The Blue Cottage is a small, family-owned early learning centre at 2 Te Rito Way in Papamoa Beach, Tauranga, and it runs daycare, kindy and preschool across Pāpāmoa and Ōtūmoetai. The centre describes its teaching as strengths-based. It builds children's mana and self-confidence by letting them have a go, take risks and learn from mistakes, and it works in partnership with whānau. Meals are home cooked, and there is a separate room called the Pipi room for babies. The centre says it runs at least six events a year, and it posts regular photos and updates for families.
Families who have written about the centre describe staff who feel like extended family and who stay in touch with parents. One parent says the team were patient and accommodating while they worked through a child's allergies. Another praises the Mother's Day evening the owners held for the mums each year. Parents say the daily updates and pictures make their day, and that the team take care of everything, which makes mornings easier. The centre serves families across Papamoa, Ōtūmoetai and Brookfield.