The Government is promising it will continue providing 20 hours early childhood education a week but ministers aren't ruling out changes that could mean parents paying more.
Education Minister Anne Tolley said today the cost of providing it had nearly trebled over the last five years and was projected to continue rising at about $200 million a year.
"Twenty hours has never been free, we changed the name to 20 hours early childhood education because it was quite clear that parents were being charged for all sorts of other things," she said.
"I think there are cost pressures in early childhood education that are not necessarily adding to the quality of provision."
Mrs Tolley said there was unequal uptake, with poor families losing out.
Asked whether she intended means testing parents, Mrs Tolley said "wait for the budget".
Prime Minister John Key said "we're looking at the scheme" and also told reporters they would have to wait for the May 20 budget to find out more.
