At Lighthouse Childcare, we believe quality early learning should be accessible for every whānau. There are several government subsidies and support options available to help with childcare costs. Here's a summary of what you may be eligible for and how to access this assistance.

Fees & Subsidies

Fees for 2 Year Olds

For 2-year-olds, we offer 30 hours of childcare per week for $30 per week*. This rate enables families to access quality early learning at an affordable cost while making full use of available government support programmes.

*After FamilyBoost rebate, from 1 July 2025. Conditions apply.

Fees 3–5 Year Olds

We provide free childcare for 30 hours per week for children aged 3–5 years.

This is made possible through the Government’s 20 Hours ECE programme.

From your child’s third birthday until they start school, they are entitled to up to 20 hours of government-funded early childhood education each week (up to 6 hours per day).

Lighthouse Childcare covers the remaining hours, allowing your child to attend for up to 30 hours per week at no cost to families.

To access this support:

Enrol your child at Lighthouse Childcare.
Complete the attestation section in the enrolment form.

Once this is done, your fees will automatically reflect the 30 hours of free ECE.

FamilyBoost Payment

From 1 July 2025, eligible families will also be able to claim the new FamilyBoost childcare payment from Inland Revenue (IRD).

If you qualify, you can claim up to 40% of your childcare fees (after other subsidies are applied), up to a maximum of $1,560 every three months.

Lighthouse Childcare will provide a quarterly statement to make your FamilyBoost claim simple and straightforward.

For more information about eligibility and how to apply, visit the IRD Family Boost Webpage here.

Childcare Subsidy's through WINZ

You may also be eligible for a Childcare Subsidy through Work and Income (WINZ). This subsidy helps families with the cost of early childhood education.

You may qualify if:

You are the main caregiver of the child.
You are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident.
Your child attends at least 3 hours of care per week.

The amount of assistance you receive depends on your household income, number of children, and the type of care your child is enrolled in.

You can check your eligibility and apply online using the WINZ childcare subsidy calculator on the Working for Families website here or visit your local Work and Income office for support.

We're here to help!

If you’re unsure which support you might qualify for, our team is happy to guide you through the process and help with the paperwork where possible.