In 2005 a group of Northland early childhood teaching professionals identified a gap in ongoing engagement in professional learning from teachers within the early childhood sector in Te Taitokerau. They determined at the time that a Northland focused conference needed to be held that was both affordable and accessible to all involved in the wider ece sector in order to grow their professional know
ledge. From here the Celebrating Northland’s Tamariki conference committee was formed by this group of inspirational leaders within the early childhood community. The now biennial conference and all that goes with organizing it, is done so on a voluntary basis with representatives on the committee from the Ministry of Education, Northland District Health Board, Northland Kindergarten Association, Educare Early Learning Centers, Avenues Educare, Te Tari Puna ora O Aotearoa, Open Polytechnic of New Zealand, Toka Totoro is the conferences kaumatua. The aim of the biennial conference is to provoke learning and engagement with teachers in all aspects of their mahi (work) and it is with this in mind that we have chosen for this year’s theme, the three pillars of sustainability in an educational context.
