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Problems with funding and capacity of childcare centres may mean many preschoolers miss out on free childcare.
The scheme was announced by the government in 2005 as part of their election campaign package and offered 20 free hours of childhood education for three and four-year-olds.
It is due to begin in July but Early Childhood Council chief Sue Thorne says it has been poorly researched.
She believes limited capacity at childcare centres and the low rates the government is offering mean the election promise was misleading.
National's education spokesman Paula Bennett says documents released under the Official Information Act show Labour knew the policy was unworkable for many childcare centres.
She says the documents show only 35% of services have enough room to meet the demands of the scheme.
