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Our Mission – We dedicate our day for the well-being of our tamariki, whanau and staff.
We display creativity and enthusiasm which results in positive outcomes and develop confidence to become competent learners and explorers. Cultural awareness is supported by all the staff members to meet the needs of our diverse community.
Our centre programme focus on children’s individual interest which helps in their holistic development by providing an environment inclusive of social, emotional spiritual, and
cultural strengths. Our focus is to support tamariki to become confident and competent learners.
“Let us nurture your precious children”
IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD
At Homai Nga Taonga Childhood Centre there is a special relationship with the Homai Primary School, the Adult Learning Centre and the local community. There will be times of interaction with these various parts of the “village” and we are excited that tamariki will have their worldview expanded in a safe and nurturing environment. You will receive regular communications about becoming part of the village—this special feature is what makes this centre unique!
Welcome to Homai Nga Taonga, welcome to the Taonga whanau, welcome to the Village that will contribute to the raising of your child! Nau mai Haere mai, Piki mai, kake mai …(Welcome, Welcome, Welcome)
About Us
History: choosing the name “Homai Nga Taonga”
The Trustees of Taonga Education Centre Charitable Trust believe it is important that the history of Manurewa is perpetuated as much as possible.
It was in the early 1920s that Manurewa began to be promoted as a convenient commuting suburb with its proximity to the railway. The name for the area came as a result of having a second station in Manurewa being built with funding raised by the local residents, together with the overhead bridge land donated by John Dreadon. It was a gentleman named Maurice Harding who suggested the name “Homai” meaning “a gift” so the station and the surrounding area would always recall the ‘gift’ of the residents in purchasing the land for the station, and the ‘gift’ of land given by Dreadon for the overhead bridge to be built…
It is interesting to note that pre-school education first took place in this area (Homai) in 1965 when the Foundation for the Blind facility in Parnell was proving too limited in space, and 55 acres were taken under the Public Works Act for the Ministry of Education to establish Homai College, and the first intake was of “blind or partially-sighted pre-schoolers”. The school which this centre is sited originally called Manurewa North School and opened in April 1955 now is Homai Primary School. Manurewa High School was built alongside in 1965.
We give this brief history as a forerunner to choosing our name for this centre. There is a long history of educational commitment and stability in this area. There has always been a desire for families to have access to social infrastructure. There is a clear message that children were, and still are, a primary focus. We believe “Homai nga Taonga” captures both the history of “the gift” and the God-given gift of a child, as well as our own name and acronym reflecting a “treasure” and ‘totally acknowledging our next generation’s abilities’.
