Kate Rogatski’s Playcentre Story
From Locked Doors to Lifelong Connections
When Kate Rogatski first peered through the dusty windows of an old building in the isolated rural township of Runanga on the West Coast of the South Island, she saw more than forgotten toys and overgrown gardens—she saw possibility.
At the time, Kate was a stay-at-home mum with a toddler, travelling 20 minutes to attend another Playcentre. She hadn’t even known there had once been a Playcentre in her own community. But during a lockdown walk in 2021, something clicked. Within weeks, she had a key in her hand and a challenge ahead: bring Runanga Playcentre back to life.
Just four months later, it reopened.
What followed was a true community effort. A handful of local families came together, rolled up their sleeves, and rebuilt not just a space, but a sense of belonging. Today, the centre is thriving and on the brink of becoming fully licensed—an achievement driven by Kate’s determination and the commitment of her community.
For Kate, Playcentre has become far more than a project.
“It’s like a second home,” she says. “A place where families feel safe, welcomed, and connected. It’s quite precious to me.”
In a rural community, where opportunities to gather can be limited, Playcentre offers something unique: parents learning and playing alongside their tamariki. The impact of that is powerful. Children thrive through hands-on, messy, creative play, while parents grow in confidence and capability.
Kate has seen this transformation in herself as much as in others. Reopening the centre meant learning new skills—everything from managing health and safety and fundraising to supporting teams and guiding other parents. “I wore many hats,” she says, “and still do.” She’s also in the final stages of completing her Playcentre education, which has deepened her understanding of how children learn and how to support them.
“It’s like a parenting guide,” Kate explains. “You don’t know what you don’t know—until you learn it. And then everything changes.”
Through Playcentre, she’s gained the confidence to support other parents too—whether that’s offering a listening ear, helping navigate challenging behaviour, or simply showing, through role modelling, another way to respond. That shared learning is at the heart of Playcentre’s whānau-led approach.
And the support goes both ways.
“Every week, we’re there for each other,” Kate says. “Sometimes it’s a cup of tea, sometimes it’s helping with a school run—you just don’t know what someone’s dealing with, but this is a place where they’re cared for.”
At its heart, Playcentre is about people—about relationships, whānau, and community. It carries forward a legacy that began 85 years ago: parents supporting each other through life’s challenges while giving their children the best start. For Kate, that’s never been more important.
“It’s a lifeline for some women,” she says. “A place where you belong, where you learn, and where your children—and you—can grow together.”
For Kate, reopening Runanga Playcentre wasn’t just about reviving a building. It was about creating a space where connection and belonging could flourish again in her small rural community.
It is a reminder that play, connection and support can change lives.