In 2002 the New Zealand Ministry of Education published a 10-year strategic plan for early childhood education entitled Pathways to the Future: Ngã Huarahi Arataki 2002–2012. The development of this policy was informed by an extensive literature review on early childhood education within New Zealand and overseas. This paper provides critical analysis of that literature review. It argues that the manner in which the literature review was carried out led to the development of an unbalanced policy, undermining the important role of parents in raising their children in particular. Methodological issues are discussed in detail and directions for further research in this field are suggested.