Cost of daycare in Petone
9 licensed centres in Petone, Wellington — modelled weekly fees by age band, with 20 Hours ECE (0% of centres participate) and FamilyBoost net pricing.
Modelled weekly cost in Petone, 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 Petone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education & Care | $360 | $280 | $65 | $48.75 | 6 |
| Kindergarten | — | $180 | $0 | $0 | 2 |
| Te Kōhanga Reo | $200 | $150 | $30 | $22.5 | 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 Petone
NZ families can stack three forms of government support — all available at every centre in Petone.
For 3-5 year olds at participating centres. Up to 20 hours/week funded directly to the centre. 0 of 9 centres in Petone 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 9 centres in Petone
Listed by service type. 20-Hrs pill indicates participation in 20 Hours ECE.
Education & Care (6)
BestStart Petone
ERO assessed BestStart Petone as Not well placed in its 2019 review. Our analysis of the ERO report identified whānau partnership as a strength, with valued relationships and effective communication systems. Bicultural practice was graded as developing, with opportunities to expand te reo Māori use and cultural learning.
Magic Sparks Care and Learning
Magic Sparks Care and Learning is an education and care service in Petone with a roll of 75 children. Our analysis of the 2023 ERO report identifies sound performance across curriculum and learning, health and safety, and leadership and governance, with established systems for professional learning and internal evaluation.
Imagine Childcare
Imagine Childcare is an education and care service in Petone with a current roll of 47 children. An ERO Akarangi review in July 2024 found a play-based curriculum with responsive teaching, though assessment progression requires further development. Our analysis of the ERO report identified strengths in curriculum and learning (grade B), with areas for development in bicultural practice (grade C) and leadership and governance (grade C).
Lollipops Petone
ERO assessed Lollipops Petone as Not well placed in 2018. Our analysis of the ERO report identified sound play-based curriculum and strong whānau partnership (both grade B), alongside embedded te reo and tikanga practice and health and safety compliance above minimum requirements (both grade B). The service was noted as having areas requiring further development in capability and local place-based context.
Imagine Childcare Alicetown Ltd
Imagine Childcare Alicetown Ltd is an education and care service in Petone with 20 children on roll. Our analysis of the ERO report shows the service has a well-aligned curriculum with good community connections (grade B), though leadership and governance practices need strengthening, with an internal evaluation framework that is established but not yet fully implemented (grade C).
Barnardos Early Learning Centre Petone
ERO assessed this service as Not well placed in May 2018. Our analysis of the ERO report identified strengths in curriculum responsiveness and children's wellbeing (both grade B), though leadership and governance require further development (grade C). The service was working to strengthen its internal evaluation practices and evidence-based decision-making.
Kindergarten (2)
Petone Kindergarten
ERO assessed Petone Kindergarten as not well placed in its 2015 review. Our analysis of the ERO report found children's wellbeing was graded B, with caring relationships and a welcoming environment in place, though some areas for development were noted.
Petone Beach Kindergarten
ERO assessed this service as Not well placed in their 2015 review. Our analysis of the ERO report found Whānau partnership and Leadership & governance both graded as B, with parents welcomed warmly and their views valued, and leadership effectively managing change.
Frequently asked about daycare costs in Petone
- How much does daycare cost in Petone?
- Daycare costs in Petone 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 9 centres in Petone, 0 (0%) participate in 20 Hours ECE.
- Which centres in Petone offer 20 Hours ECE?
- 0 of 9 centres in Petone 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 Petone?
- 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 9 centres in Petone). Phases out from household income $140k to $180k. Claim quarterly via IRD myIR.
- What's the cheapest daycare option in Petone?
- 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.