At Auckland Kindergarten Association (AKA), we’re proud to offer high-quality early childhood education at an affordable cost. As a not-for-profit organisation operating over 100 kindergartens and KiNZ centres across Auckland, every dollar goes directly into supporting our teachers, tamariki, kindergartens, and community.

All children aged 3 to 5 years are eligible for 20 hours of free early childhood education (ECE) each week under the New Zealand Government’s 20 Hours ECE funding scheme.

AKA extends this benefit to include 2-year-olds at most of our kindergartens (note: this does not include KiNZ Centres).

Learn more about the government’s 20 Hours ECE funding on the Ministry of Education website.

Each kindergarten sets its own fee schedule based on session times and days of attendance. To get an accurate cost for your child, please contact your local kindergarten directly.

If your child attends more than 20 hours a week, there may be a small hourly fee (typically between $5–$8 per hour). Some kindergartens are able to offer these extra hours at no additional cost — please check with your local kindergarten for details.

We invite families to make a voluntary parent contribution to help bridge the gap between government funding and the actual cost of running our kindergartens. This contribution is tax deductible. As a charitable trust, every contribution goes directly back into improving children’s learning experiences.

Family Boost Childcare Payments

If you’re eligible for the government’s FamilyBoost payment, you can claim back up to 40% of your childcare fees, to a maximum of $1,560 every three months. AKA provides a quarterly statement to make claiming easier. Learn more about Family Boost Childcare Payments on the IRD website.

WINZ Childcare Subsidy

You may also qualify for childcare assistance through Work and Income (WINZ), depending on your family’s circumstances. Visit the Work and Income website for details on the WiNZ Childcare Subsidy.

Contact your local AKA kindergarten to discuss fees, available hours, and the subsidies you may qualify for. Our friendly teams are happy to guide you through the options.