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Lower Waitaki Playcentre

Playcentre, Oamaru

Lower Waitaki Playcentre is a community-based early childhood service in Oamaru, registered under the "Playcentre" category. KuraData brings together its 20 Hours ECE status, children on the roll, age and ethnicity breakdown, Equity Index and official contact details in one place.

Last checked 6 September 2026

At a glance

TypePlaycentre
LocationOamaru
RegionOtago Region
Service number81017
12
Children on the roll
20 Hrs funded
20 Hours ECE
Community based
Authority
EQI > 5
Equity Index

Service type

Lower Waitaki Playcentre is a Playcentre — a parent-led co-operative, where parents and caregivers themselves run sessions rather than employed teaching staff.

20 Hours ECE

Lower Waitaki Playcentre 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

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

Equity Index

Lower Waitaki Playcentre has an Equity Index rating of "EQI > 5" 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 12 children on the roll.

Under 2 2 (16.7%)
2 years 6 (50%)
3 years 2 (16.7%)
4 years 2 (16.7%)

Children by ethnicity

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

European 10 (83.3%)
Māori 5 (41.7%)

Location

View larger map →

Contact details

  • AddressPapakaio Hall 21 Papakaio Road, Oamaru
  • Phone+64 3 448 6903
  • ContactNikki Gallagher

Nearby ECE services

Explore ECE in Oamaru

Browse Oamaru early childhood services by type.

Playcentre (1) All services in Oamaru →

What comes next

Primary schools closest to Lower Waitaki Playcentre — most children move into a primary school after early childhood education, though families are free to choose any school.

Data source