Labour's handout won't sway this family

James and Julie Harwood with boys Jack (4) and Ben (1) in their house in Albany, Auckland. Picture / Fotopress

James and Julie Harwood made the decision to send their 4-year-old son Jack to a private childcare centre after trying home care, private centres and a nanny.

"I don't think you could say one's better than the other. It comes down to choice and cost," said Julie. She said home care was very dependent on one person, so if that person was sick, alternative arrangements would have to be made.

James Harwood said Jack was benefiting from the interaction with other children.

Since January, Jack has been attending a nearby private childcare facility three days a week. Jack is typically dropped off at the centre in Albany at 9am, and picked up at 4pm. His childcare amounts to $640 a month, or $7680 a year.

Jack will be too old by July 2007 to benefit when Labour's extension of its 20-hours-a-week free childcare policy to private operators kicks in.

But Jack's brother Ben, who will be 1 in October, will benefit.

The Harwoods are considering sending Ben to childcare when he is 18 months old, so Julie can work four days a week.

Under National's policy, the Harwoods would be eligible for a $1650 yearly tax refund for each child in early childcare, while under Labour, they would be $90 a week better off for Ben's care.

Labour's announcement has not swayed Mrs Harwood's decision to vote National. Hearing of National's tax cuts, Mr Harwood said: "Bring it on".