Trustee Election
This month marks the beginning of the 2024 Trustee Board election cycle, commencing with the call for candidate applications. Our vision, “Whānau tupu ngātahi – families growing together,” is at the heart of everything we do. The Playcentre Aotearoa Trustee Board plays a crucial role in our governance, positively impacting thousands of tamariki and their whānau across Aotearoa. We are currently seeking applications for two Trustee Board positions, applications close 9.00am, August 6th 2024.
Ngā hui ā-whare
What an inspiring weekend of connection, collaboration and community building! Last month, representatives from across the motu came together in discussions designed to harness the strength of both our collective experiences and our individual perspectives, to ensure that the next part of our journey lays the foundation for a sustainable future.
Our hui began with a very special whakatau, guided by Heather Ruru, Manutaki Maurua, Co-President. We embarked on a hikoi of Te Pane o Mataoho, Te Ara Pūeru, a tūpuna maunga, the ancestral mountain whose protection we sat under for the duration of our time together. Hearing the stories and history of the maunga tapu and the tangata whenua who lived there for hundreds of years, settled our group and connected us to the place and space, ready to engage in the important mahi of our weekend.
As we progressed through the weekend’s agenda, the question of how this work will support our Playcentre communities was at the forefront of everyone’s minds. There were significant discussions on the rules accompanying the Trust Deed, emphasizing their effectiveness and alignment with the needs of our Playcentre community.
Conversations surrounding He Tukutuku, the initiative to gather stories from our communities to inform the development of the strategic plan, focused on ensuring inclusivity and diversity of perspectives in the story collection process.
To complement our focus on supporting our communities, our guest speaker Kristina Cavit from the Kindness Institute shared how mindfulness can significantly enhance our ability to address challenges and manage stress effectively, empowering us to lead more fulfilling lives. With nearly a decade of experience working with communities navigating stress and trauma in New Zealand and around the world, Kristina provided invaluable insights and practical tools that we can apply within our own communities.
He mihi nui, thank you to all the Representatives who dedicated time from their busy lives to attend Ngā hui ā-whare, and to their whānau who supported them in doing so. These hui consistently inspire and energize us as Trustees, we carry the perspectives and ideas shared within each whare into our Board discussions, ensuring that the voices of Playcentre whānau are reflected in our decision-making.
Mānawa maiea te putanga a Matariki, mānawa maiea te ariki o te rangi, mānawa maiea te Mātahi o te tau!
With the rising of Matariki, we know for many this is a time of looking back on the year that has been, opportunities and learnings, remembering those who no longer walk alongside us and a time of reflection and contemplation. It is also a time to look ahead, to plan and strategise, to dream big and to set the direction of your waka for the coming months.
Kia maiea te tau e tū mai nei ki a tātou katoa.
Nā mātou noa nā Alice, Andrea, Bes, Fran, Hayley, Heather mātou ko Peta.