Paikea Kindergarten To Close As Low Enrolments And Costs Create Funding Gap

October 19, 2026

Parents have been left frustrated by the decision to close a rural kindergarten, saying their efforts to save the service were cut short before a funding application was decided.

Last month, Paikea Kindergarten parents hosted an open day to boost enrolments for 2027.

The kindergarten at Whāngārā, about 30 minutes north of Gisborne, had 17 East Coast children enrolled for January - below the 20-child threshold required under its Early Childhood Education Centre (ECE) funding arrangements.

Parents also applied to the Ministry of Education for notional roll funding, which allows eligible centres to receive funding based on average attendance over 12 months, rather than meeting a daily attendance threshold.

The application had not been processed when parents received a letter on Monday confirming the kindergarten would permanently close on December 18.

Gisborne Kindergarten Association senior teacher Jeff Ruston wrote on behalf of the governing board, thanking whānau for the time, thought and effort they had put into exploring options for Paikea’s future.

The letter acknowledged the kindergarten’s importance to the community, but said the decision followed “an extensive review of Paikea Kindergarten’s sustainability”.

Declining enrolments, the cost of operating a rural kindergarten and inadequate funding made continuing financially unsustainable, it read.

Projections showed enrolments could reach 20 in November and early December 2027, but were expected to decline again in early 2028, the association’s letter said.

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The letter included financial projections showing losses of between $107,550 and $110,700 from January 2027 to March 2028 under three proposed four-day operating models.

Tamariki and whānau would receive support to transition to other association kindergartens, including Rutene Road, Knox Street, Kaiti, Makauri Rural, Mangapapa, Ormond, Rakakao and Riverdale. The nearest is just over 26km from Paikea.

Ruston said enrolments were expected to remain at 16 to 17 children, creating a funding shortfall.

“The Gisborne Kindergarten Association board have tirelessly looked at ways of trying to see if we can actually provide a service, but unfortunately with the shortfall in funding we’re unable to do so.

“While we have not been able to reach the outcome we all would have hoped for, please know that your contributions have been heard and carefully considered by the board.”

Teachers’ roles would be disestablished under the Kindergarten Teachers’ Collective Agreement, and the board was yet to decide what would happen to the site.

Ruston said the likelihood of receiving notional funding was low, and even if the funding was approved, the shortfall would remain.

“The notional roll is funded on average over 12 months and so even if it got to say 15 children, there’d still be a shortfall of five children at Paikea Kindergarten.

“Our hearts go out to our community. It’s not been an easy decision for our board, and it’s devastating.”

Parent Lucy Jefferd, who was part of a group advocating against the closure, said it was a significant loss for the community because it was the only kindergarten on the East Coast outside Gisborne city.

“What a loss. The East Coast loses the last kindy. There’s not one other kindy on the coast. It’s just so sad and displaces so many people for now and into the future.”

Parents were frustrated the decision came before their application was seen through, before the 2026 general election and before a ministerial advisory group was due to deliver recommendations on redesigning the early childhood education funding system by the end of the year.

With a decision on the application expected in the coming weeks, she believed the closure decision was premature.

“I get that they have to work within their timelines, but I just don’t know if they understand the major ramifications of this for the East Coast. It’s so much more than just a kindy. It’s community, it’s connection.

“We understand that the roll was low, we demonstrated the roll can grow, we demonstrated how we can fundraise the gap, yet we were still never given a chance to trial anything.”

After spending six weeks working on a proposal, parents felt they had not been given a proper opportunity to demonstrate their plan could work.

Parents had proposed fundraising initiatives, including stock drives, crutching days and horse treks, in a written proposal, but wished to present them in person.

The Paikea community, including current, former and prospective parents, expressed shock at the decision and appreciation for those who had worked to keep the kindergarten open.

The community had believed the kindergarten was operating well, having previously had waiting lists, and was surprised when the possibility of changes was first raised in June.

The closure also left Jefferd facing difficult decisions about how to manage her children’s childcare and work.

She was, with other parents, having to consider if and how she could transport her children to ECE in Gisborne, take another child to Tolaga Bay School and continue working on a farm.

Board chairwoman Rosie Whitley said the board had held a community meeting and met with the parents who submitted the proposal.

The board considered the proposal before making a decision.

Declining enrolments, funding settings and rising operating costs threatened the association’s other 11 kindergartens if Paikea remained open, she said.

“As a kindergarten association, we already were taking quite a loss from this particular kindergarten for 13 years.”

Whitley said average daily attendance was about 12 children, and notional roll funding would not cover the losses.

“We tried to push a little bit for enrolments and things, and then this year we just had to make a call because it’s going to fold us all over.

“We want kindergartens to stay alive and thriving here in the Tairāwhiti region, so we had to make that really tough decision, and it was difficult.”

The board would support families through the transition and consider proposals from other early childhood education providers interested in using the site.

“This was not a decision taken lightly and it is not something that we underestimate. We did everything that we could with the information we have.”

Despite the closure, she was proud of the kindergarten and how it had served the community under the association for the past 13 years.

“We just want to thank everyone for the stories they’ve had with Paikea Kindergarten. Yes, it’s really sad, but all those memories are still there and true.”

She acknowledged that the community had “really hustled” and she was proud of their efforts.

“Unfortunately, I think it was just a little too late for everything, just declining enrolment and population, just things that were out of control, out of anyone’s control.”

- LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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