Welcome to Ngahuru Autumn.
As the season begins to shift from the warmth of summer, we notice the cooler mornings, changing leaves, and a gentle slowing of pace around us. Ngahuru is a time of harvest and reflection, where we acknowledge the growth and ako that has taken place, and begin to prepare for the months ahead.
Following the recent Easter period, we carry forward themes of renewal, kindness, kotahitanga togetherness. In our centres, tamariki will continue to explore these ideas through seasonal experiences, creativity, and shared learning.
As always, we appreciate your ongoing support and partnership, and we look forward to embracing this time of year together.
Ngahuru: Kura Kai, Kura Tangata
Autumn: Wealth of food, wealth of people
This whakataukī speaks to the richness of the season – not only in the abundance of food, but in the strength and value of our people.
Te Waipounamu – The South Island
Te wā o te raranga!
Recently, Che and I guided tamariki and whānau through a harakeke harvesting and weaving session at Russley Playcentre. We began by exploring tikanga, engaging in ako around the importance of saying karakia before harvesting. We also discussed when it is appropriate to harvest harakeke, respecting the mate wahine, flowering harakeke, and the influence of rain and night, including the reasons behind these practices. Tamariki enjoyed weaving with cardboard, creating their first patterns, while adults and whānau crafted putiputi and other traditional harakeke items. It was wonderful to see creativity flourish alongside cultural understanding, as everyone engaged in hands-on learning about the many traditional uses of harakeke – from weaving practical items to appreciating its role in tikanga Māori. The session was a beautiful mix of learning, crafting, and connection to our environment, leaving everyone with respect, pride, and excitement to continue exploring harakeke in their own time.
Tīhei mauri ora,
Tamsin.
Te Puku-o-te-Ika – Central North Island
PLD, Play and Te Parapara
Playcentre whānau from across the Central North Island region recently came together at Hamilton Gardens for a purposeful day of PLD and play, grounded in place-based practice and mātauranga Māori. Alongside kaimahi, Centre Advisors, and Session Facilitators, the focus was on deepening our understanding of how local curriculum can be shaped by the stories and whenua of the places we stand.
The day began with a guided tour of Te Parapara; the Māori Garden, led by Jean Yern CNI Kaihononga Māori. Situated within the gardens and grounded in the history of the area, this learning experience acknowledged Ngāti Wairere as mana whenua and how Te Parapara; an active traditional māra kai, is still thriving today.
Recognising mana whenua is a critical part of authentic place-based learning, ensuring that our practice honours local iwi, histories, and tikanga. This provided rich PLD discussion around how we, as kaiako and leaders, can embed localised narratives and environmental values such as Kaitiakitanga into our Playcentre programmes.
Then over a shared picnic of kūmara chips, conversations continued about how centres might create their own māra by planting kūmara strengthening tamariki connections to growing and harvesting kai with a practical workshop on kūmara propagation led by Centre Advisor Courtney Hulse. This hands-on session supported kaiako to build confidence in implementing gardening projects within their own centres moving from theory to action. Thank you to everyone who attended especially the tamariki mokopuna Rangatira mō āpōpō leaders of tomorrow.
Nā Jean Yern – CNI Kaihononga Māori.