Hurihia tō aroaro ki te rā tukuna tō ātārangi kia taka ki muri i a koe
Turn your face to the sun and let your shadows fall behind you.
This whakataukī encourages optimism and a forward-looking attitude.
Nau mai, haere mai ki te marama o Noema! Welcome, to November!
As the days grow warmer and te ra, the sun stays with us a little longer, our Playcentre’s continues to buzz with laughter, curiosity, and connection. November is a time of growth and energy. He wā tipu, he wā ako, he wā tākaro, time to learn, to play, and to thrive together.
At Playcentre, tamariki lead the way with wonder-filled hearts and busy hands, discovering new ways to express themselves and care for each other. We see whanaungatanga relationships blooming, manaakitanga kindness in action, and the joy of learning shared across generations.
As we move towards summer, may we take a moment to celebrate the magic of our Playcentre whānau. Celebrating the laughter that fills our spaces, the friendships that form in the sandpit, and the stories we create together. He taonga te wā tākaro, play is a treasure.
Whiria te tangata, toitū te mātauranga
Weave the people together, ensure the knowledge is sustainable.
This whakataukī highlights the interconnectedness of community and knowledge, suggesting that a strong, united community fosters lasting and sustainable knowledge for the future.
Tūāhiwi Education Workshop
Wow! A lovely day was had out at Tūāhiwi Marae by all in attendance. Playcentre had the largest group of attendees there. We all gathered at the Waharoa. Pōwhiri time! The karanga began and we all entered the Marae Ātea then into the Wharenui, Maahunui. This day was filled with learning, connecting, sharing and of course delicious kai. This workshop was interactive and filled with great knowledge. I know there will be plenty of staff looking forward to the 2nd workshop.
Kō ngā tahu ā ō tapuwai inanahi, hei tauira mō āpōpō
“The footsteps laid down by our ancestors in the past create the paving stones upon which we stand today”.
Remembering Parihaka
The Parihaka invasion on November 5, 1881, was a key event in New Zealand history where the government sent 1,600 armed troops to a peaceful Māori settlement in Taranaki, known for its non-violent resistance to land confiscation. The community, led by prophets Te Whiti-o-Rongomai and Tohu Kākahi, was destroyed, its people arrested or dispersed, and its leaders imprisoned without trial.
Outdoor Play Week with a Te Ao Māori Lens
Outdoor play from a Māori world view is deeply connected to te taiao the natural world.
In Māori culture children are not separate from nature but part of its whakapapa lineage, so we encourage kaitiakitanga caring for the environment by learning through respectful interaction with say our water usage, gardening, collecting resources from nature, such as harakeke flax just play but acts of learning, belonging, and kaitiakitanga guardianship of the environment. These are more than just play but acts of learning and belonging.
Outdoor play nurtures wairua spirit, hinengaro mind, tinana body, and whānau family wellbeing by allowing tamariki to explore, take risks, and develop confidence through movement and discovery. The knowledge each child brings, celebrating ako reciprocal learning between tamariki, whānau, and the environment. Outdoor play is a living expression of whanaungatanga caring for others and building connections while honouring the land that sustains us. It is through this play that tamariki grow confident, curious, and connected to who they are.
Playcentre Aotearoa strive for quality spaces designed to connect tamariki children to whenua land and taiao environment. One way we can do this is by exploring this and loose parts play with natural items sticks, leaves, shells, nature walks, scavenger hunts, these support creativity and sensory experiences.
At Playcentre we enable cultural connection through play. Cultural narratives can be a simple reference to local iwi/hapū, traditional stories or acknowledging local flora and fauna, grounding tamariki to place.
Karakia for harvesting your Centre garden or Centre harakeke
Thinking of learning Te Reo Māori?
Te Reo Māori – He Taonga, He Kōrero, He Oranga mō te Ngākau
2026 is the perfect time to begin your journey into te reo Māori – a treasured language, a living voice, and a source of connection and wellbeing.
Consider enrolling in one of these courses, some are short term and have online delivery. Most of them are free. Encourage a friend to join with you.
- Te Wānanga o Aotearoa Courses from beginners to advanced, Level 1 to 7, fees free, options for online, home-based and classroom settings
- Poupou Huia Te Reo 1 Te Wānanga o Raukawa, Level 4 course, fees free, Certificate, online, , 20 weeks, Advanced beginners to Intermediate, bilingual delivery
- Poupou Huia Te Reo 2 Te Wānanga o Raukawa, Level 5 course, fees free, Certficate, te reo me ōna tikanga Māori, level 5, online, 20 weeks, bilingual delivery
- Te Pōkaitahi Reo Level 1 Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, Level 1 to 6, fees free, options for online or blended learning, 20 weeks
- Toro Mai Massey University, two courses Te Reo Māori and Tikanga courses, fees free, online, 10 hours, Certificate of completion
- Te Rito Maioha offer short free introduction courses online learning, Te Reo Māori, Tikanga, Te Whāriki and more, Certificate of completion.
- Te Ataarangi uses rākau rods as a visual aid in learning te reo. Open to all ages and stages, fee or koha based
- Tōkū Reo TV Series self-directed reo lessons to practise and develop at your own pace, no fees, easy beginners.