FAQ - Heretaunga Kindergartens Hawke's Bay

Where is my closest kindergarten?

We have 16 kindergartens based in Hastings, Havelock North, Flaxmere and Central Hawke's Bay. – Click here to view a map of our kindergarten locations.

What are the term dates?

Kindergarten terms for 2024 are:

Term 1 – 18 January – 12 April

Term 2 – 29 April – 5 July

Term 3 – 22 July – 27 September

Term 4 – 14 October – 19 December

Do I have to stay with my child at kindergarten?

You may find that your child needs your support in the early days of kindergarten and our teaching team will give your family lots of support during this settling in period. Some parents choose to stay at kindergarten on various sessions to interact with their child and friends - but the choice is always yours. Whānau are welcome at any time.

How much does it cost?

We offer the Government's 30 Hours ECE option to our families and are committed to keeping our kindergartens affordable for everyone. For any hours not covered by this option we charge the very low fee of $6.00 per hour.

You may be able to get a WINZ subsidy to help with the payment of your fees.

Are the teachers qualified?

Yes. All our teachers are fully qualified, with a minimum of a Diploma in Early Childhood Teaching (ECE). They are also certificated and registered with the New Zealand Education Council and hold current First Aid certificates.

Who do I contact if I have concern about my kindergarten?

We understand that there will be times when you have something you want to discuss with us. Your first step is to talk to our Kaiako Matua/Head Teacher who is available to talk briefly at any time. If you need more time, it is best to arrange a meeting in non-teaching time so that they can give you their full attention. You are also welcome to send the Kaiako Matua an email.