Welcoming in 2026
Nau mai, hoki mai e te whānau. Welcome back after the Christmas break. We hope your raumati has been filled with sunshine, rest, and special moments together.
As we return to our centres, this is a time to reconnect with our tamariki, whānau, and teaching teams, nurturing relationships, routines, and a sense of belonging.
Together, as we care for and support one another, we create the conditions for our tamariki and whānau to thrive.
“Ka whāngaia, ka tipu, ka puāwai” – That which is nurtured will blossom and grow.
Te Reo Māori Language Courses – He Taonga, He Kōrero, He Oranga mō te Ngākau
The start of 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.
Find Te Reo Māori language courses on our website
Connecting with local iwi at Waikato Museum
To end the year, Jean Yern, Kaihononga Māori for the Central North Island (CNI) Region, organised a Playcentre staff visit to the Waikato Museum for a guided tour led by Cassandra (Ngāti Raukawa), education lead, to deepen our understanding of local iwi, history, and place.
The visit provided a valuable opportunity to engage with stories of the Waikato region, particularly the journey of the Tainui waka and the significance of the rohe of Waikato-Tainui.
This experience supported Playcentre’s ongoing commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and bicultural practice through a series of mana whenua based professional development lead by Jean Yern over the past few months. It was very special to end the year with the tour, ngā mihi nunui a Cassandra from Waikato Museum.
Introducing our Kaihononga Māori team
Here we proudly introduce our Kaihononga Māori team. A special group who walk alongside our centres to nurture and grow te reo Māori me ōna tikanga. He taonga tēnei ki a tātou katoa.
Our Kaihononga Māori are here to support, guide, and uplift kaiako and centres, strengthening confidence and capability in our indigenous culture of Aotearoa. Through connection, shared learning, and authentic relationships, they will help embed te ao Māori in ways that are natural within everyday practice.
For support from our Kaihononga Māori team please email [email protected]
“Ka whāngaia, ka tipu, ka puāwai.” When te reo and tikanga are nurtured, they grow and flourish – enriching our tamariki, our whānau, and our communities.
He tino taonga tēnei, he haerenga motuhake mō tātou katoa. This is a truly special journey we are honoured to share together.
Upper North Island – Coralie Bodlie – Kaihononga Māori
Tēnā koutou! Ko Coralie Bodley tōku ingoa, he uri ahau nō Ngāpuhi, Ingarangi, Aerani, Kotirana.
E rere ana aku mihi ki a koutou katoa. Ki tōku hakaaro, ko te reo me ngā tikanga ngā mea tino hirahira kia poipoia ngā kākano nō Rangiātea e heke mai nei. Kia whakataukī ake ahau, ‘Ko te piko o te māhuri, ko tērā te tupu o te rākau.’
I am the Kaihononga Māori for the Upper North Island rohe. I have loved the last two terms working together with whānau and staff to help growth, learning, practices and understanding within te ao Māori.
I am an adult learner of te reo Māori and believe this is a journey that is ongoing. I have worked as a Centre Advisor for the last three and a half years and thoroughly enjoyed the role and getting to know whānau at each Playcentre. Before this I was a member at Red Beach Playcentre for 10 years with my three tamariki Alia, Max and Nora. I am also a Life Member at Red Beach Playcentre. I attended Silverdale Playcentre for a few years at the rumaki reo/full immersion Puna Reo sessions that were piloted there in collaboration with the local marae Te Herenga Waka o Orewa.
My whānau live in Whangaripo Valley, to a little farm where we have cows and hens and some ponies! I grew up in Owairoa/Howick.
Please share with me your hakaaro (thoughts) about what you want to achieve for your Playcentre, and how I might tautoko (support) you in this space.
Kōrero mai! Īmera mai! Ngā mihi maioha
Central North Island – Jean Yern – Kaihononga Māori
Tēnā koutou, Ko Tainui te Waka, Ko Taupiri te Maunga, Ko Waikato te Awa, Ko Ngāti Tamaoho te Hapū, Ko Mangatangi te Marae, Ko Kieran taku hoa rangatira, Ko Marama rātou Ko Kiore, Ko Tohikurī āku tamahine, Ko Jean taku ingoa, he Kaihononga Māori kei CNI e tūranga ana, no reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.
Kia ora Im Jean one of the the Kaihononga Māori, based in the Waikato, and I have an interest in the ways our kaiako and kohungahunga young ones can be supported through their tikanga me ona reo journey.
My role is to share and connect people to Te Ao Māori; the wonderful Māori worldview, to help build confidence and cultural competency within Playcentre.
Lower North Island – Faith Tupou – Kaihononga Maori
He honore, he kōroria ki te Atua i runga rawa,
He maungārongo ki te whenua,
He whakaaro pai ki ngā tāngata katoa.
