Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa
Is it just me or the weeks flying by? The days seem to merge into each other while we’re in lockdown and not having to quantify which day of the week it is, is certainly a change from our usual routines.
Since this lockdown began, the National Management team have been meeting on Teams every morning to connect and a whakatauki is shared every day. I reflected on this one today, thinking about the uncertainty and unsettledness we are all currently experiencing in our daily lives, in our homes, with our whānau, doing what we need to do to get by:
He kuaka mārangaranga, kotahi manu e tau ki te tāhuna, tau atu, tau atu, tau atu
The flock of godwits have swooped up into the air, one lands on the sandbank and the others follow
Leaders and followers work together… (Aroha – Dr Hinemoa Elder. P173)
We all have our jobs to do, our roles to play, working together to keep moving. Playcentre has survived many challenges in our 80-year history; 2021 is providing some new challenges and these too will form part of our history.
It’s great to see the responsiveness and creativeness of our people being demonstrated throughout the organisation, with many opportunities being grasped and delivered through social media or with online delivery of fun workshops and networking opportunities! Ka rawe koutou!
As I mentioned in a recent update, this year is about ‘aligning our processes’ throughout Playcentre Aotearoa. We are actively reviewing and consulting on processes to enable efficiencies throughout the organisation. This mahi supports the strategic priorities and goals of Ngā Whāinga o Te Whānau Tupu Ngātahi o Aotearoa 2020-2030 and the continuation of the work we are doing with the MOE, in updating our licencing criteria and working towards the Early Learning Action Plan goal to co-design our funding model.
A recent change is the update for the Te Ao Māori Field Workers who are now called our ‘Kaihononga Māori’ – Jean, Faith, Erana & Sacha continue to support and awhi us with their passion & energy, as you will see later in the Bulletin.
Tēnā rawa atu koutou – thank you to everyone, for doing what you do, for Playcentre, for your whānau, for your communities.
Mā pango, mā whero, ka oti te mahi.
With black and with red, the work is completed.
Ngā mihi me ngā manaakitanga
Susan Bailey