Tēnā koutou e Te Whānau Tupu Ngātahi,
Playcentre Open Week
Me mihi ka tika ki a koutou katoa. This month began with our Centres “opening our doors” for Playcentre Open Week, showcasing what our whānau do best – learning through play and building strong communities. We acknowledge how much extra mahi is required for Open Week and thank all our whānau for their manaakitanga.
Regional Representative Roles – Expression of Interest
This is also the time of year that Regions will select their Regional Rōpū and Cluster representatives. As leaders of the Whare, we are committed to nurturing the growth of the representative role under our new trust deed. This year, our focus is on cultivating skills and experiences crucial for effective community building. We believe that this investment in our representatives will not only enrich our Centres, our Regions and our Whare, but will also ripple out into local communities as Representatives engage in various facets of their family life. If you’re eager to develop your skills in leadership, treaty partnership, policy, and strategic development, we invite you to consider standing for the Representative role.
Express your interest and join us in building stronger communities together.
Meeting with Associate Minister of Education
Our Manutaki Maurua (Co-Presidents) Hayley Kirk-Smith and Heather Ruru met with the Hon. David Seymour, Associate Minister of Education, to advocate for Te Whānau Tupu Ngātahi Playcentre Aotearoa as the second largest ECE provider in Aotearoa, and for all our whānau as first and best educators of our tamariki. Hon. David Seymour is also the Minister of Regulation, and we were able to discuss the highly regulated ECE landscape and the regulations suited to teacher-led services but applied to Playcentres, despite our parents and caregivers attending sessions with their pēpi and tamariki.
Totaravale Playcentre “whakamoe kaupapa”
We acknowledge with aroha, the whānau of Totaravale Playcentre who, due to extensive damage to the Centre caused by flooding and Cyclone Gabrielle, held a dawn blessing at the Centre. The last 13 months have been incredibly difficult for Totaravale Playcentre whānau with red tape and significant delays by Auckland Council to assess and repair the damage.
Kereama Nathan of Te Herenga Waka o Ōrewa marae led a moving “whakamoe kaupapa” blessing, to close Totaravale Playcentre for the time being. A piece of art constructed from the building named Arohavale by Kereama will be taken to Windy Ridge Playcentre, where many of the Totaravale whānau are continuing their Playcentre journey. Heather Ruru attended this important occasion on behalf of the Board. Kāore e ārikarika ngā mihi, sincere thanks to Totaravale Playcentre’s Centre Advisor Rebecca Hawkins and Regional Representative and Centre member Megan Lapwood for their commitment to the Centre particularly over the last year, and facilitating a beautiful morning of memories, celebration and “farewell for now”.
Nā mātou noa nā,
Alice, Andrea, Bes, Fran, Hayley, Heather mātou ko Peta