October Whakataukī/ Welcome
He manu hou ahau, he pī ka rere.
I am a fledging, ready to take flight.
This whakataukī symbolises a beginning, a new journey or a time of new growth and development.
Nau mai, haere mai, hoki mai rā. Ngā mihi mahana – warm greetings and welcome back!
We hope that koanga spring has brought warmth and joy to you all, and that the sun has been shining wherever you are in the motu country.
Yay! The days are slowly getting longer – more time for pārekareka fun and enjoyment!
Introducing Our New Kaihononga Māori – Che Horua-Kupe
Kia Ora, Kia Ora, Mauri Ora o te Whānau Tupu Ngātahi.
Ko Kirieke tōku maunga
Ko Wairūrū tōku awa
Ko Hinemahuru tōku whare tīpuna
Ko Maruhaeremuri tōku hapū
Ko Ngāti Porou me Ngāti Kahungunu me Te Whānau-a-Apanui me Te Āti Awa me Kūki Āirani ōku iwi.
Ko Wairūrū tōku marae
Ko Che Horua- Kupe tōku ingoa.
I’m a proud mother of three amazing tamariki. We were all born and raised in Canterbury and feel incredibly grateful to be raising our whānau on the beautiful lands of Kāi Tahu. Our whakapapa connects us to the stunning North Island and across to the wonderful Cook Islands. It’s so special to hold that depth of whakapapa within our whānau – something we treasure deeply.
Our journey with Whānau Tupu Ngātahi began back in 2019/2020, when our eldest tama son started his Playcentre adventure. Since then, all three of our tamariki have had the joy of growing through Playcentre. It was such a relief to discover a space where our parenting philosophy aligned with the Early Childhood Education environment – and one where we could be actively involved. There’s something truly special about the manaakitanga and aroha that fills the Playcentre space – knowing your tamariki are safe, nurtured, and free to play and learn in their own way.
My background is in Social Work, where I spent most of my career supporting individuals and whānau. I’m now on a personal journey to reclaim Te Reo Māori and reconnect more deeply with my Māori identity. This is an exciting new chapter for me. I’m looking forward to walking alongside tamariki, whānau, and kaimahi staff – growing our understanding of Te Ao Māori the Māori world and creating meaningful learning opportunities together.
If I can be of any support, please don’t hesitate to reach out – I’d love to connect. 😊
My email address is [email protected]
Ngā mihi nui,
Che
He Haerenga Whakahirahira!
The Kaihononga Māori team gathered in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, the great capital of Aotearoa – under the embrace of a stunning day. The sun was shining, the Tūī were singing. Some might say a classic Wellington welcome!
Our journey took us to the Home of Compassion, a place rich in wairua and history. We were warmly welcomed by Whaea Faith and her whānau, with one of her sons kindly guiding us through the story of Suzanne Aubert and her deep connection with te ao Māori. It was incredibly special to learn how she embraced te reo Māori, kapa haka, and rongoā Māori, weaving these into her work with humility and heart. The manaakitanga we experienced there was deeply felt. The Home of Compassion is truly a place that honours both people and kaupapa.
With all of us together in this powerful space, we moved into our wānanga, a time of learning, sharing, and strategizing. The wānanga was a strong reminder of the power we hold when we gather with shared intention. It created space for honest kōrero, deep connection, and visioning for the future.
Several important outcomes emerged. One clear message was the need to whakamana our team, to uplift, support, and value one another so we can carry this kaupapa forward with confidence and care. We also recognised the importance of developing and organising resources that reflect our identity and strengthen our everyday mahi.
A strong thread woven throughout our kōrero was our commitment to ensuring a Te Tiriti led relationship with Māori in Playcentre, not just in principle, but in practice. This means living into genuine partnership, equity, and accountability. Looking ahead, we are focused on building and nurturing reciprocal relationships with mana whenua, increasing Māori whānau enrolments, and creating thriving centres where Māori tamariki and whānau feel seen, heard, and truly celebrated.
Central to this vision is a clear and shared commitment to employing more Māori staff, strengthening cultural leadership, representation, and connection within our spaces.
These outcomes are more than strategic goals, they reflect a shared aspiration for a future where our centres are alive with the richness of te ao Māori, and where our relationships are grounded in trust, respect, and collective responsibility.
Exploring Te Reo Māori in the ECE environment with Dr Hinurewa Poutu
A webinar delivered by Dr Hinerewa Poutu offered a rich and insightful overview of te reo Māori and its revitalisation, framed by the Tokorima a Māui — the five key focus areas for language planning. Feedback received from participants highlighted the valued of the session, describing it as; ‘Really valuable’ ‘Absolutely awesome kōreo’ and ‘Nice and clear and easy to listen to’. ka mau te wehi!
Mātakitaki mai! You can watch the webinar here
Pūrākau o Tāmaki Makaurau
PE4 at Birkenhead Playcentre by Bree Asmus, July – August 2025
A group of kaiako at Birkenhead Playcentre journeyed through PE4 together, with the guidance of Rebecca Hawkins. It was an experience we all really valued, both the learning itself and the act of doing it together as a cohort. It has reignited our energy, ambition and ability to work towards being a bicultural centre. The kaiako that participated are spread across all days and duty teams, they now feel much more enabled to weave deeper knowledge and tikanga Māori into our sessions with ngā tamariki. As part of the training, we completed a series of landmark posters that invite us to get to know and share te pūrākau o te rohe nei, the stories of this place we call home. These are now displayed in our library, and we have planned trips and their pūrākau for our Rāpare Nature Sessions.around them. One of our recent trips was recent to Onepoto Domain.