E te whānau whānui — tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.
Ko Ngāti Raukawa, ko Waitaha ki Te Arawa, ko Ngāti Hauā, ko Ngāti Tūwharetoa ōku iwi.
Ko Bruce Stewart rāua ko Orapai Hamiora ōku mātua.
Ko Petelo Tupou tōku hoa rangatira, nō ngā motu o Tonga.
Toko ono ā māua tamariki, toko toru ā māua tamariki whāngai, ā, toko iwa ā māua mokopuna.
I whānau mai au ki Te WhanganuiaTara, i tipu ake au ki Te Awakairangi, ā, kei Wainuiomata au e noho ana ināianei.
Ko Wood Hatton Playcentre tō mātou Whānau Tupu Ngātahi.
Ko Faith Tupou ahau.
Ka mihi atu ki ō tātou mātua tūpuna, nā rātou ngā tapuwae i para kia whai huarahi ai tātou i te ao nei.
Ki te hunga kua whetūrangitia — moe mai rā, okioki mai rā.
Hurinoa ki a tātou te hunga ora, ngā pou e tiaki ana i ā tātou mokopuna — tēnā tātou katoa.
He taonga nui ā tātou tamariki, mokopuna — he kākano i ruia mai i ngā tūpuna.
Ko tātou hei poipoi, hei ārahi, hei whakakaha i a rātou i ia rā.
“E tipu e rea, ka tipu koe hei tangata.”
He kupu akiaki kia tipu rātou i te aroha, i te mātauranga, i te mana.
Mā te whānau tātou tamariki e ārahi kia tū rangatira ai ā tōna wā.
I acknowledge and honour our forebears who paved the way so that we may stand here today.
To those who have passed on — may they rest peacefully.
To all of us who remain, who guide, nurture and care for our tamariki and mokopuna — thank you. You are the heartbeat of our communities.
My journey with Playcentre began almost 30 years ago when our local centre became a second home for my whānau. I began as the Equipment Officer and, as my confidence grew, I took on other roles including President. Education flourished in our centre, as did our rōpū Māori, Puriri Whakamaru ki Te Awakairangi. Together with Tāngata Tiriti, we coordinated noho marae and wānanga that strengthened our shared learning.
I was blessed with opportunities to support others as a facilitator in Education, SPACE and PLD. I am humbled to have served as CoPresident of the Playcentre Association alongside dedicated Tāngata Tiriti who continue to lead in their fields.
It is an honour to be a life member of Wood Hatton Playcentre and the Hutt Playcentre Association.
It remains a privilege to support our whānau as we learn and grow together, nurturing strong relationships and shared leadership in true Playcentre spirit.
Ngā mihi manahau ki a koutou katoa.
Te Waipounamu/ South Island – Tamsin Aulaumea – Kaihononga Māori
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 Ihu Karaiti tōku Atua.
Ko Etisone tōku tāne.
Ko Mataio tāku tama.
Ko Tamsin Aulaumea ahau.
For those of you who I haven’t yet had the pleasure of meeting, kia ora! My name is Tamsin, and I am a Kaihononga Māori for the Upper South Island Region/Te Wai Pounamu ki Runga.
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. Although I am a reo 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 look forward to seeing some familiar and new faces as I continue to embark on this journey. I am always here to support and awhi. Empowerment and aroha for all are my core values that I bring with me; and I also believe in keeping a good sense of humour! 😊
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, Tamsin Aulaumea.
Bachelor of Teaching and Learning – Early Childhood Education.
Postgraduate Diploma in Te Reo Māori, with Distinction.
Te Waipounamu/South Island – Cheana Horua-Kupe – Kaihononga Māori
Kia ora, kia ora, mauri ora o te whānau tupu ngātahi.
Ko Che Horua-Kupe tōku ingoa. Ko Kirieke tōku maunga, Ko Wairūrū tōku awa, Ko Hinemahuru tōku whare tīpuna, Ko Maruhaeremuri tōku hapū, Ko Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Whānau-a-Apanui, Te Āti Awa me Kūki Āirani ōku iwi, Ko Wairūrū tōku marae.
I am a proud mother of three tamariki and feel grateful to be raising our whānau on the beautiful whenua of Kāi Tahu.
Over the past two terms at Playcentre, I have enjoyed working alongside whānau and kaimahi, sharing in raranga, waiata, and whakawhanaungatanga. It has been amazing to see staff and whānau growing their skills and confidence in Te Ao Māori, and to witness the positive impact on tamariki and our learning spaces.
I look forward to visiting more centres, connecting with whānau and staff, and continuing to nurture and grow our Māori culture and practice together.
Tēnā koa, kaua e whakamā ki te whakapā mai – I would love to connect!