Niruban Manivannan moved to Auckland from India three years ago to build a better future for his young family and now works full time in the software industry while also driving for Uber to make ends meet.<\/p>\n
He said Northcote Preschool had been life-changing for his two young daughters, helping them learn English and become more independent.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe came to New Zealand because we believed it was an inclusive country where people from different backgrounds could build a better life.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy daughters weren\u2019t English speakers when they started. This preschool taught them their numbers, helped them become independent and gave them confidence. It\u2019s much more than just childcare to our family.\u201d<\/p>\n
Manivannan said the preschool charged about $45 a week per child after subsidies, compared with other centres that often cost $150 to $200 a week.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor families like ours, there simply isn\u2019t another affordable option.\u201d<\/p>\n
Northcote Preschool (Kete W\u0101nanga) has been a lifeline for local families for decades, but is set to close at the end of the year.<\/p>\n
He said his wife was volunteering and studying while looking for work, but the family still struggled with Auckland\u2019s cost of living.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople think because I work in software I\u2019m comfortable. But I\u2019m also driving Uber because my salary isn\u2019t enough to cover rent, groceries and everything our children need.\u201d<\/p>\n
Manivannan said parents had collected about 100 signatures opposing the proposed closure.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not asking for special treatment. We\u2019re asking for an affordable preschool that gives our children the same opportunities as everyone else.<\/p>\n
\u201cClosing this preschool won\u2019t just affect my family. It will affect many hardworking families who are trying to build a future here.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Northcote Preschool (Kete W\u0101nanga) Community Trust has operated the preschool since 2009, continuing a service based at Lindisfarne Hall for decades.<\/p>\n
Trust board chair Clive Menkin said the trust had spent the past year trying to convince the Kaip\u0101tiki Local Board to reverse its decision.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was sympathy from a number of board members before the election, but things have changed entirely.\u201d<\/p>\n
He claimed the board wanted to repurpose the site \u201cand just wants, under any circumstances, to get us out of there\u201d.<\/p>\n
Replacing the preschool with activities such as community programmes failed to recognise the importance of early childhood education, he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cEarly childhood education is probably the most critical part of a child\u2019s education. Yet they\u2019re prepared to remove it for other activities.\u201d<\/p>\n
Menkin said the looming closure had devastated families and staff.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur parents are angry and upset. We\u2019ve also got five excellent, qualified teachers who are extremely upset.\u201d<\/p>\n
The trust had always been willing to pay more rent to remain at Lindisfarne Hall, but Menkin claimed: \u201cWe were never given that option.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Kaip\u0101tiki Local Board said it understood the decision would be difficult for Northcote Preschool families, children and staff, but it had a long-term vision to transform Lindisfarne Hall into a broader community hub.<\/p>\n
In September 2025, the board resolved to seek a community development partner to deliver a wider range of programmes and services from the site, saying this would better meet the needs of Northcote\u2019s growing and increasingly diverse population.<\/p>\n
The hall is due to undergo maintenance work in early 2027, requiring it to be vacated, and the preschool\u2019s occupancy was extended until the end of the year to allow families time to relocate.<\/p>\n
Board chair Danielle Grant said the decision had not been taken lightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur role is to make decisions that meet the future needs of the wider community, and our long-term vision for Lindisfarne Hall is to enable a broader range of community programmes and services from the site.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grant said the hall\u2019s location beside a playground and large open space made it well suited to become a community gathering place offering a wide range of activities.<\/p>\n
Rachel Maher is the education correspondent for the New Zealand Herald. She also covers a variety of other topics like Auckland issues, crime and local government. She started at the Herald as a breaking news journalist in 2022, before joining the Auckland team this year. <\/p>\n