"It would be a complete u-turn in New Zealand's tradition of valuing families and the family's role in the child's early learning and care.
"It's basically saying there is a certain proportion of the population who are not capable of providing early childhood education to their children."
The Plunket Society was alarmed at the move.
"Plunket's approach is to always look at legislative changes like this through the eyes of the child," said its general manager of service development Helen Connors.
"I think that undoubtedly having a 50 per cent cut in income is going to have a direct impact on children."
Solo mum can't afford childcare
Auckland solo mum Kyleigh-Jane Portland is being forced to pull her son out of childcare she can't afford.
Ms Portland, 40, pays $54 a week out of her DPB to send son Tuumanako, who has health problems, to the Learning Point in Pt Chevalier for nine hours a week.
In theory she should get a Work and Income subsidy of $35 a week, reducing the net cost to $19, which she could just manage.
But her application missed the deadline because of lost paperwork, so she has had to file for a review.
New obligations
Beneficiary parents must ensure their children:
* Attend early childhood education 15 hours a week from age 3.
* Attend school from age 5 or 6.
* Enrol with a general practitioner.
* Complete Well Child checks.