Bilingual Childcare - Awhi Whanau Early Childhood Centre - East Tāmaki

As a Māori and Christian centre, an acknowledgement of the spiritualness of our world and mokopuna underpins our values and beliefs. These values form the foundations of our teaching practices and are woven through all that we do and are implemented in our daily life.

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Awhi Whānau is the dream of Thelma Chapman and Robyn Lawrence. Together with Houhanga Rongo Trust (HHR), a local community development organisation they began the journey of establishing Awhi Whānau as a local community-led bicultural early childhood education centre.

We believe that quality early childhood education involves:

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Cultural Identity

We believe that tamariki must be affirmed and empowered in their own cultural identity through authentic experiences and relationships.

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Community Involvement

We believe that genuine, meaningful and effective community involvement comes as a result of researching, documenting and addressing the issues of history and culture. The collective knowledge, understandings and positive support of whānau and community must strengthen the child in becoming a capable, competent, and confident learner.  The child no longer stands alone but moves forward supported in the community of learners.

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Optimum Learning Environments

We believe that optimum learning environments are functional, multi-sensory, aesthetically appealing, richly resourced and challenging. They promote experimentation, discovery, research, and learning. We actively create moments where children and adults are involved together in the “Construction of Knowledge”.

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Opportunities and Possibilities

We believe that when barriers to learning are identified and addressed, then possibilities are opened for the whole community of learners to increase educational achievement. We believe that regardless of ethnicity, gender, personal ability, socio-economic circumstances or religious beliefs, all tamariki are entitled to equitable opportunities.

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Core values that underpin the character of Awhi Whānau:

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Awhi Whānaumeans to nurture family

Aroha means love

Manaakitanga means esteem and respect

Awhinatia means caring, sharing, and nurturing