Why Choose Us?

At BestStart, we’re passionate about making a positive difference in children’s lives. We aspire to grow curious, confident and caring children.

Our qualified, passionate teachers work with Te Whariki, the incredible New Zealand early learning curriculum, in our centres.

We support your child to identify emotions and learn problem-solving skills to build their sense of self-worth and make friends. We want children to grow into resilient and confident adults.

Every BestStart centre is unique and reflects the special qualities and backgrounds of its children, teachers and communities. 

Click on the articles below to see what else makes our centres special.


The Heart Foundation is proud to support BestStart in its ambitious goal of all centres achieving a Healthy Heart Award as part of the Hauora Wellbeing Initiative. Establishing healthy habits in the early years provides tamariki with a strong foundation for good health and wellbeing throughout their lives. The Heart Foundation Healthy Heart Award recognises centres’ efforts in creating a heart-healthy environment

Justine Munro, Education Setting Manager, Heart Foundation

We are proud that BestStart has been a Plunket Star Partner since 2014 providing support for Plunket community services which are provided free to families across New Zealand. Together Plunket and BestStart work towards developing initiatives that contribute to improving the health and wellbeing of parents, caregivers and their babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers.

Carolyn Mettrick, Head of Funding, Partnerships and Brand, Plunket

BestStart prides itself on the development of robust policies and procedures to ensure that centres not only meet but surpass the required health, safety, regulatory and legislative requirements required in early childhood education.

Education Review Office,

Optimal physical activity and nutrition within early childhood lays the foundation for a great start to life and the building blocks for future health and wellbeing. The Hauora initiative was set up as a collaboration between BestStart Educare, Heart Foundation NZ, Jumping Beans, and Massey University to undertake research and to explore ways in which to provide a better start to our tamariki and whanau.

Ajmol Ali, Associate Dean, International (College of Health), Massey University