"Perhaps Waipawa is doing well because of the current model - are we risking taking a model that's working to reallocate funds to less successful kindergartens?" one person asked.
Association general manager Fiona Mason said that it could not be guaranteed with the ebbs and flows in rolls and other variables that the deficit would remain at that level, and that being part of the association Waipawa did not operate on its own.
Other suggestions were raised such as increasing parent fees or donations, increasing the roll, or Waipawa doing its own fundraising to make up the shortfall.
Mrs Mason said fees were being investigated as part of the strategy.
"But we are also committed to kindergartens being accessible to all families, and some might not be able to afford it."
She added that there would be extra costs attached to increasing roll numbers, but that they would be open to asking the Ministry, and that fundraising was a commitment the current parents may be prepared to make but there was no guarantee parents in the future would be of the same mind.
She noted that the Association had been making a loss since 2012, and that changes needed to be made now to ensure the kindergartens were sustainable.
"We have to ensure the association remains financially successful and supports it member kindergartens as much as possible.
"Our aim is to future-proof the association, maintain its fiscal viability and the opportunity for growth and expansion, as well as strengthen our place in early childcare."
She noted that early childcare was becoming very competitive, combined with the government's push to get parents back to work soon after having children, and that kindergartens needed to carefully consider their strategy carefully for the survival of kindergartens in the long term.
Not all the kindergartens within the Association were facing staff hour cuts, some were being extended, depending on the unique circumstances of each centre.
Mrs Mason said feedback was welcomed until the consultation period ended on March 21, and at the end of the meeting said the Association would consider a request to extend the consultation period.