Kowhai Free Kindergarten

Service type

Kowhai Free Kindergarten is a free kindergarten — historically session-based (shorter, set daily sessions rather than all-day care), run on a not-for-profit basis.

20 Hours ECE

Kowhai Free Kindergarten participates in the 20 Hours ECE scheme, which funds up to 20 hours a week of early childhood education for children aged 3 to 5.

Authority

Kowhai Free Kindergarten is community based — typically run by a trust, incorporated society, or other not-for-profit body, rather than operated for private profit.

Equity Index

Kowhai Free Kindergarten has an Equity Index rating of "EQI 4" on the Ministry of Education's 1–4 scale for early childhood services. A lower number means the service draws more of its enrolled children from lower socio-economic communities, making it eligible for additional government funding. This is a different scale to the schools Equity Index (344–569) and the two should never be compared directly.

Learn how the ECE Equity Index works →

Children by age

As at July 2025, based on 29 children on the roll.

Children by ethnicity

Percentages may add up to more than 100%, since a child can be recorded under more than one ethnicity.

Location

Contact details

• Address16 Coonoor Road, Timaru
• Phone+64 3 688 0285
• Emailkowhai.kindergarten@sck.nz
• ContactTania Rose

Nearby ECE services

• Hanan Free Kindergarten Kindergartens · 824 m
• Rhona Day Free Kindergarten Kindergartens · 18.5 km
• BestStart Opihi Education & Care Services · 18.9 km
• Active Explorers Ashburton Education & Care Services · 67.5 km
• Lower Waitaki Playcentre Playcentre · 67.9 km