she worked with Margaret Carr on the development of Te Whāriki, the first national curriculum guidelines for New Zealand. Helen was appointed to the first New Zealand professorial Chair in Early Childhood Education at Victoria University Wellington in 1995, and in 2005 she was appointed as Professor of Education and Head of Faculty of Education at the University of Otago. From 2007-2011 Helen was the Dean of the University of Otago College of Education, and retired in 2016. She is currently based in Wellington.

Helen May has spoken and published extensively, both nationally and internationally in the field of early childhood curriculum, and the history and policy of early years education.

Professional associations, honors and awards

• 1990: NZ Medal for Services to Education
• 1990: Life Member NZ Childcare Association (Te Rito Maioha - Early Childhood Education)
• 2010: NZEI- Te Rui Roa Honorary Fellow Award
• 2014-2016: President of the International Froebel Society
• 2016: New Year Honours: OMNZ for services to Education

Read Helen May's University of Otago profile

NZCER Press publications

Book: Growing a kindergarten movement in Aotearoa New Zealand: Its peoples, purposes, and politics
Year published: 2017
ISBN: 978-0-947509-54-5
Author: Helen May and Kerry Bethell

Article: Anne B. Smith 1940−2016: The passing of a great friend, a great scholar and a great advocate for the rights of women and children
Year published: 2017
Journal issue: Early Childhood Folio vol. 21 no. 1 (2017)
Author: Helen May

Chapter in book: The early adventures of Anne and the politics of childcare. In C. Dalli & A. Meade (Eds.), Research, policy and advocacy in the early years: Writing inspired by the achievements of professor Anne Smith. (pp. 13-24).
Year published: 2016
ISBN: 978-0-947509-43
Author: Helen May