16 June 2025
Tell us a bit about yourself
“I grew up in the Kaipara area in the little town of Mangawhai. I now live with my partner and five tamariki in Wellsford. I love arts, crafts and baking, and have a passion for working with tamariki under five. When I saw an ad earlier this year looking for a Plunket playgroup volunteer, I thought this would be a great fit for me as a stay-at-home mum.”
Can you tell us about Tākaro Tots?
“Tākaro Tots (tākaro meaning ‘play’) encourages tamariki and whānau to embrace and practice te reo Māori in a fun and welcoming environment. I am Māori myself, and believe all children can find a sense of belonging in speaking the language and with tikanga Māori (customs and traditional practices). Tamariki truly thrive in bilingual environments.
“The thing I enjoy most about the playgroup is watching all the tamariki, not just my own, learn new things. The way their eyes light up is amazing!”
What has feedback been like from the local community?
“We’ve been running since mid-March and have seen great attendance. We usually host at least 10 tamariki each session. We’ve had lots of lovely feedback from parents and caregivers, as well as the local children’s librarian.”
Do you have any plans for the playgroup looking ahead?
“At the moment we are still working on building capacity, so we would love for people to spread the word! I am looking forward to Matariki where we will celebrate with some crafts and baking.”
Visit Our community services page for more information on our Plunket playgroups and to find one near you. You can also find out more about volunteering for Plunket.