Parents scrambling with big Hutt ECE centre to shut

Wednesday, 11 June 2025

Parents of about 90 children at a busy Hutt Valley daycare are having to find a new centre as transport redevelopments in the area force the acquisition of more than 100 properties.

But waitlists for other centres in the area have left those currently at Millie’s House Early Learning Centre in uncertainty.

The RiverLink Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi project in Lower Hutt, which includes flood protection and transport redevelopments, will start construction of the new Melling Interchange on State Highway 2 later this year.

In a joint statement from Te Awa Kairangi partners, which include Hutt City Council, Greater Wellington and NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, it said 141 properties were required to deliver the $1.5 billion RiverLink project.

Buildings in Daly St, where Millie’s House Early Learning Centre was located, and the southern end of High St were required by Greater Wellington for new stopbank construction, it said.

The majority, including those on Pharazyn St and Marsden St, had already been acquired.

John Schollum, co-director of Millie’s House, said the centre was left with no choice but to close at the end of the year.

It had spent a significant amount of time over the past two years investigating alternative options, including starting work on another building, but it became clear they would not meet requirements.

“It basically became impossible for us to get a spot to relocate to … There's quite a lot of criteria you've got to meet so finding locations is quite difficult,” Schollum said.

The centre had about 25 staff and licensing for 100 students. Last year, it celebrated its 10-year anniversary.

“We're working with staff and parents to try and relocate them as best that we can.”

Rajani, who only wanted her first name used, said she struggled to find another daycare for her daughter Nayra who had been at Millie’s House for about two years.

She had tried about six centres in the area and all were full.

“There’s long waiting lists … I’ve applied everywhere,” she said.

Millie’s House was in a convenient location for her family and she felt attached to the daycare, which took “special care and attention” of its children and was where her daughter found good friends.

Rajani was worried about the transition and having to take time off work to help Nayra adjust. “It’s quite a hard time for everyone.”

Meanwhile, a shopping complex at the southern end of High St including a butchers, fish market, cafe, pharmacy and alcohol store would all be demolished.

A House of Spice store had already relocated across the road.

But Wellington Seamarket Lower Hutt manager Lee Li said the move would not be as simple for others. Its current location had a loading area for deliveries at the back, on Daly St, as well as parking at the front.

After more than two decades, the shop was well-established with between 400 and 500 customers on a Saturday.

It was in discussions with the council about a new location but had not found anywhere yet, while a demolition date loomed in September. “It’s very challenging,” Li said.

Bottle-O employee Sam Nagpul said alcohol licensing attached to the premises presented complications for their relocation.

They were issued with a notice to vacate but were “stuck with a lot of red tape”, Nagpul said. “They’ll take away the livelihood and continue negotiations later on.”

Negotiations with business owners regarding closure or relocation were continuing, Te Awa Kairangi partners said.

“We’ll continue to work closely with each other, alongside local businesses, residents, and transport providers to carefully plan and manage disruptions.“