Kindergarten, daycare and 20 Hours ECE

Ministry of EducationVerified 14 Oct 2026Official pages checked daily

Early childhood education (ECE) in New Zealand comes in several types, including kindergartens, daycare centres, Playcentre and home-based care. Children aged 3 to 5 can get the government's 20 Hours ECE. This covers up to 20 hours a week, and up to 6 hours a day, with no fees for those hours. To help with costs beyond that, look at the Childcare Subsidy from Work and Income and FamilyBoost from Inland Revenue.

Key facts

Who can get 20 Hours ECE: Children aged 3, 4 and 5¹
How much is free: Up to 20 hours a week and up to 6 hours a day. The service cannot charge fees for these hours.¹
When it starts: Your child becomes eligible on their 3rd birthday²
When it ends: The day before their 6th birthday, or their last day at the ECE service before starting school, whichever comes first²
Which services can offer it: Licensed services that are open for at least one continuous 2.5-hour session each week and follow the 20 Hours ECE rules²
Using two services: You can split the hours across two or more services, but the total cannot be more than 6 hours a day or 20 hours a week¹
Total government-funded hours: At all licensed ECE services, each child can get an ECE funding subsidy for up to 30 hours a week (this includes 20 Hours ECE)¹
Teacher qualifications: In teacher-led services, at least 50% of the adults caring for children must be qualified early childhood teachers³
Home-based care: One home-based educator can care for up to 4 children (from birth to school age)³
Childcare Subsidy eligibility: You are the main carer, you are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, your family has a low or middle income, and your child attends an approved ECE service for 3 hours or more a week⁴
Childcare Subsidy hours: Usually up to 9 hours a week if you are not working, studying or training. Up to 50 hours a week if you are working, studying or in similar situations.⁴
FamilyBoost amount: If your family income is under NZ$35,000 a quarter, you can get back 40% of your ECE fees, up to NZ$1,560 a quarter⁵
FamilyBoost income limit: If your family income is between NZ$35,000 and NZ$57,286 a quarter, the maximum amount goes down by 7 cents for every NZ$1 over NZ$35,000⁵

Who is this for, and what are the requirements?

20 Hours ECE: your child is 3, 4 or 5, attends a licensed service or Te Kōhanga Reo that offers 20 Hours ECE, and has not started school.
The 20 Hours ECE funding goes straight to the service, so you do not need to apply yourself. When you enrol, write on the enrolment form which hours will use 20 Hours ECE.
Not every service offers 20 Hours ECE, so ask before you enrol. A service that offers it must offer it to all eligible children. It cannot limit it to certain days or times.
Childcare Subsidy (Work and Income): the main carer is a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, normally lives in New Zealand and plans to stay, and the family has a low or middle income.
FamilyBoost (Inland Revenue): you pay fees to a licensed ECE service, your family income is under the limit, and you are a New Zealand tax resident. If you have a partner, only one of you can register.

How do I do it? Steps and process

Learn about the types of ECE
The main types are teacher-led centres (such as kindergartens and education and care centres, often called daycare or preschool), parent-led Playcentre, playgroups and Kōhanga Reo, and home-based care. Opening hours, fees and whether they stay open in school holidays all vary.
Find services and read their review reports
Search the Early Learning Services directory on Education Counts to find services near you. Read each service's review reports on the ERO (Education Review Office) website. It is best to book a visit first.
Ask about fees and waiting lists
Ask what the hourly fee is, whether you pay for absences and holidays, the minimum hours you must book each day, and whether food and nappies cost extra. Popular services may have a waiting list.
Enrol and choose your 20 hours
Fill in the service's enrolment form and write which hours will use 20 Hours ECE. If your child's hours change later, update your enrolment agreement with the service.
Apply for the Childcare Subsidy (if eligible)
Apply to Work and Income, ideally 3 to 4 weeks in advance. If you are already a Work and Income client, you can apply online through SmartStart. New clients fill in the Childcare Assistance application form, and the service must complete the supervisor section. The subsidy is paid straight to the service.
Apply for FamilyBoost (if eligible)
First register for FamilyBoost in myIR (you only need to do this once). Then each quarter, make a claim using the invoices or quarterly statement from your ECE service.

What documents do I need?

The service's enrolment form
Proof of your child's identity and citizenship or residence: birth certificate, passport or residence documents
Your child's health information (allergies, medicines, medical history)
For the Childcare Subsidy: income details for you and your partner, your child's birth certificate, IRD numbers and similar documents
For FamilyBoost: a myIR account and invoices or quarterly statements from the service

What should I watch out for?

