The ceremony brought local kindergarten teachers, community members and the senior management team from Wellington together to celebrate their collective commitment to the values of biculturalism.
The blessing was led by local Waikoau Rūnanga representative, Timikuka Walker and MW representative Louana Fruean, who gave a taonga of a framed copy of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in English and te reo Māori to display in the new office as a symbolic reminder of the association’s values.
The ceremony ‘‘reflected Whānau Manaaki’s commitment to honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi highlighting the importance of bicultural practices in early childhood education’’.
‘‘As a Te Tiriti-based association, Whānau Manaaki places significant importance on embedding the values and principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in their practices,’’ Balclutha Kindergarten head teacher Jolene Barclay said.
‘‘Kindergartens and other early childhood centres implement the world-leading early childhood curriculum, Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mōngā mokopuna o Aotearoa, [which] is a bicultural curriculum that recognises the place of Māori as tangata whenua of Aotearoa-New Zealand in reference to Te Tiriti o Waitangi,’’ Ms Barclay said.
She said the Whānau Manaaki curriculum promoted the idea that children should grow up as confident learners and communicators, secure in their identity, language and culture.
‘‘It recognises the importance of children’s cultural background in their success as learners and ensures that they develop a sense of belonging and respect for diversity.’’
Whānau Manaaki is one of several kindergarten associations in New Zealand, and is comprised of 110 kindergartens, five of which are in the Clutha district.
