Hunter Park Kindergarten

Welcome to Hunter Park Kindergarten, located at 38a Nelson Street in Waipukurau, New Zealand. Situated on top of the historic Pukekaihau Pa, our kindergarten offers stunning views of the Waipukurau township and is surrounded by beautiful mature trees.

Hunter Park Kindergarten is proud to serve both urban and rural populations in the sunny Central Hawkes Bay region. We provide quality early childhood education for children aged two to six years. Our doors are open all year round, except for a temporary closure during the Christmas/Summer period.

As an all-day sessional kindergarten, we can accommodate a maximum of 40 children. Our standard session hours are from 8.30am to 2.30pm daily. However, we also offer extended hours from 8am to 3.30pm for families who may require additional care, although spaces are limited during these times.

In collaboration with the community, Hunter Park Kindergarten has developed a distinctive cultural framework called Te Puna o Pukekaihau, which recognizes and celebrates the unique place of Māori as tangata whenua. This framework is integrated with the Aotearoa New Zealand Te Whāriki curriculum.

At Hunter Park Kindergarten, we value whanaungatanga (relationships). We employ a key teacher approach, where each child is assigned a kaiako (teacher) who plans, tracks, and documents their individual learning journey in consultation with their whānau (family). This key kaiako remains with the child and their family throughout their entire kindergarten experience.

We also prioritize whenuatanga (connection to the land) and kaitiakitanga (environmental stewardship). As an active Enviroschool, we emphasize the importance of the natural environment both within our kindergarten and in the wider community. Mindfulness practices are also taught and shared with children, families, and teachers.

Te Puna o Pukekaihau encompasses four streams of learning: Cultural Identity, Community, Transition, and Sustainability. Children at Hunter Park Kindergarten will have the opportunity to engage in a learning environment that reflects this cultural framework.

We believe that relationships lie at the heart of our kaupapa (philosophy). We strive to build authentic and meaningful connections through respect and kindness, both with one another and with our natural surroundings. We recognize that children's play is holistic and fundamental to their learning and development.

At Hunter Park Kindergarten – Te Puna o Pukekaihau, we uphold the mana (dignity) of every child. We value and affirm each child's unique learning journey.

Our kindergarten operates from Tuesday 23 January to Thursday 21 December and is open Monday to Friday, including term breaks (excluding Christmas break and public holidays).

Please note that there is a cost of $5.00 per hour per child for any hours exceeding 6 hours per day. This fee applies to the 7.5-hour (8am – 3.30pm) session.

Our teaching staff includes Diploma Teaching (ECE) and Bachelor of Education (Special Ed) qualified professionals.

To find out more about our individual kindergartens, click on the respective pages. Don't forget to inquire about your child's eligibility for 30 hours of free education.

Hunter Park Kindergarten is operated by Heretaunga Free Kindergarten Association.