Childcare centre closures ‘chaos’ for families

Wellington parents fear the closure of two childcare centres will force them to quit studies or cut their working hours.

Whitireia and Weltec confirmed the Petone and Porirua centres will close from May 31 – a move parents say has thrown their families into chaos.

Ben Gardiner, whose 4-year-old attends the Porirua centre, said dozens of families were now searching for spots in an already swamped childcare market.

“It’s beyond shit. For us, as a two working parent family, it means we’re joining the rest of the whanau trying to find something in Porirua ... we have no confidence whatsoever we’ll be able to do that.”

In January, teachers and parents were told there would be a four-week consultation. A later media statement said a range of options was being considered, not just closing the facility.

But Gardiner, who has long-been a parent representative on the governing board, believed a submission by a group of whanau was ignored and the closure was always a fait accompli.

“None of us are blind to the fact they have a business to run – things could not be more turbulent – but what aggravates me is I sat in those quarterly governance meetings and there was never any mention of this.

“It feels like it was done by stealth ... it just feels yuck.”

Another parent, who did not want to be named, said the closure wasn’t only an upheaval to parents and teachers, but to children settled and happy in the centres.

“It can be a really long process getting kids comfortable in childcare; they have their little friends, know the routine, and absolutely adore the kaimahi [teachers] who are their family now.”

Also, with the announcement coming just weeks into the first semester, it leaves parents who signed up, or returned to study without “one of the most important factors they took into consideration”.

“I’m seriously considering leaving my studies and I know of two others who might have to also.

“People are also talking about cutting their work hours, if their jobs allow it. This has caused real chaos for whanau.”

Te Pūkenga region three executive director Mark Oldershaw said there was urgent need to be more financially sustainable and prioritise its core purpose of providing vocational education. It was not a reflection on the “professionalism, pride and aroha that centre staff have shown”.

Options included continuing with the status quo or placing more of the cost on families whose children attend by raising fee rates.