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Welcome to Childcare Online!

ChildcareOnline has been online since 2002 and features thousands of listings for childcare, kindergartens and early childhood centres in NZ. Looking for a childcare centre for your child? Try our Child Care Centre Directory

NZ Childcare Centres

Auckland Wellington Christchurch Bay of Plenty
Hamilton Waikato Canterbury Dunedin
Manawatu Taranaki Thames Southland
Otago Hawkes Bay Eastland Northland
Wanganui West Coast Wairarapa Nelson

Auckland Childcare Centres

Auckland CBD Manukau City North Shore Waitakere City
Central Suburbs Papakura City Rodney District Franklin Region

How do I choose the right day care?

  • What is the adult-to-child ratio?
  • What are the qualifications of their staff?
  • How many children are at the centre?
  • What hours is the centre open?

Read our easy guide to help you find the right childcare facility for you and your child

Parenting Articles

Not only are there thousands of centres, we also have hundreds of Parenting Articles. Whether you need information on kids health, learning or just some easy recipes for your toddler then you'll be sure to find an interesting article.

Register Your Centre for Free

Do you own or work for a childcare centre? You can register your centre for free. We also have low cost advertising options if you are looking for more exposure to kiwi parents.

When you are researching childcare centres come to ChildcareOnline.co.nz first!


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Featured Articles

See our articles section for over 100 articles on a wide range of parenting topics.


Information on Childcare in New Zealand

What is early childhood care and education?

In New Zealand, the main providers of early childhood education are kindergartens, playcentres, Pacific Islands language groups, education and care services, home-based care services and köhanga reo.

Early childhood education programmes are, on the whole, developmental and based in learning through play. All early childhood services wishing to receive government funding must be licensed and chartered. Licensing ensures that basic standards of quality are maintained.

A charter sets out both mandatory and optional objectives and practices. Chartered groups receive funding direct from government in the form of a bulk grant.

How do public kindergartens operate?

Kindergartens predominantly operate early childhood education for children between the ages of 3 and 5. In general, younger children attend afternoon sessions for three afternoons a week, while the older age group attend five mornings a week.

As well as teaching children the beginning stages of reading, writing, maths and science, the Kindergarten curriculum, Te Whaariki , teaches children social and person skills that will stay with them for life.

Every teacher is fully qualified and must hold a current practising certificate. They continually update and upskill their knowledge and experience with workshops and relevant courses that will benefit the children in their kindergarten.

What is PAFT?

PAFT or Parents as First Teachers is based on the programmes developed in the USA by the Missouri State Department of Education. They provide a series of regular home visits by early childhood educators to parents with children from birth to 3 years of age. PAFT is based on the philosophy that parents are their children’s first and most important teachers.

PAFT provides free, practical support and guidance to families with young children. This support lasts from before birth to three years. PAFT is funded by the Government and administered by Early Childhood Development.

What are playcentres and playgroups?

Playcentres are parent cooperatives where parents take responsibility for the management and supervision of sessions. Children attending playcentre range in age from birth to school age. Playgroups are licence-exempt, community-based, non-profit-making groups of parents who meet to provide early childhood education for their children.

What is Montessori?

Montessori’s are named after Italian physician and educator, Maria Montessori (1870-1952) who proposed a method of teaching young children that stresses the development of initiative and natural abilities. You can read more on Montessori education including an in-depth explanation.

What is a language nest?

Language nests refer to early childhood education and care based on a specific language or culture. Examples of language nests include Kohanga Reo or Pacific Island language groups.

Köhanga reo are sessional or all-day Mäori language immersion early childhood institutions. Their prime aim is the maintenance of the language of the indigenous people of New Zealand, the Mäori. The centres are community based and are administered by local management groups affiliated to the Te Köhanga Reo National Trust.

Pacific Islands language groups Pacific Islands language centres offer programmes based on the values and languages of Pacific Islands cultures. They range from licence-exempt family playgroups, meeting once or twice a week, to licensed and chartered centres. These programme emphasise language development, both in Pacific Islands languages and English, and increasing parental knowledge in early childhood care and education.

What is meant by homebased care?

Home-based care (family daycare) is an organised system whereby parents of young children or babies are linked to caregivers, who are often themselves parents of young children. This type of care differs to the services of nannies or babysitters.


More Information

We have numerous articles available in our Parenting Articles Section. You can find our information about childcare centre chains such as KidiCorp, Kindercare, PORSE in-home childcare, ABC Learning Centres and other early childhood education centres. Need assistance with childcare costs? The child care subsidy article provides information on eligibility. There are also other options for childcare. you may like to consider the in-home care of a nanny or au pair.

When you are researching childcare centres come to ChildcareOnline.co.nz first!

Centre Definitions

What is early childhood care and education?
How do public kindergartens operate?
What are playcentres and playgroups?
What is a language nest?
What is meant by homebased care?
What is PAFT?
What is Montessori?
How do I choose the right day care?

 

 

New Zealand Childcare Centres

AUCKLAND
Central Suburbs
Auckland CBD
Waitakere
Manukau
North Shore
Papakura
Rodney
Franklin

WAIKATO
Hamilton

BAY OF PLENTY
Tauranga
Rotorua

HAWKES BAY
Napier

Hastings

NORTHLAND
Whangarei

MANAWATU
Palmerston Nth
Wanganui

EASTLAND 
Gisborne

WELLINGTON
Wellington
Masterton

TARANAKI
New Plymouth

MARLBOROUGH
Nelson

CANTERBURY
Christchurch

OTAGO / STH
Dunedin
Invercargill

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