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Kotahi karihi nāna i ruia te wao nui a Tāne — One seed sown gave rise to the great forest of Tāne
At Te Puna Reo o Te Waonui a Tāne, our programme is grounded in Te Ara Māori, a distinctive te ao Māori pathway within Te Whāriki the early childhood curriculum, which is built from te ao Māori foundations. Through the medium of te reo Māori, we offer rich and varied learning experiences that nurture the holistic development of every tamaiti.
Our kaupapa celebrates te reo and tikanga Māori, recognising their vital role in revitalisation and fostering a strong sense of cultural identity and belonging. We aim to empower whānau to grow in their bicultural confidence, while supporting tamariki to develop social, cultural, and spiritual awareness.
Nature plays a central role in our learning journey. Tamariki are encouraged to build a deep, respectful relationship with Papatūānuku and other atua through play and exploration, learning the values of kaitiakitanga - guardianship of our natural world.
We believe in the power of learning through experience. Tamariki are supported to make choices, take the lead in their play, and discover the world around them in their own time. Care moments - nappy changing, kai, dressing, and sleep, are embraced as precious times for one-on-one connection and learning.
Our approach is peaceful and respectful, grounded in the belief that each pēpi and tamaiti is unique, capable, and full of potential. With love, care and encouragement, we support them to grow with confidence, security, and a strong sense of self.
Our values are lived every day through the way we care for one another, build relationships, and honour identity. We are guided by manaakitanga, whanaungatanga, kaitiakitanga, and aroha — values that uphold the mana of each individual and strengthen our collective. Te reo Māori is central to our daily life, a living taonga that connects us to our tūpuna and nourishes our mahi like sunlight and rain. Through playful, holistic learning, we nurture confidence, curiosity, and pride in every tamaiti.
We draw from the mātauranga of our tūpuna through reo, waiata, pūrākau, and connection with Papatūānuku, weaving together the voices of the past, present, and future to grow a sense of belonging that transcends time.
Our puna is a whare wānanga, a place of transformation, grounded in real relationships with people and place. As tamariki grow within Te Waonui a Tāne, they are supported to explore, discover, and take pride in who they are, standing tall and confident in their reo, their tikanga, and their role as future kaitiaki for Te Ao Māori.
Ka whakatinanahia ō mātou uara i ia rā, mā roto I te manaaki a tētahi i tētahi, te whakawhanaungatanga, me te whakanui i te tuakiri o ia tangata. E arahina ana mātou e te manaakitanga, te whanaungatanga, te kaitiakitanga, me te aroha — he uara e hiki ana i te mana o tēnā, o tēnā, ā, e whakakaha ana i tō mātou kotahitanga. Ko te reo Māori kei te iho o te ia rā, he
taonga tuku iho e hono ana i a tātou ki ō tātou tūpuna, ā, he mea whakakīkī i ā mātou mahi, pēnei i te rā me te ua e whakatipu ana i te tipu. Mā te ako ngahau, te ako torowhānui hoki, ka whakatipu mātou i te māia, te pākiki, me te whakahī o ia tamaiti.
Ka tō mātou i ngā mātauranga o ō mātou tupuna mā roto mai i te reo, i ngā waiata, ngā pūrākau, me te hononga ki a Papatūānuku, e tuitui tahi ana I ngā reo o te onamata, te inamata, me te anamata ki te poipoi i te noho huānga mauroa.
Ko tō mātou puna he whare wānanga, he whare whakaumu, ko tōna tūāpapa ko ngā hononga pūmau ki ngā tāngata me ngā wāhi. Ka pakeke haere ana ngā tamariki i roto o Te Waonui a Tāne, ka tautokona rātou ki te toro, ki te tūhura me te tū whakahīhī i ō rātou tuakiritanga, te tū māia i te wāhi ki ō rātou reo, ā rātou tikanga me te wāhi ki a rātou hei kaitiaki o te ao Māori hei te anamata.
We are proud to be a pouaka kai (lunch box) centre. This promotes independence as well as encourages self-help skills in preparation for kura. We encourage families to make healthy food choices and ensure their child’s pouaka kai (lunch box) meets centre guidelines as well as Ministry of Health criteria for Early Learning Services.
We provide a child-focused programme based on the principles, strands and goals of Te Whāriki- Early Childhood Education curriculum guidelines.
We provide tamariki with opportunities for a wide variety of learning experiences through the medium of Te Reo Māori.
Our focus on te reo and tikanga Māori is an endeavour to revitalise the te reo Māori as well as to promote and encourage the social, cultural and spiritual awareness of whānau so they are empowered to be biculturally competent.
We also have a strong focus on nature education and ensuring we teach our tamariki the values of kaitiakitanga of Papatuanuku.
A tamaiti who learns through their own experience gains a type of knowledge that is different from one who is provided with ready-made solutions.
Our tamariki are encouraged to make choices and explore the world on their own terms, with guidance and support from their caregivers. Special attention is also given to their caregiving routines, such as feeding, nappy changing, dressing, and sleeping. These moments are seen as valuable opportunities for tamariki to have quality, one-on-one interactions with their caregiver.
At Te Puna Reo o Te Waonui a Tāne, we embrace peaceful and respectful caregiving methods that honour each pēpi/tamaiti as unique and capable, empowering them to grow secure and self-confident.
