Daycare in NZ: Everything Parents Need to Know About Centre-Based Care (2026)

The Ministry of Education calls them "education and care services." Most parents call them daycare or childcare centres. Whatever the name, they're licensed facilities where groups of children are cared for and taught by qualified early childhood teachers, usually from early morning to late afternoon.

Under the Education and Training Act 2020, a centre-based ECE service is any premises used regularly for the education or care of three or more children under six. That legal definition covers everything from a small suburban centre with 25 tamariki to a large corporate-chain facility with 150 places across multiple rooms.

Daycare centres are the most common type of ECE in New Zealand. Around 70% of 3- and 4-year-olds attend centre-based care, and roughly 40% of under-2s do too. Across the country, there are over 4,500 licensed centres — you can search across 4,394+ providers on The Parent Circle to find what's available near you.

Every daycare centre in NZ must hold a current licence from the Ministry of Education. The Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 set about 100 licensing criteria covering four areas: curriculum delivery, health and safety, premises and facilities, and governance. Centres that don't meet these criteria can have their licence suspended or revoked.

Since 2026, a new Director of Regulation oversees licensing, monitoring, and enforcement. This role replaced the previous system where MOE handled everything directly. The Director has graduated enforcement tools — so minor breaches don't automatically trigger the nuclear option, but serious safety failures can shut a centre down fast.

On top of licensing, the Education Review Office (ERO) conducts periodic quality reviews. ERO reports go beyond minimum compliance and assess how well a centre actually teaches, how strong leadership is, and whether children are genuinely thriving. These reports are public — and reading them before you choose a centre is one of the smartest things you can do. Our guide to reading ERO reports breaks down what to look for.

Most centres split children into age-based rooms. The exact breakdown varies, but you'll typically see an infant room (birth to around 18 months or 2 years), a toddler room (roughly 2-3), and a preschool room (3-5). Some larger centres add a middle room for 18 months to 2.5 years.

The legal minimum ratios are set by the licensing criteria and haven't changed in the 2026 update:

These are minimums. Many centres operate at better ratios, especially in infant rooms where 1:4 or even 1:3 is common. Ask any centre you're considering what their actual ratios are — not just the legal minimum. For a deeper look at what ratios mean for your child's experience, see our guide to teacher-child ratios.

At least 50% of teachers on the floor must be qualified (registered with the Teaching Council and holding a recognised ECE qualification). Centres with 80-100% qualified staff receive higher government funding, which is one reason quality centres can reinvest in better resources and lower ratios.

Routines differ between centres, but most full-day services follow a similar rhythm. Here's what a standard day looks like for a 3-year-old in a preschool room:

For under-2s, the routine is more flexible. Sleep happens on demand (not at a set nap time), feeds follow each baby's schedule, and the pace is slower. The 2026 licensing criteria specifically require dedicated quiet spaces and individual sleep items for infants.

Under-2 care is expensive because of the 1:5 ratio — centres need twice as many teachers per child compared to over-2 rooms. Here are the typical ranges you'll see in 2026:

Auckland and Wellington sit at the top of that range. A full-time infant place in central Auckland can run $180/day or more. Move to a smaller town like Whanganui or Invercargill and you might pay $100-$120/day for the same age group. Our regional cost breakdown has the full picture.

Most centres include meals, basic art supplies, and nappies (for under-2s) in the daily fee. But watch for extras that add up:

For a full breakdown of these sneaky extras, check our hidden costs guide.

Three government programmes can bring your daycare bill down — sometimes by hundreds of dollars a week. You can stack all three.

Once your child turns 3, they get up to 20 hours of funded ECE per week at any participating centre. The cap is 6 hours per day, 20 per week. There's no income test — every 3, 4, and 5-year-old citizen or resident qualifies. The funding goes directly to the centre, reducing your invoice. Most daycare centres participate, but always check.

FamilyBoost is a tax credit that reimburses 25% of your out-of-pocket ECE costs, up to $975 per child per year. It's income-tested (phases out above $180,000 household income). You claim it quarterly through myIR. It applies to whatever you pay after 20 Hours ECE is deducted.

The WINZ Childcare Subsidy covers a portion of fees for families earning under approximately $2,000/week (combined). You need to be working, studying, or in training. It can cover hours outside your 20 Hours ECE allocation. Apply through Work and Income.

Not all centres are equal, even though they all meet minimum licensing. Here's what separates the good ones:

Visiting a centre in person tells you more than any website can. Here are the questions that actually matter:

For a more detailed checklist, our 30 questions to ask when visiting a childcare centre covers everything from curriculum to complaints procedures.

Daycare's biggest advantage is the hours. If you work full-time, it's the most straightforward option — drop off at 7:30am, pick up at 5:30pm, and the centre handles meals, naps, and learning in between. The trade-off is cost, especially for under-2s. For a complete rundown of every option, see our types of childcare guide.

Daycare is the workhorse of NZ's ECE system — it handles more children, for more hours, across more age groups than any other care type. The right centre makes a genuine difference to your child's early years and your ability to work or study. Take the time to visit, ask the hard questions, and read the ERO report before you sign up.

Ready to start looking? Search daycare centres near you across 4,394+ licensed providers, or use our compare tool to put your top picks side by side.