Cornwall Park – New Build

The new Cornwall Park Playcentre building is progressing nicely and on schedule. The roofing is complete, along with all the windows and doors, the external cladding is almost there, the electricians and plumbers are well underway with first fix.  We are looking forward to welcoming families to the new centre in the near future.

Ants at your centre?

We recently had a query about ants in a centres bark. See below advice for ridding an area of ants:

  • Peppermint Oil: Ants are repelled by the strong scent of peppermint oil. You can create a spray by mixing a few drops of peppermint oil with water and spraying it on the bark where ants are present.
  • Vinegar: Vinegar’s strong scent and acidity can disrupt ant pheromone trails, making it difficult for them to find their way to a food source. You can mix equal parts white vinegar and water and spray it on the bark.
  • Diatomaceous Earth: Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a natural, abrasive powder made from fossilized remains of diatoms that can be sprinkled on the bark. When ants walk on DE, the sharp edges of the particles can cut through their exoskeletons, leading to dehydration and death.

Other natural ant repellents that may be effective in New Zealand include:

  • Boiling Water: Pouring boiling water on ant nests or trails can kill many ants
  • Cinnamon: Ants are repelled by the strong scent of cinnamon
  • Coffee Grounds: Ants dislike the smell and texture of coffee grounds, so they can be used to create a barrier around plants or areas where ants are a problem
  • Boric Acid: Boric acid is a natural insecticide that can be mixed with sugar and used as a bait to kill ants
  • Lemon Juice: The citric acid in lemon juice can repel ants
  • Baking Soda: Sprinkle baking soda on ant trails to disrupt their pheromone trails and interfere with their communication

New or Replacement Signage

Are you planning to replace an old Playcentre sign or purchase a new Playcentre sign or flag?  Please refer to Playcentre Aotearoa’s Signage Procedures in the first instance.

Final artwork for your signage must be sent to [email protected] to be approved by the Marketing and Communications Team before it is printed.  They will support you with ensuring your signage is correct and approve it from a branding perspective, before it goes to the Property Team for approval.

Once approved by the Marketing and Communications Team, they will reply to your centre to confirm approval and CC in the Property Team. If you don’t see [email protected] CC’d into the AskPR approval email or are unsure, please forward to the Property Team at [email protected].

You are required to provide the Property Team with details of where the sign will be placed as we are required to get approval from the landlord if the building or land is not owned by Playcentre Aotearoa. If the sign is going to be near a footpath [even a flag] then we are required to also get permission from the Council.

For signage templates, preferred suppliers and more information please refer to Playcentre Aotearoa’s Signage Procedures.

Leasing / Rental Invoices

Please note the Property Leasing Team is working with landlords to redirect all lease / rent invoices to Playcentre Aotearoa. This will happen even if your Centre have not yet signed over as a branch. If your Centre is not a branch yet the invoice will then be on-charged from Playcentre Aotearoa to your Centre.

If you have any questions or concerns about your lease / rental invoices please email [email protected], using a subject line – (Your centre name) leasing.

Minor Maintenance Works Change in Property Process

The Property Team are working through some process changes. As part of these changes Minor Maintenance Works under $3k are now being handled under delegated authority by the National Property Coordinators. These works will no longer follow the Project Application process and therefore Centre’s are no longer required to fill out an application form.

Notification to the Property Team of minor works that are required at a Centre must come via the Centre Kaimahi. If a Centre has urgent works that are needed prior to a Kaimahi being appointed, please email [email protected] and cc your Centre Advisor, subject line – (Centre name) Urgent Minor Works.

Urgent Minor Works will take priority.  The National Property Coordinators will communicate with the Centre Kaimahi and Centre Advisor about when works are happening and if any further information is required.

Building Check

If you notice any recent damage to the exterior of your building, in the first instance please notify
[email protected]. Please include images and details of the damage.

Property FAQ

Property FAQs are available on the website. These are updated as new questions are asked.

If you have had situations at your centre that you think other centres may appreciate knowing, please let us know at [email protected] and we can arrange for them to be added to the FAQ page of the Playcentre website.

Property Projects

Playcentre Aotearoa ask that all centres email the admin team: [email protected] when you are initially thinking about undertaking any project. This information will then be distributed to the appropriate property team member who may be in touch to discuss any potential support or issues, guidance and advice that may be identified by the team. This is for both playcentre funding assisted projects and non-playcentre funded projects. This includes building and playground projects. This could prevent costly mistakes!

Have an Email Query for the Property Team?

Please remember when emailing any individual in the Property team or Ask Property to please include your centre name in the subject line of your email. This is hugely helpful for us to keep our Inboxes in order as we receive hundreds of emails each week.

Who are the Property Team Members?

Please click the link below to view the property team members contact details.
https://www.playcentre.org.nz/learnwithus/property/property-contacts/