22 Sep 2026
The PMG Direct Childcare Fund has expanded with the acquisition of The Maples Early Childhood Education Centre in Te Awamutu.
Located within Frontier Estate, a new master-planned community, the purpose-built centre was created in response to growing demand from local families for quality early childhood education options.
The acquisition marks the 16th property in the PMG Direct Childcare Fund, which invests in modern childcare centres across New Zealand.
Te Awamutu has become an increasingly popular choice for young families, with Frontier Estate attracting new residents to the area. As the community has grown, so too has demand for local childcare services.
The Maples was developed specifically to meet that need.
Operated by experienced childcare providers Daynah Smallwood and Tracey Aubin, the centre has been designed around the needs of children, families and educators. From dedicated learning environments for different age groups through to purpose-built outdoor spaces, the facility provides a modern early childhood education offering for the local community.
Smallwood says the goal was to create more than simply additional childcare capacity.
"Parents were often travelling outside Te Awamutu to access childcare. We wanted to create a quality local option that reflected our education philosophy and provided an environment where children could thrive."
For PMG, projects such as The Maples demonstrate the value of investing in properties that form part of the fabric of a community.
As New Zealand's towns and cities continue to grow, so too does the need for the services and facilities that support them. Childcare centres are one example of that essential infrastructure, providing a service relied on by local families every day.
The addition of The Maples strengthens the PMG Direct Childcare Fund portfolio while supporting an important community need in one of Waikato's growing regional centres.
