Te Mata Kindergarten Havelock North

Te Mata Kindergarten Havelock North All fully qualified teachers. Established, experienced, successful team. No fees. Not for Profit Gov

Our Kākāpō Learning Journey – Growing as KaitiakiWhat a wonderful learning journey our tamariki have been on since the 2...
03/09/2026

Our Kākāpō Learning Journey – Growing as Kaitiaki
What a wonderful learning journey our tamariki have been on since the 2026 kākāpō breeding season began earlier this year! It has been incredibly exciting to hear that 90 chicks have now officially been added to the kākāpō population!
Over the past few months, our tamariki have discovered so much about these incredible manu. We have learned that kākāpō are the world’s only flightless and nocturnal parrot. Once thought to be extinct, these precious taonga can live for up to 90 years, but they remain extremely vulnerable and now live only in protected, predator-free environments, including offshore islands and Maungatautari.
We discovered how the mass fruiting of rimu trees provides an abundance of food and can trigger kākāpō breeding, which happens only every 2–4 years.
Our tamariki were fascinated to learn about egg candling and the clever use of ‘smart’ eggs to support kākāpō conservation.
One of the biggest highlights has been following Rakiura, our superstar foster mum, on the live kākāpō cam! Tucked beneath the roots of a rātā tree on Whenua Hou (Codfish Island), we checked in regularly to watch her care for her eggs and see her chicks grow. We even witnessed her fiercely defending her nest when a mottled petrel invaded. Since February, our tamariki have been deeply engaged in conservation play, bringing their learning to life through imaginative role play. They have loved giving health checks to our toy manu, creating kākāpō nests using a variety of resources, and digging underground burrows in the sandpit to trap predators.
Our kindergarten is also home to a wonderful display of kākāpō artwork, showcasing the creativity and knowledge our tamariki have developed throughout this learning journey.
Together with Treaty Partner Ngāi Tahu, DOC and Kākāpō Recovery has announced that 90 new chicks have reached 150 days old and have officially been added to the population which is big news for Kākāpō Conservation! That means there are now 325 precious kākāpō
It has been heartwarming to watch our tamariki grow into such passionate kaitiaki of this precious taonga. Through learning about kākāpō and the people working to protect them, our tamariki are developing an understanding that they too can make a difference.
We are so proud of our young conservationists and the care, curiosity and enthusiasm they have shown throughout this special learning journey.
Ko au te taiao, ko te taiao ko au – I am the environment, and the environment is me.
https://www.facebook.com/KakapoRecovery
Kākāpō Recovery

26/08/2026

At Heretaunga Kindergartens, we believe tamariki deserve high-quality early childhood education, supported by qualified, valued and passionate kaiako.

As conversations continue around the future funding of ECE in Aotearoa, proposed changes could have a significant impact across the sector, particularly for qualified kaiako and community-based, not-for-profit kindergartens like ours.

We believe in:
💚 Recognising and valuing qualified kaiako and the important role they play in children's learning.

💚 Protecting pay parity to help attract and retain experienced, qualified teachers and relievers.

💚 Keeping community-based, not-for-profit kindergarten strong and sustainable for future generations.

💚 Continuing to recognise ECE for what it is: education.

We have been advocating for what matters to our kindergartens through our funding review submission, supported by the voices of our whānau and kaiako. We're also continuing these conversations with representatives across the political spectrum.

Our focus remains where it has always been: our tamariki, our whānau, our kaiako and our communities.

Playgroup is on again this Saturday. Come along for a play and hopefully enjoy some early Spring sunshine. Everyone is w...
20/08/2026

Playgroup is on again this Saturday. Come along for a play and hopefully enjoy some early Spring sunshine. Everyone is welcome 9.30am to 11.30am

What an amazing day our tamariki had at Omni Gym in Napier last week. Travelling on a bus is always part of the fun and ...
05/08/2026

What an amazing day our tamariki had at Omni Gym in Napier last week. Travelling on a bus is always part of the fun and an exciting experience. On arrival, Coach Tom gave everyone a fun warm-up, and the children recognised some of the yoga movements they already enjoy at kindergarten.
The children then explored a variety of gymnastics activities, including rolling, jumping, hanging, balancing, swinging, crawling through tunnels, and, of course, the highlight of the day... the sponge pit!
It was fantastic to see the children challenging themselves, building confidence, strengthening their balance and coordination, and celebrating their achievements. Experiences like these help children develop important physical skills while encouraging perseverance, resilience, and a willingness to try something new.
Thank you to Coach Tom for such a fun and engaging session, and to our wonderful parents and grandparents who came along to support us. We couldn't enjoy opportunities like this without your generosity and enthusiasm. Thank you for helping create such special memories for our tamariki.

Playgroup is on this Saturday 9.30am to 11.30am. Come along for a play and enjoy our fabulous new outdoor matting.
22/07/2026

Playgroup is on this Saturday 9.30am to 11.30am. Come along for a play and enjoy our fabulous new outdoor matting.

