E koekoe te tūī, e ketekete te kākā, e kūkū te kererū.
The tūī squawks, the kākā chatters, the kereru coos… It takes all kinds of people.
Tēnā koutou te Whānau Tupu Ngātahi o Aotearoa,
In mid-January your eight elected board members took to the sky and landed in Wellington for our first kanohi ki te kanohi hui. The meeting began as all Playcentre experiences should, with getting to know each other, building whanaungatanga as we shared our own Playcentre journey as well as our hopes and fears for the future of this iconic organisation.
From there we launched into a governance workshop skilfully facilitated by the Honourable Tracey Martin and David Moger, our Chief Executive, which included an initial snapshot of the risks and opportunities before Playcentre Aotearoa. Although we have many maunga ahead to climb, we are grateful for the opportunity to look strategically into the future. Thank you for trusting us with this kaupapa, and we look forward to walking beside you as we face these challenges in true Playcentre style, together!
The following day saw us shift focus from long-range strategic thinking to more immediate decision-making setting out how the board will work alongside our CE. One of the board’s main responsibilities is to ensure it provides operational oversight through review of major policies, delegations, and clear reporting expectations. Robust discussion around these topics has helped us build understanding with each other and our CE, and highlighted some areas of focus for the coming months. Another key agenda item was consideration of the findings laid out in the external Health and Safety Review that the Board commissioned last year. Naturally, the report itself is confidential to the Board as it has commercial implications, however we are pleased to share with you that all recommendations have been accepted and are being actioned.
We also engaged in initial korero around timeframes and agenda for House Hui in April, but recognised that further board discussion will be needed before any information is distributed. We are keen to ensure representatives can make the most of this time together, so expect to hear from us on this again in mid-February.
After a full two days of mahi, we left our perch and flew back home to our families, grateful for that time together as a new team. And now, as an organisation and a nation, we face the challenge of Omicron, and with it another round of uncertainty about what the next few weeks and months will bring for all our whānau and for Playcentre. Our Playcentre village has never been more important. Together we will get through. Already centres are sharing ideas about how they plan to support whānau, and our Operations team will be regularly sharing updates as new information arises.
Long before Covid was a household name, Playcentre families knew the strength that comes from working together in the best interest of all, while honouring the unique gifts that every adult and child brings. Kindness and empathy are foundations of healthy groups, and besides, we’re all birds of a feather when it comes to our passion for Playcentre.
Nā mātou noa, nā,
Ann, Avis, Bes, Gemma, Hayley, Heather, Michelle, and Ranee
TWTNoA-PA Trustee Board