20 Hours ECE only covers fees. You pay for any hours over 20, and enrolment fees and waiting list fees are not covered. Some services require a minimum of 7 hours a day and charge for the last hour.
Donations are voluntary. A service cannot make you pay them or call them fees. You only pay optional charges (for example, sunscreen or food) if you agreed to them when you enrolled. If you do not agree, the service may not provide those items or services.
You usually cannot use the Childcare Subsidy and 20 Hours ECE for the same hours (except for top-up charges in home-based care). If you get more than 20 subsidised hours a week, you can combine the two.
FamilyBoost only refunds ECE fees you actually pay. It does not cover donations, or any amount already paid by subsidies such as the Childcare Subsidy.
Parent-led services such as Playcentre and playgroups are usually cheaper than teacher-led centres, but parents usually need to stay and take part.
If your child was vaccinated overseas, ask a doctor to check the records and add them to the Aotearoa Immunisation Register (AIR).
We only summarise official public information. Each service decides its own fees and whether it offers 20 Hours ECE. Work and Income and Inland Revenue decide who is eligible for their payments.

What has changed recently?

2026-01-08
The Health (Immunisation) Regulations 1995 were revoked. ECE services no longer need to collect immunisation certificates from parents or keep an immunisation register on site. This information is now held in the Aotearoa Immunisation Register (AIR).Source: healthnz.govt.nz ↗
2025-07-01
FamilyBoost increased: for quarters ending after 1 July 2025, the refund rate went up from 25% to 40%, the maximum per quarter went up from NZ$975 to NZ$1,560, and the quarterly family income limit went up from NZ$45,000 to NZ$57,286.Source: ird.govt.nz ↗

Common questions

At what age can my child get 20 Hours ECE in New Zealand?

Your child can get 20 Hours ECE when they are 3, 4 or 5 years old. They become eligible on their 3rd birthday. It ends the day before their 6th birthday, or on their last day at the ECE service before starting school, whichever comes first.

Is 20 Hours ECE completely free, or will I still have to pay something?

20 Hours ECE covers fees for up to 20 hours a week and up to 6 hours a day, but you may still pay some costs. You pay for any hours over 20. Enrolment fees and waiting list fees are not covered. Some services require a minimum of 7 hours a day and charge for the last hour. Donations are voluntary. You only pay optional charges, such as sunscreen or food, if you agreed to them when you enrolled.

What is the difference between kindergarten, daycare and Playcentre?

Kindergartens and daycare (education and care centres) are teacher-led, while Playcentre is parent-led. In teacher-led services, at least 50% of the adults caring for children must be qualified early childhood teachers. Playcentre is usually cheaper, but parents usually need to stay and take part. Opening hours, fees and whether a service stays open in school holidays all vary.

How do I find a daycare or kindy near me and check reviews?

Search the Early Learning Services directory on Education Counts to find services near you. Then read each service's review reports on the ERO (Education Review Office) website. It is best to book a visit first. Popular services may have a waiting list.

My child goes 30 hours a week. Is there help with the extra hours?

Yes, there can be help with the extra hours. At all licensed ECE services, each child can get an ECE funding subsidy for up to 30 hours a week, including 20 Hours ECE. You may also get the Childcare Subsidy from Work and Income or FamilyBoost from Inland Revenue. You usually cannot use the Childcare Subsidy and 20 Hours ECE for the same hours, but you can combine them across different hours.

How do I apply for FamilyBoost, and how much can I get back each quarter?

First register for FamilyBoost in myIR. You only need to do this once. Then make a claim each quarter using the invoices or quarterly statement from your ECE service. If your family income is under NZ$35,000 a quarter, you can get back 40% of your ECE fees, up to NZ$1,560 a quarter. Between NZ$35,000 and NZ$57,286 a quarter, the maximum goes down by 7 cents for every NZ$1 over NZ$35,000.

Can families on a work visa get the Childcare Subsidy?

The Childcare Subsidy is only for families where the main carer is a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident. The main carer must also normally live in New Zealand and plan to stay. The family must have a low or middle income. Work and Income decides who is eligible, so ask Work and Income about your situation.

Can my child use the 20 free hours at two different centres?

Yes, you can split the 20 Hours ECE across two or more services. The total cannot be more than 6 hours a day or 20 hours a week. Tell each service which hours will use 20 Hours ECE on the enrolment form. Update your enrolment agreement if the hours change.

Answers are based on the verified content of this page — the official source always prevails.

Where can I check the official information?

20 hours funding for early childhood educationMinistry of Education · education.govt.nz
4-1 Funding eligibility (ECE Funding Handbook)Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz
Types of early learningMinistry of Education · education.govt.nz
Childcare SubsidyWork and Income · workandincome.govt.nz
How much FamilyBoost can you claimInland Revenue · ird.govt.nz

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