At Ngā Tamariki Puāwai o Tāmaki | Auckland Kindergarten (AKA), we believe every child deserves access to high-quality early childhood education. As a not-for-profit organisation, we keep costs affordable for whānau while investing directly in qualified teachers, rich learning environments, and the wellbeing of tamariki and their communities. Every dollar is reinvested into supporting children to learn, grow, and thrive.

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.

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

If you would like your child to be at kindergarten for more than 20 hours, there is a small charge for every hour over and above the 20-hour ECE subsidy, typically between $7 and $10 per hour.

Each kindergarten has its own fee schedule listed on its individual web page based on session times and days of attendance. Often, kindergartens have promotional offers for new families. To learn about these, contact your local kindergarten directly.

We invite families to make a voluntary community donation to help bridge the gap between government funding and the actual cost of running our kindergartens. Receipts will be provided for tax purposes, as you can claim a one-third donation tax credit from Inland Revenue.

The suggested donation is applied at an hourly rate for all hours your child attends kindergarten. The suggested donation rate can be set by each kindergarten and ranges from 50 cents to $3 per hour. As a charitable trust, every contribution goes directly back into improving children’s learning experiences.

You may be entitled to the WINZ Childcare Subsidy or FamilyBoost payments from Inland Revenue. Please speak to your kindergarten team if you require assistance.

• WINZ Childcare Subsidy: A childcare subsidy from Work and Income provided as a contribution towards your child’s fees (after 20 Hours ECE). Fees are required to be paid in full until the WINZ subsidy is approved. Contact WINZ 0800 559 009 for more information.

• FamilyBoost: WhakapikiWhānau (FamilyBoost) is a childcare payment to help eligible caregivers pay for the cost of early childhood education (ECE). This is a government rebate scheme for early childhood education. Contact Inland Revenue on 0800 227 774 for more information.

Our friendly teams are here to help you understand your options, available hours, promotional offers, and any subsidies you may be eligible for. Get in touch with your local AKA kindergarten to find the best fit for your whānau.