Childcare options in Pahiatua

At Busy Bees, we believe that as an Early Education Centre we have an important part to play in our community and a very special opportunity to positively impact young children’s lives in their early stages of development.

With a safe and nurturing environment for your child, we provide a place for children to learn, develop and grow through social interaction in an engaging environment, carefully set up by kaiako, with lots of opportunities to explore and learn.

Nestled in the heart of Pahiatua, we are easy to find and within a short walk from the local town, making us a natural choice for busy parents and local families in the community.

Your child will love the well laid out learning corners at our centre, consisting of a family play area, creative art corner as well as a quiet space for reading and reflection.  There’s also plenty of natural resources with space to explore.

Our teaching team is made up of passionate, experienced teachers who are warm, welcoming and naturally wonderful people. Our qualified Early Childhood Educators bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team and their special connection with our children is cherished and supported in our centre.

Teachers guide our Tamariki in learning, engaging them with fun, sensory and also challenging experiences to nurture their development.  All children are valued at their unique stage of life, respected for who they are and have equal opportunities to ensure the best possible start in life.  This special environment with a community of talented individuals, encourages the joy and wonder of learning to come alive.

Te Kōhanga Reo

The kōhanga reo movement is a unique initiative based on total immersion in Māori language and values with the aim of passing on Māori culture to future generations.

Kōhanga reo emphasise the revitalisation of the culture through te reo Māori and are dependent on the active participation of the whole whānau. The kaupapa of kōhanga reo aims to strengthen whānau capabilities in cultural, social, economic, spiritual and political matters. Education, health and wellbeing are inherent within all aspects of the kaupapa. The prime focus is the whānau – its collective development, growth, accountability and wellbeing set within a Māori cultural context.

Kōhanga reo do not regard tamariki in isolation, but as important members of the whānau. The kōhanga reo philosophy is that tamariki will benefit when whānau successfully operate according to the kaupapa. Tamariki are an integral part of whānau development.

The following key goals are the foundation of te kōhanga reo kaupapa established in 1982:

• total immersion in te reo Māori me ōna tikanga in daily operations
• whānau decision-making, management and responsibility
• accountability
• health and wellbeing of mokopuna and whānau.

The key goals of te kōhanga reo assure that there will be:

• security in te reo Māori
• a supportive, caring environment for mokopuna
• whānau (collective) sharing of responsibilities, knowledge and expertise
• greater respect and appreciation of each other.

Haere Mai and welcome to Ruahine Holyoake Kindergarten, we are a rural kindergarten which nurtures whakawhanaungatanga - the relationships and shared experiences of our tamariki, whānau and community.

At Holyoake, our links with Mana Whenua are strong and you will often see tamariki out in the community 'paying it forward' with hand-made creations and harvested gifts from our garden, or visiting local marae and schools.

Our attractive and spacious setting supports children's natural curiosity and love of the outdoors. Together we plant and cultivate crops in our raised vegetable garden, while learning about Papatūānuku (the Earth Mother), recycling and sustainability.

Our curriculum is child driven, where learners become confident, competent and able to make decisions and set challenges.  Waiata and pepeha are embedded within our culture and our tamariki display mana and have ataahua (beautiful) pronunciation of Te Reo Māori.

Holyoake is a fun, warm and open home from home where tamariki learn through play and establish strong friendships.

We are open Monday to Friday, 8.45am - 2.45pm, and closed over the Christmas and New Year break, as well as three weeks during the year when teachers are engaged in professional development (dates to be advised on enrolment).  Three, four and five year old's may attend our kindergarten up to 30 hours at no charge, a fee of $2.50 (inclusive of GST) is in place for tamariki under 3 years of age