Te Kainganui Child Care Centre

Welcome to Te Kāinganui Child Care Centre, a community-based establishment located in Mount Cook, Wellington, New Zealand. As a not-for-profit center, we prioritize the well-being and development of our kaiako (teachers), whānau (families), and tamariki (children).

Our mission is rooted in the values of social justice and a culturally responsive educational approach. Since our establishment in 1970, we have remained committed to these aspirations. At Te Kāinganui, whānau actively participate in our center's operations through our governance committee, regular working bees, fundraising, and projects. This collaborative approach ensures that decision-making reflects the shared goals, aspirations, and visions of our collective community.

We recognize the rich cultural capital that each tamariki brings and strive to nurture and celebrate it through meaningful and culturally valued activities. Our focus is on teaching and learning about languages and cultures relevant to our learning whānau and community, as well as those of Aotearoa, in authentic ways. This approach empowers both tamariki and kaiako to deepen their understanding of themes such as place, tangata whenua, identity, and whakapapa.

At Te Kāinganui, we envision tamariki as capable, competent, free, and equal human beings. We value the existing knowledge that tamariki bring to their learning and co-construct our teaching and learning plans to support their emerging interests, aspirations, strengths, and learning dispositions.

We are deeply committed to tangata whenuatanga, which involves place-based socio-cultural awareness and knowledge, and honoring Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Building genuine and authentic partnerships with whānau, iwi, and hapū is a priority for us.

Central to our philosophy of teaching and learning is the emphasis on loving relationships based on respect, fostering whanaungatanga (kinship) and kotahitanga (unity). We understand the critical importance of secure attachments during the first three years of a child's life for their brain development and overall growth, learning, and play.

The Tuakana-teina approach, drawn from Te Ao Māori, plays a significant role in our mixed-age context. It is based on reciprocal relationships and ako (learning) between older (tuakana) and younger (teina) individuals. Our Tuakana have ample opportunities to act as rangatira (leaders) and work alongside kaiako to teach and model kind and respectful ways of being in the world to our teina.

"I come not with my own strengths but bring with me the gifts, talents, and strengths of my family, my tribe, my ancestors." This proverb encapsulates our belief in the collective strengths and contributions of our community.

If you are interested in joining the Te Kāinganui team, please check for vacancies online in the Education Gazette. Our under 2 roll is currently full for 2024, but we still have spaces available for over 2's. If you would like to enroll your child with us, please fill in the form provided, and we will get back to you shortly.