Cost of daycare in Blenheim
10 licensed centres in Blenheim, Marlborough — modelled weekly fees by age band, with 20 Hours ECE (0% of centres participate) and FamilyBoost net pricing.
Modelled weekly cost in Blenheim, by service type + age band
Per the OECE 2026 NZ funding rates. Net column shows out-of-pocket after FamilyBoost rebate (25% capped at $75/week).
| Service type | Under 2 | 2-3 yrs | 3-5 yrs (w/ 20 Hrs) | 3-5 yrs (net w/ FB) | In Blenheim |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education & Care | $360 | $280 | $65 | $48.75 | 7 |
| Home-based | $320 | $260 | $80 | $60 | 1 |
| Kindergarten | — | $180 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| Playcentre | $20 | $20 | $20 | $15 | 1 |
Modelled weekly cost assumes 25 hours/week of care. Real fees vary by centre, family circumstance, and term — confirm with each centre directly. Per-centre fee scraping is a Phase B item; this page shows national medians until live per-centre fees are ingested.
How to reduce your weekly cost in Blenheim
NZ families can stack three forms of government support — all available at every centre in Blenheim.
For 3-5 year olds at participating centres. Up to 20 hours/week funded directly to the centre. 0 of 10 centres in Blenheim participate.
Means-tested. From MSD. Hourly subsidy based on household income, hours of work or study, and number of children. Apply via Work and Income.
25% rebate on weekly fees, capped at $75/week per family. From IRD. Phases out from household income $140k to $180k. Claim quarterly via myIR.
All 10 centres in Blenheim
Listed by service type. 20-Hrs pill indicates participation in 20 Hours ECE.
Education & Care (7)
Little Wonders Blenheim
ERO assessed Little Wonders Blenheim as Not well placed in May 2020. Our analysis of the ERO report found strengths in children's wellbeing (A grade), with effective teaching in curriculum and learning (B grade), established whānau partnership practices (B grade), and collaborative leadership (B grade). The service was identified as needing further development overall.
Little Footsteps-John Street
Little Footsteps-John Street is an education and care service in Blenheim with a current roll of 45 children. Our analysis of the ERO report from April 2024 identified bicultural practice as an area for development, with the curriculum not currently reflecting Māori, Pacific and diverse ethnic cultures.
Blenheim Early Childhood Centres and Kindergartens Inc. John Street Preschool
Little Footsteps - Scott Street
Little Footsteps - Scott Street is an education and care service in Blenheim with a current roll of 42 children. Our analysis of the ERO report identified whānau partnership as an area for development, noting that parent aspirations are not yet integrated into curriculum planning and assessment.
St Marys Pre-School
St Marys Pre-School is an education and care service in Blenheim with a current roll of 40 children. Our analysis of the 2022 ERO report identifies strong performance across children's wellbeing, whānau partnership, and leadership and governance, with all three dimensions graded B. The service demonstrates affirming relationships, family-centred support, and effective teacher inquiry.
BestStart Blenheim Central
ERO assessed BestStart Blenheim Central as Not well placed in 2018. Our analysis of the ERO report found strengths in whānau partnership and health & safety (both grade B), but identified areas for development in curriculum & learning, bicultural practice, and leadership & governance (all grade C). The service was implementing improvements at the time of review.
Montessori Blenheim
Montessori Blenheim operates a Montessori and Te Whāriki-based curriculum with intentional teaching practices. Our analysis of the ERO report (May 2022) found the service achieved B grades across all four dimensions: curriculum and learning, children's wellbeing, whānau partnership, and leadership and governance.
Frequently asked about daycare costs in Blenheim
- How much does daycare cost in Blenheim?
- Daycare costs in Blenheim vary by service type and the age of your child. Modelled national medians: education & care centres charge around $320-$360/week for under-2s and $0-$65/week for 2-5 year olds depending on 20 Hours ECE participation. Free Kindergartens charge little or nothing for 3-5 year olds due to 20 Hours funding. Of 10 centres in Blenheim, 0 (0%) participate in 20 Hours ECE.
- Which centres in Blenheim offer 20 Hours ECE?
- 0 of 10 centres in Blenheim participate in 20 Hours ECE, which subsidises up to 20 hours/week for 3-5 year olds. See the per-centre listing below for participation status.
- Can I get FamilyBoost for daycare in Blenheim?
- Yes. FamilyBoost is a 25% IRD rebate on weekly fees, capped at $75/week per family. Available at every licensed ECE service in NZ (including all 10 centres in Blenheim). Phases out from household income $140k to $180k. Claim quarterly via IRD myIR.
- What's the cheapest daycare option in Blenheim?
- In NZ, the lowest-cost ECE options are typically Free Kindergartens (3-5 year olds, ~$0/week with 20 Hours ECE) and Playcentres (parent-led, ~$20/week). For under-2s, all centre-based options charge fees — Childcare Subsidy from MSD plus FamilyBoost from IRD can substantially reduce out-of-pocket cost depending on household income.
Full directory with safety + demographics
Your exact net weekly cost
Per-region cost comparison
Data sources & freshness (4 sources · last refresh 12 July 2026)
Service type, address, roll, ethnicity, Equity Index, 20 Hours, Takiwā, lat/lng
Annual financial returns (community-based + umbrella orgs)
Per-centre review reports + 6-dimension letter grades (curriculum / wellbeing / whānau / bicultural / health & safety / leadership)
Safety score, crime/1k, 2023 Census demographics
Last build refresh: . See full methodology + data sources pages for licences, refresh cadences, and known gaps.