Ko au te taiao, ko te taiao ko au.
I am the environment and the environment is me.
Tēnā koutou e te whānau,
Naumai, haere mai ki te Kōanga – Welcome to Spring!
As the days grow longer and the whenua begins to get warmer, we enter a season full of kaupapa that uplift te taiao, te reo and te iwi.
Introducing Tamsin Aulaumea
Tēnā tātou katoa!
Ka mihi au ki ngā Mana Whenua katoa o te motu nei.
I whānau mai au ki Ōtepoti, engari i tipu ake au ki Te Umu Kaha, ā, e noho ana au kei Ōtautahi ināianei.
Ko Te Umu Kaha tōku tūrangawaewae.
Nō Wītana, nō Tenemāka, nō Kōtirana, nō Ingārangi, nō Aerana, nō Kariki, nō Peina ōku tūpuna.
Ko Etisone tōku tāne.
Ko Mataio tāku tama.
Ko Tamsin Aulaumea ahau.
He hōnore ki te hono atu ki te rōpū o Kaihononga Māori, ā, kia tīmata i tēnei mahi whakahirahira.
For those of you who I haven’t yet had the pleasure of meeting, kia ora! My name is Tamsin, and I am humbled to join our awesome rōpū of Kaihononga Māori, as a Kaihononga Māori for the Upper South Island Region.
I have been with Playcentre over the past 4 and a half years, working initially as a Session Facilitator, and then as a Centre Advisor with a special focus on cultural support. My son was a “Playcentre boy,” and has fond memories of painting his hands and arms green, and “swimming” in the garden. Auē! We treasure the unique and beautiful taonga that Playcentre continues to be here in Aotearoa.
I have a background in teaching early childhood education, having taught at Māori, Pasifika, and mainstream early childhood centres; and I have also taught reo Māori adult night classes.
As a Pākehā, I view my role as an ally, to tautoko our whānau Māori in Playcentre, ensuring that this is a safe, supportive, and welcoming space for all. I am here to support and walk alongside both Tāngata Tiriti and Tāngata Māori, towards kotahitanga through whakawhanaungatanga and aroha.
My claim to fame is that I am a descendant of Charles Frederick Goldie, (the artist). He had a great respect and aroha for tāngata Māori, and I too share this. I also found out in more recent years that he, too, was a Māori speaker! At home we mostly kōrero in Sāmoan, and we are also learning Swedish; so, my wero is to up our use of te reo Māori as a whānau.
I am excited to launch into this new mahi, and I look forward to seeing some familiar and new faces as I embark on this new journey. I am always here to support and awhi. Empowerment and aroha are my core values that I bring with me.
He Waka Eke Noa – We are all in this together. Let’s work together, spread the aroha, spread the ako, and have good fun along the way!
If you have any pātai, or would like any support, etc; please feel free to contact me. I’ll be happy to help.
Ngā mihi aroha,
Koroneihana Coronation 2-6 Hepetema 2025
Thousands of manuhiri visitors entered the gates to Tūrangawaewae Marae in Ngāruawāhia, welcomed by karanga and haka pōwhiri echoing across the marae ātea. The event honoured the Kiingitanga (Māori King Movement) founded in 1858 to protect Māori land and sovereignty, with the first king being Pōtatau Te Wherowhero. The movement has remained a significant symbol of kotahitanga unity, mana motuhake self-determination and upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The reigning Māori Queen, Te Arikinui Ngawai hono i te po is the eighth Arikinui, royal figurehead.
The first two days were held to remember and honour those people who had passed away over the last year, including the late Māori King, Arikinui Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII.
Day three strengthened whanaungatanga, relationships with Pacific nations and welcomed representatives from 47 countries, many iwi and leaders from Aotearoa, Kohanga Reo, language learning nests, Schools, Churches and whānau.
Each whaikōrero speech was enriched with waiata and haka adding depth and emotion to each speaker’s message. Kapa haka showcased iwi and kura pride and talent.
In her first official address as Te Arikinui, Kuiini Ngawai hono i te po reflected on her fathers’ legacy and reaffirmed his enduring vision of Kotahitanga among Māori. She spoke of being guided by the values passed down from her parents and tupuna, acknowledging the challenges facing Māori. She emphasized empowering rangatahi to lead with confidence and cultural pride, strengthening whānau resilience and upholding mana motuhake, self-determination. Her message was one of hope, continuity and commitment to the Kiingitanga, blending tradition with youthful vigour and modern leadership.
Hīkoi ki te Koroneihana – Ana’s journey to the Coronation
Ana Johnston, Kaiwhakaako, Tutor for Playcentre Aotearoa went on a hikoi with her whānau to Koroneihana 2025, Tūrangawaewae Marae. They had the honour of performing waiata for Arikinui Ngawai hono i te po, the Māori Queen, alongside a large Kohanga Reo rōpū from Te Upoko o te Ika ā-Māui. Te Arikinui Ngawai hono i te po is patron of Kohanga Reo and continues the legacy of her much-loved grandmother, Dame Te Atairangikaahu.
“We drove past Taupiri Maunga next to the Waikato River and down to the Hopuhopu sports ground. Bus transfers to Ngāruawāhia Marae were running with ushers to help direct. People were excited to tautoko support the first Koroneihana of te Arikinui Nga wai hono i te po and hear her give her first public speech. My tamariki enjoyed playing in the park, exploring the marae ātea and eating in the whare kai. The manaakitanga, hospitality at the marae is an impressive experience of teamwork and responsibility, with rangatahi, youth helping to usher manuhiri to their seat, serve and clear tables. I enjoyed buying ice cream in te reo Māori, so simple and normal in the space of Koroneihana.
Hokia ki tō maunga, kia pūrea koe ki ngā hau o Tāwhirimātea
Return to your mountain to be refreshed by the winds of Tāwhirimātea
“We drove down river to mihi, greet our Maunga Pīrongia, our Awa Waipā and our whenua Rangiaowhia. We shared pūrākau stories about the patupaiarehe, fairies from the area with my tamariki at Te Mātakitaki i ngā patupaiarehe i runga o Pīrongia (The observing of patupaiarehe on Pīrongia)”
Experiences and memories were created to be reflected upon for years to come.
Join Rōpū Māori
If you identify as being whānau of tamariki Māori within Playcentre then you might wish to join our Rōpū!
Rōpū are groups within Te Whare Tikanga Māori (a group of current and past whānau who are tangata whenua or who have tamariki who whakapapa Māori).
Our Rōpū provide a space for rangatiratanga (self-determination) and kawanatanga (governance).
Rōpū members bring their needs, and the needs of their tamariki, to governance discussions through their elected representatives. This ensures that decisions:
- Reflect the aspirations of whānau Māori
- Prioritise whānau Māori, and
- Support nurturing environments where whānau Māori can thrive, and tamariki can confidently learn and grow.
Rōpū are organised on a geographical basis. Each of the six Rōpū has up to four representatives to advocate for their collective interests.
More information on Rōpū Māori