Some Positive News

In some positive news, the last few weeks have seen three new kindergartens officially open their doors: Tai Tamariki and Toru Fetu Kindergartens in Wellington, and Maungarangi Kindergarten in the Coromandel. Each of these three Kindergartens is different – one operates all day, one a mix of hours to suit the diverse needs of its families and the other operates a school day.

Toru Fetu caters to the needs of three Pasifika groups; focusing on nurturing Niue, Tuvalu and Cook Island language and culture. Tai Tamariki represents a first – it is located within Te Papa, and Maungarangi Kindergarten is a first for the Coromandel, built next to the neighbourhood school with a focus on ensuring an effective transition from kindergarten to school.

Despite their differences, these kindergartens share common values and goals – that is, their commitment to working with parents and whanau, to providing high quality early childhood education, and to hiring only100% qualified and registered teachers – just like the other 420 plus kindergartens covered by NZ Kindergartens.

These new kindergartens are the result of 100% government funding to kindergarten going directly back into the community and to communities working together to realise their dreams. They are a wonderful celebration of our diversity and a sound investment in our future.

Clare Wells is the chief executive of New Zealand Kindergartens. Passionate about ECE and an advocate of high quality early childhood education services for our youngest citizens, Clare has been influential in shaping the direction of ECE in Aotearoa New Zealand. Clare has extensive experience in early childhood education (ECE) working as a teacher, policy analyst, and government advisor.