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Babysitting that actually fits your life.

Whether it’s a date night, work commitment, or just a breather.

Tell us what you need and we’ll help find the right sitter for your family, with real support behind you.

The Village Co. matches NZ families with vetted babysitters using AI-assisted matching reviewed by a real person before any recommendation reaches you, across Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch and beyond.

What makes us different

Thoughtful matching

We don’t leave you scrolling profiles.

We personally match families with sitters who suit your needs and values.

 

Real humans behind the scenes

Every sitter is ID-checked and personally onboarded.

And if plans change? We’re here.

A village, not a marketplace

We’re building real community, not just bookings.

How it works

Tell us about your family

Kids, routines, what matters most.

We find your sitter

Matched by our team, not an algorithm.

Book with confidence

We stay close before, during, and after.


How soon will I be matched?

We aim to introduce you to a sitter as quickly as possible, often the same day, depending on availability.


 

Will I know who the sitter is before booking?

Yes. We’ll introduce you before anything is confirmed, so everyone feels comfortable from the start.

 


 

Can I leave special instructions for the sitter?


Of course! Share details like bedtime routines, allergies, and any special care instructions right in your profile page or via the messaging service.

 

What if plans change?

Life happens. We’re here to help adjust bookings or find backup where possible.

Just reach out to us by phone on 07 807 9114 or via email at: support@thevillageco.nz.


 

What if I need help during a booking?

You’re never on your own. There are real humans behind the scenes if you need support. Just call us on 07 807 9114 or email us at: support@thevillageco.nz

 


 

What is the VillageCo service fee?

The Village Co charges a small service fee on each booking. This fee is separate from your sitter's hourly rate and covers the cost of running the platform, including sitter background checks, identity verification, insurance, secure payments, and our support team.

The service fee is non-refundable. If a booking is cancelled, any refund of the booking amount will follow our cancellation policy based on the notice given. The service fee will not be returned.

In exceptional circumstances, such as a platform error or a safety concern raised with our team, we may choose to waive or refund the service fee at our discretion.

 


 

Can I cancel a booking if my plans change?

Yes, you can cancel or reschedule directly on this platform. Check our cancellation details above for more details. 

How do sitters join Village Co?

Every sitter completes ID checks and onboarding, and we meet them (by video or in person) before they join so families feel confident from day one.

Find out more at: 
https://thevillageco.nz/parent-portal


 

Can I meet the sitter before booking?

 

Yes. Just send them a message to chat with your sitter after you have requested a booking. You can then arrange a time to meet.


 

What if my sitter cancels last minute?

Life happens - we get it. If your sitter cancels, we’ll help you find a replacement ASAP or refund your booking. 


 

What if something goes wrong?

Rest assured, every booking is protected by our comprehensive $2 million liability insurance. Our sitters know first aid and should an accident or incident occur we have an emergency process where we ensure we can get someone to our sitter ASAP. 

 

What areas do you operate in?

We're currently operating in Auckland, Hamilton, Waikato, Tauranga, Cambridge, Wellington and Christchurch — with more cities coming soon.

Still unsure?
Reach out at info@thevillageco.nz, we're always happy to help.

Still unsure? Reach out. we’re happy to help.

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For parents

Childcare that
actually fits
your family.

Whether it's a date night, a work commitment, or just a breather. Tell us what you need and we find the right sitter, with real support behind you every step of the way.

The Village Co. matches NZ families with vetted babysitters using AI-assisted matching reviewed by a real person before any recommendation reaches you, across Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch and beyond.

6

Layers of vetting

Interview, ID check, reference check, experience match, NZ Police check, and onboarding.

$2M

Liability insurance

$2 million Village Sitter Insurance covers every single booking.

NZ

Police check required

Current Ministry of Justice criminal record check. Required, not optional.

$0

No placement or signup fee

No membership, no placement fee, no cost to join. You only pay when you book.

How it works

Three steps to your first booking.

With a real person beside you the whole way.

1

Tell us about your family

Share your suburb, children's ages, and what kind of care you need. It takes a few minutes and a real person reads every profile.

Takes about 5 minutes
2

We find your match

We match you with the three best sitters who fit your family, location, experience, and values. No endless browsing, no awkward cold messages. We make the introduction and you can ask questions before anything is confirmed. And as great new sitters join the platform, we'll send you fresh recommendations.

Often same day
3

Book with confidence

Once you are happy with your sitter, send a request. You will see the full cost including the service fee before you confirm and if anything ever goes wrong, that fee is refunded. We stay close if anything changes.

Full cost shown upfront

What makes us different

A village, not a marketplace.

We do not give you a list and wish you luck.

