Early childhood education

Childcare in New Zealand

Every licensed early-childhood service in Aotearoa — education & care centres, kindergartens, Te Kōhanga Reo, Playcentres and home-based educators. Drawn from the Ministry of Education ECE Directory and refreshed nightly. Choose your region to start.

4,355 licensed services17 regions1,018 suburbs

Featured centres across Aotearoa

Highly rated, verified listings with photos — from every corner of the motu.

Browse all centres

Education & Care

Browse by region

Find licensed services near you.

Auckland

1,402 centres · 206 suburbs

Canterbury

489 centres · 132 suburbs

Waikato

481 centres · 105 suburbs

Wellington

405 centres · 112 suburbs

Bay of Plenty

353 centres · 84 suburbs

Manawatū-Whanganui

233 centres · 57 suburbs

Hawke's Bay

212 centres · 52 suburbs

Northland

205 centres · 77 suburbs

Otago

176 centres · 62 suburbs

Taranaki

110 centres · 34 suburbs

Southland

82 centres · 29 suburbs

Gisborne

67 centres · 25 suburbs

Tasman

45 centres · 13 suburbs

Marlborough

38 centres · 11 suburbs

Nelson

36 centres · 8 suburbs

West Coast

20 centres · 10 suburbs

Browse by type

Every service type, nationwide.

Education & Care Kindergarten Kōhanga Reo Playcentre Home-based Hospital-based

Finding childcare in Aotearoa

Parent.nz lists every licensed early-childhood service in New Zealand, so you can compare the real options in your suburb rather than trawling individual websites and Facebook pages. Filter by 20 Hours ECE, your child’s age, availability and language, read parent reviews, and enquire with one centre or let Smart Match send a single enquiry to the best-fit centres near you.

Every listing is compiled from the Ministry of Education ECE Directory and refreshed nightly, so licence details and contact information stay current.

Frequently asked questions

How many childcare centres are there in New Zealand?

Parent.nz lists 4,355 licensed early-childhood services across 17 regions, drawn from the Ministry of Education ECE Directory and refreshed nightly.

What is 20 Hours ECE?

20 Hours ECE is government-funded early-childhood education for eligible 3–5 year-olds, which reduces fees. Use the 20 Hours ECE filter on any suburb page to see participating centres.

What types of childcare are there in New Zealand?

There are education & care centres (full-day), kindergartens (sessional), Te Kōhanga Reo (te reo Māori immersion), Playcentres (parent-led) and home-based educators. Browse by type to see every option nationwide.

How do I find childcare with spaces near me?

Choose your region, then your suburb, to compare centres and filter by availability — or use Smart Match to have Parent.nz shortlist the best-fit centres and send a single enquiry on your behalf.

Childcare guides & advice

All childcare articles →

20 Hours ECE explained: what it covers and how to claim itThe 20 Hours ECE scheme can save families thousands a year — here is who qualifies, what it actually pays for, and the questions to ask your centre.Choosing a daycare: a practical checklist for NZ parentsRatios, hours, food, settling-in and the gut-feel test — a no-nonsense checklist to take on your centre tours.WINZ Childcare Subsidy: what help you can getBeyond 20 Hours ECE — how the Work and Income Childcare Subsidy works and who qualifies.