Daycare & ECE in Lower Hutt CBD
12 licensed early childhood services across 3 service types in Lower Hutt CBD, Wellington.
Composite = our 0–100 ECE quality score (weighted average of six ERO dimensions, normalised within Equity Index band). 20 Hours ECE & ERO coverage are counts of the 12 licensed services in Lower Hutt CBD.
Estimate your costs: our FamilyBoost + Childcare Subsidy calculator stacks 20 Hours ECE, the means-tested Childcare Subsidy, and the IRD FamilyBoost rebate to show net weekly cost.
Services in Lower Hutt CBD, by type
Kindergarten — 5
Avalon Kindergarten
ERO assessed Avalon Kindergarten as Not well placed in 2018. Our analysis of the ERO report identified strengths in children's wellbeing and health & safety (both grade B), but noted that curriculum and learning, whānau partnership, and bicultural practice all require further development (all grade C).
Dyer Street Kindergarten
ERO assessed this service as Not well placed in October 2018. Our analysis of the ERO report found sound curriculum and pedagogy (B grade) and effective health and safety systems (B grade), but identified emerging bicultural practice (C grade) as an area requiring development. Leadership and governance were assessed as reflective and effective (B grade).
Epuni Kindergarten
ERO assessed Epuni Kindergarten as Not well placed in October 2018. Our analysis of the ERO report identifies strengths in curriculum and learning, children's wellbeing, whānau partnership, and leadership, but notes that bicultural practice is emerging and assessment practices need further development.
Waterloo Kindergarten
ERO assessed Waterloo Kindergarten as Not well placed in its 2018 review. Our analysis of the ERO report identified strengths in whānau partnership (close liaison with parents and collaborative goal-setting) and health & safety (management assurance and legal compliance), both graded B.
Waiwhetu Kindergarten
Waiwhetu Kindergarten in Lower Hutt CBD was assessed by ERO as Not well placed in November 2018. The review identified significant concerns about the service's educational and operational performance.
Education & Care — 5
Wellington Early Intervention Centre
Wellington Early Intervention Centre is a small education and care service in Lower Hutt CBD. Our analysis of the ERO report (2022) found strengths in children's wellbeing support, with individual plans including targeted goals and actions. The service was assessed as having areas for development in curriculum and learning outcomes, bicultural practice, and leadership and governance.
Gracefield Early Childhood Centre
Lower Hutt City Childcare Centre
Lower Hutt City Childcare Centre is an education and care service in Lower Hutt CBD with a current roll of 47. Our analysis of the ERO report indicates strengths in curriculum responsiveness and children's wellbeing support (both graded B), with leadership committed to improvement. Areas for development include strengthening assessment practices, Te Whāriki integration, and bicultural practice (graded C).
Chilton St James Preschool - Waterloo
Millie's House Waiwhetu
Explore Lower Hutt CBD & Wellington
Schools in Lower Hutt CBD
When they age out of daycare, check schoolsnearme.co.nz for every NZ school with audited financials + ERO reviews.
Frequently asked
- How many daycare and ECE centres are in Lower Hutt CBD?
- There are 12 licensed early childhood services in Lower Hutt CBD, Wellington: 5 kindergarten, 5 education & care, 2 playcentre. Combined enrolment 491 children.
- Is there childcare near me in Lower Hutt CBD?
- Yes — Lower Hutt CBD has 12 licensed early childhood services, every one of them listed below with its address, service type and 20 Hours ECE status. To rank them by walking or driving distance from your exact address, use our find-by-address radius search.
- What's the largest daycare in Lower Hutt CBD?
- Chilton St James Preschool - Waterloo is the largest licensed centre in Lower Hutt CBD with 80 children enrolled (education & care). See the per-centre listing below for size details on every centre.
- Which centres in Lower Hutt CBD offer 20 Hours ECE?
- 0 of 12 centres (0%) in Lower Hutt CBD participate in 20 Hours ECE, which subsidises up to 20 hours/week of care for 3-5 year olds. The 20-Hrs pill on each centre card below shows participation.
- Are there kindergartens in Lower Hutt CBD?
- Yes — 5 kindergartens in Lower Hutt CBD. Free Kindergartens typically charge little or nothing for 3-5 year olds because of 20 Hours ECE.
- Which operator chains have centres in Lower Hutt CBD?
- 2 operator chains with centres in Lower Hutt CBD: Hutt City Kindergartens (5), Playcentre Aotearoa (2). Plus 5 independent centres.
- How much does daycare cost in Lower Hutt CBD?
- Costs in Lower Hutt CBD follow the NZ national pattern: education & care centres typically $280-$360/week for under-2s, dropping to $0-$100/week for 3-5 year olds at 20-Hours-participating centres. Free Kindergartens charge little or nothing for 3-5 year olds. FamilyBoost (25% IRD rebate, $75/week cap) applies on top. See our /cost-of-daycare/lower-hutt-cbd/ page for the per-age × per-type breakdown.
- What government support is available for childcare in Lower Hutt CBD?
- All 12 licensed centres in Lower Hutt CBD are eligible for the three stackable supports: 20 Hours ECE (universal for 3-5yr olds at 0 participating Lower Hutt CBD centres), the means-tested Childcare Subsidy from MSD, and FamilyBoost (25% rebate up to $75/week from IRD, phased out from $140k-$180k household income). Use our /familyboost-calculator for your specific net weekly cost.
- How much is childcare per week in NZ?
- See the centre listings, methodology, and our FamilyBoost calculator on this page for daycare in Lower Hutt CBD.
- How much does childcare cost in Victoria per day?
- See the centre listings, methodology, and our FamilyBoost calculator on this page for daycare in Lower Hutt CBD.
- How much does Winz pay for childcare subsidy?
- See the centre listings, methodology, and our FamilyBoost calculator on this page for daycare in Lower Hutt CBD.
- How many hours is free daycare NZ?
- See the centre listings, methodology, and our FamilyBoost calculator on this page for daycare in Lower Hutt CBD.
Understanding NZ ECE — topic guides
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.