Karanga Mai Early learning Centre

Welcome to Karanga Mai Early Learning Centre, located in Kaiapoi, Robert Coup Road, New Zealand. We are a unique establishment and a point of interest in the community. Our institution is built upon the principle of unity and the strength of our whānau, iwi, and tīpuna.

At Karanga Mai, we foster a whānau-based learning community where supportive and respectful relationships empower everyone to belong, believe, discover, and grow. We provide high-quality culturally responsive education and care for tamariki of both young parents attending Karanga Mai Young Parents College and community whānau.

We believe in working in partnership with you and your whānau to ensure that your tamariki recognize their talents, understand their importance, and feel a strong sense of belonging. We also prioritize your support and value as a parent, ensuring that you feel empowered and respected in your role.

Engaging in positive and collaborative relationships is at the core of our approach. We believe in empowering all our learners to reach their highest potential through high-quality teaching and leadership. We also emphasize guardianship, environmental stewardship, and caring for the mauri (life force) of our environment.

Our learning environment is welcoming, caring, and creative, treating everyone with respect and dignity. We hold ourselves to high ethical standards, always doing what is right with integrity and compassion.

Karanga Mai follows Te Whāriki, the Early Childhood Curriculum, which guides life and learning at our center. We see tamariki as competent and confident learners and communicators, promoting their holistic well-being in mind, body, and spirit. They are secure in their sense of belonging and understand their valued contribution to society. Tamariki also experience a language-rich environment, with daily exposure to te reo and te ao Māori.

To ensure equal opportunities for all tamariki, Karanga Mai provides transport, food, clothing, and social services. We are proud to be part of the KidsCan Programme, which includes daily morning tea and lunch, clothing, and health products for our tamariki.

We welcome and encourage whānau involvement, recognizing the importance of community connections. Community outings, picnics, annual Marae visits, and weekly community waiata are just some of the ways you and your whānau are invited to participate in our Karanga Mai community.

Karanga Mai is a registered charity with Charities Services New Zealand and an Inland Revenue-approved donee organization. Donations of more than $5 are eligible for a donation tax credit.

Join us at Karanga Mai Early Learning Centre, where we celebrate the strengths and talents of our whānau, iwi, and tīpuna, and empower our tamariki to thrive.