NZ early childhood — topic pages
Five pillar topics covering the most common questions parents ask about NZ ECE. Each pulls live data from the MoE-directory snapshot so the numbers stay current.
FamilyBoost — the 25% childcare rebate, in plain English
How FamilyBoost works: 25% of weekly fees back, capped at $75/week, claimed quarterly via myIR. Income phase-out, stacking with 20 Hours ECE and Childcare Subsidy, and which NZ suburbs see the biggest dollar savings.
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20 Hours ECE — what it covers and where to find it
The 20 Hours ECE scheme funds up to 20 hours of licensed early childhood education per week for 3-5 year olds, with most teacher-led centres opting in. Find centres in your suburb that offer it.
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Teacher:child ratios in NZ early childhood services
The legal teacher:child ratios for NZ licensed ECE services, how they vary by age, why ratios matter, and how to ask a centre about their actual operating ratios (which are often better than the legal minimum).
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Equity Index funding — how MoE supports centres in higher-need communities
The Equity Index replaces decile funding for NZ schools and is increasingly used to direct ECE funding to centres serving children from higher-needs communities. Here's how it works and which suburbs have the most equity-funded centres.
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Home-based vs centre-based ECE — choosing the right model
Compare home-based ECE (1:4 educator at home) with centre-based education & care (1:5 under-2 / 1:10 over-2 in licensed premises) on cost, ratios, hours, continuity of carer, and which suits your family.
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Looking for something specific?
- Browse the full directory of centres with filters.
- Compare home-based vs centre-based in detail.
- Estimate net weekly fees with the FamilyBoost calculator.
- See our methodology and data sources.