During the holidays Kindergarten was very busy with many diggers, trucks and the fantastic team from Baywide Dingo's. Th...
22/07/2026

During the holidays Kindergarten was very busy with many diggers, trucks and the fantastic team from Baywide Dingo's. The previous matting had been down for over 20 years and it was time for a refresh and rebuild. Dave and his team also created a new garden edge and seat around the smaller tree. This lovely additional project has been kindly donated by the Gordon family.
The work was completed in time for the start of the term, and the children were very excited to explore the new matting.
This upgrade has enhanced outdoor space provides a safe and inviting environment where tamariki can confidently engage in a wide range of physical learning experiences. The new matting not only improves safety but also supports children's wellbeing by encouraging them to challenge themselves, take appropriate risks, and enjoy rich physical learning opportunities every day.
Thank you very much to all the families and local businesses who have supported our Triathlons over the years. The funds raised have enabled us to contribute to this significant expense, and we are incredibly grateful for your ongoing generosity.
We feel very fortunate to have such wonderful community support, which allows us to continue enhancing and improving our learning environment for the benefit of all children, now and into the future.
Thank you also to the Gordon family for donating the new special seated garden. If you haven't seen it yet, come in and have a look.

Last week we enjoyed a special excursion to our local Mason Retirement Village, where the tamariki performed kapa haka a...
16/07/2026

Last week we enjoyed a special excursion to our local Mason Retirement Village, where the tamariki performed kapa haka as part of the residents' Matariki celebrations. It was a wonderful opportunity to strengthen our connection with the local community while sharing this special occasion together. The children also loved the exciting drive in the Heretaunga Kindergarten Association minivan with our wonderful driver, Bindi, making the journey part of the adventure.
We were incredibly proud of the tamariki for their beautiful singing, confidence, and the way they embraced this new experience. It was heartwarming to see the smiles on the residents' faces as they watched the children's performance, creating a meaningful intergenerational experience that reflected the spirit of Matariki through sharing, connection, and coming together as a community.
This visit highlighted the value of building relationships across generations, giving the children the opportunity to bring joy to others while developing a sense of belonging and contribution within their wider community. We look forward to continuing our connection with Mason Retirement Village and Enliven, whose wonderful community programmes support older people to maintain independence, wellbeing, and meaningful friendships.

On Thursday evening we came together for our annual Matariki celebration at kindergarten. It was wonderful to have so ma...
06/07/2026

On Thursday evening we came together for our annual Matariki celebration at kindergarten. It was wonderful to have so many whānau joining us for this special evening. The children were very excited coming to kindergarten after dark with their whānau. We began the evening by sharing dinner and playing with friends, enjoying the special star lit decorations. We then all squeezed inside for our much-anticipated kapa haka performance. The tamariki sang beautifully, sharing their learning and celebrating Matariki through waiata. After the concert, the children were very excited searching for their special jar lantern they had created earlier in the week. Hanging amongst the trees, the glowing lanterns decorated our playground, creating a magical environment and symbolising the light, hope, and togetherness that Matariki represents. Thank you to everyone who joined us to share this special evening. We are so grateful to our tamariki, parents, whānau, and extended families for celebrating Matariki together and helping to strengthen the sense of community that makes our kindergarten such a special place.

On Friday we welcomed Zappo back to Kindergarten to perform another of his fabulous magic shows. This year, Zappo's fun ...
22/06/2026

On Friday we welcomed Zappo back to Kindergarten to perform another of his fabulous magic shows. This year, Zappo's fun and engaging educational performance was set in his kitchen/kīhini. Alongside his puppet friend Masterchef Pedro and his talking cookbook, Zappo entertained the tamariki with a variety of magical adventures, including baking a cake and going fishing. The children were actively involved throughout the show, eagerly participating, sharing ideas, and helping Zappo and his friends as the story unfolded. Laughter, excitement, and wonder filled the room as the tamariki enjoyed the interactive experience.
Zappo taught the children about the importance of recycling and even performed a trick where his water bottle magically refilled again. Watching and participating in a magic show provides children with a fun and engaging learning experience that encourages curiosity, creativity, and imagination. The children had so much fun. It was delightful watching their faces beam with excitement and wonder of Zappo's tricks. Thank you Zappo for another amazing show - we look forward to seeing you again next year.

With funding from Enviroschools, we are delighted to have created a Tamariki Pukapuka Library outside the kindergarten g...
17/06/2026

With funding from Enviroschools, we are delighted to have created a Tamariki Pukapuka Library outside the kindergarten gate. The library aims to encourage literacy, book sharing, sustainability, and community connections within our local area.
This special project was made possible through the support of whānau and community volunteers. A second-hand cupboard and bench seat were purchased and then carefully repaired, adapted, and upcycled for their new purpose. Our retired neighbour, Rick, generously volunteered his time and skills to restore the cupboard and bench seat, while his wife Sue beautifully painted the signage. We were also fortunate to receive a donated bike stand from Havelock North High School.
The project reflects the Enviroschools principles of sustainability, community participation, and taking action. By reusing and repurposing materials, reducing waste, and creating a shared community resource, we are helping to foster a love of reading while caring for our environment.
Families are warmly invited to borrow a book, share books they no longer need, and enjoy reading together. Donations of children's books are always welcome and can be placed directly in the library or dropped off at kindergarten.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed their time, skills, and resources to bring this wonderful community project to life. We look forward to seeing our Tamariki Pukapuka Library enjoyed by children and families for many years to come.

Address

179 Te Mata Road
Havelock North
4130

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+6468778746

Website

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