🤝

Thoughtful matching

We match families with sitters who suit your needs, location, and values. Not a search result.

🌿

We stay involved

Our team is here before, during, and after every booking. If something comes up, you are not on your own.

🏡

A community, not a transaction

Families and sitters who become part of the village, not just names on a platform.

Pricing

Clear pricing.
No surprises.

You see the full cost before you confirm any booking. Always.

Sitter's hourly rate

Sitters set their own rate. Typically $20 to $30 per hour depending on experience and location.

$20 – $30/hr

Platform fee

20% per booking. Covers matching, vetting, $2M insurance, and support.

20%

Membership, signup, or placement fee

None. No fee to join, no fee to browse, no placement fee. You only ever pay when you make a booking.

$0

Example booking

A 4-hour babysitter booking with Sarah

Sitter rate ($25/hr x 4 hrs)$100.00
Platform fee (20%)$20.00
Total you pay$120.00

Sarah receives her full $100.00. The service fee covers your concierge match, safety checks, $2M insurance, and support.

Is the service fee refundable?

The service fee is non-refundable. Refunds of the sitter's rate follow our cancellation policy based on notice given.

What if I need to cancel?

More than 48 hours notice: full refund of sitter's rate. 12 to 48 hours: 50%. Less than 12 hours: no refund of sitter rate.


Trust and safety

Six layers before they meet your kids.

We only work with people we would trust with our own families.

1

Application review

Every application reviewed manually for experience, communication, and values.

2

Face-to-face interview

Every sitter meets with Nikki or Sophia, by video or in person. No exceptions.

3

ID verification

Government-issued ID checked and verified before approval.

4

Experience match

We confirm the sitter's childcare background aligns with what your family actually needs.

5

NZ Police check

Current Ministry of Justice criminal record check. Required, not optional.

6

Real onboarding

Standards, expectations, and emergency protocols before their first booking.

"We built The Village Co to give parents something genuinely hard to find: real peace of mind when leaving their kids."

Nikki and Sophia, Founders

6
vetting layers before approval
$2M
liability cover per booking
100%
personally interviewed by our team
NZ
Police check required
FAQs

Questions parents ask.

Can't find your answer? Visit the parent portal or email us.

We aim to introduce you to a sitter as quickly as possible, often the same day, depending on availability in your area. We'll always let you know what to expect.
Yes. We'll match you before anything is confirmed so you can ask questions and get comfortable. You can also message your sitter through the platform before the booking.
Every sitter completes a six-layer vetting process including a face-to-face interview with Nikki or Sophia, ID verification, experience match, reference checks, and a NZ Police check. Only then are they approved.
No. There are no membership or signup fees for parents. You only pay when you make a booking.
Yes. When making a booking you can add bedtime routines, allergies, parking info, and anything else the sitter should know. You can also message your sitter directly through the app.
Yes. You can cancel through the app. With more than 48 hours notice you'll receive a full refund of the sitter's rate. Between 12 and 48 hours, 50%. Less than 12 hours, no refund of the sitter rate. The service fee is non-refundable.
If your sitter cancels, we'll help you find a replacement as quickly as possible or process a full refund. You're never left stranded.
Yes. The platform supports recurring bookings for regular weekly care. Same sitter, same time, set it once and it runs automatically.
Call us on 07 807 9114 or email support@thevillageco.nz. For urgent issues during a live booking, use the in-app support button.
Yes. Every sitter provides a current NZ Ministry of Justice criminal record check before they're approved. Required, not optional.
Every booking is covered by $2 million public liability insurance. Both you and your sitter are protected in the event of an accident or incident during the booking.
Every booking is backed by $2 million liability insurance. Our sitters know what to do in an emergency. If something happens, contact us on 07 807 9114 and we'll support you through it.
Just let us know. We'll work with you to find another match. Our goal is to find someone your family genuinely feels comfortable with.
We currently operate in Auckland, Hamilton, Waikato, Tauranga, Cambridge, Wellington, and Christchurch, with more cities coming. Not sure if we cover your area? Email support@thevillageco.nz.
We match by suburb, so coverage depends on sitter availability in your area. Reach out and we'll let you know what's possible for your location.
Resources for parents

Everything in one place.

🏡

Parent portal

How matching works, what to expect at each step, answers to common questions, and a direct line to our team.

Go to parent portal
🎫

Support and help centre

Browse our knowledge base, submit a support request, or track an existing ticket. Real responses from a real team.

Get support

Ready to find your
village?

Your family profile takes less than 10 minutes. A real person reads every one.

Auckland · Hamilton · Tauranga · Wellington · Christchurch and beyond.