Centre Cook | Busy Bees Pukekohe

NZ

Centre Cook

Are you passionate about good kai and the joy a wholesome meal brings?
We are looking for a Centre Cook to prepare nutritious, delicious food for our tamariki at Busy Bees Pukekohe. Your kitchen will fuel busy bodies and curious minds so children can learn, play, and thrive every day. This is a full time role from Monday to Friday – No weekends!

About Us:

Busy Bees Pukekohe is part of Busy Bees Aotearoa, a nationwide whānau that backs its people to grow. Our centre has a cosy nursery, a separate toddler space, and an adventurous preschool environment. Outdoors, our rooms flow together so tamariki can explore nature side by side. Relationships with whānau and our wider community sit at the heart of our programme.

Food is a big part of that story. Our kitchen runs Nourish, a dietitian-designed menu with fresh, seasonal ingredients and plenty of variety. We cater for allergies and intolerances with care, and we are working toward the Tohu Manawa Ora | Healthy Heart Award with the Heart Foundation. It is food that teaches as much as it feeds.

The role:
You will lead our daily food servic. That includes planning and preparing balanced meals and snacks, managing food safety records under the Food Act, ordering within budget, and keeping a tidy, efficient kitchen. You will chat with kaiako and whānau about dietary needs, and help make mealtimes calm, positive moments that build healthy habits.

About you:

You love cooking for a crowd and you are organised, energetic, and calm under pressure. You communicate clearly, enjoy being part of a team, and take pride in a spotless kitchen. You are comfortable with menus, ordering, and basic budgeting. Experience in ECE, schools, cafes, or catering is a bonus, as is confidence with food safety documentation. Most of all, you care about children eating well.

Why you’ll love it here:
A friendly, supportive team, plenty of variety, guidance and mentoring, discounted childcare, and annual flu vaccination. You will have the backing of Busy Bees Aotearoa and a centre that truly values the heart you put on the plate.

Apply now and send in your CV today!

Please note: Applicants for this position should have NZ residency or a valid NZ work visa.

Why Work for Busy Bees?
If you’re passionate about early learning, Busy Bees is the place to be. Although we are part of a global organisation, our company was founded by three families looking for better, more enriching childcare. Three decades later, we still keep the same values at heart.

We know that we couldn’t do what we do without the important people in our teams. We invest in our people and work with them to build career pathways that inspire.