Parents and their children will establish strong links with each other and the community through the new Queenstown Montessori pre-school, Queenstown Lakes Mayor Clive Geddes said before he officially opened the new centre on Monday.
Mr Geddes congratulated centre owner Guy Hughes for "taking the initiative" in creating the facility and said he was sure Mr Hughes would be rewarded a thousand-fold as it grew.
About 50 foundation parents and pupils attended the opening.
After a traditional Maori song by Lesley Telfer-Morel and words of welcome from Mr Hughes, centre director and teacher Sue Wilson and Mr Geddes, pupil Finnegan Pannell-Gould (3), of Queenstown, with mother Andrea Pannell and brother Isaac Pannell-Gould (4 months), helped the mayor cut the ribbon.
Ms Pannell said the family was excited to be part of the centre.
"We've recently moved here and were told there were massive waiting lists. We've just come from America and there are lots of great Montessories, so we're excited to get this spot."
Queenstown hospitality manager Lucas Hernandez said he and wife Franziska Kreher were relieved Felix Hernandez-Kreher (3) had been enrolled.
"I'm quite happy because we just came back from Germany after three years and we were lucky to get in so fast.
"Montessori is quite popular in Europe. My wife went to Montessori pre-school and school, so we know quite a lot about it.
"We tried to put Felix into Arrowtown, but it was almost impossible to get a space."
Mr Hughes, Language Schools New Zealand owner, said it was about a year since he tried unsuccessfully to place daughter Lexie Hughes (3) at Arrowtown Montessori.
He met Ms Wilson, former ABC Arrowtown Montessori manager, and they became involved in renovating the neighbouring former Southland REAP house, on Robins Rd, for use as a Montessori centre, for up to 20 pupils at any one time.
Mr Hughes said stage two could see a nursery for about 15 infants, aged from 18 months, once the centre was operating.
The centre was open this week from 10am until noon, so parents and children could familiarise themselves, then classes begin on Monday, from 9am to 3pm.
"Now it's here to stay. We're going to serve the community for a long time to come."
