Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
A: 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.’
Q: Tell us a bit about Tākaro Tots!
A: Tākaro means ‘play’ in te reo, so Tākaro Tots encourages tamariki and whānau to embrace and practice te reo Māori in a playful, fun and welcoming environment. I am Māori myself and believe all children can find a sense of belonging in both speaking the language and with tikanga Māori (customs and traditional practices). Tamariki truly thrive in bilingual environments. What 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.
Q: What has feedback been like from the local community?
A: 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.”
Q: Do you have any future plans for the playgroup?
A: At the moment we are still working on building capacity, so we would love for people to spread
the word! If you know of any families in the Wellsford area who would love the fun of Tākaro Tots, please let them know they’re more than welcome to come along to the next session – they run on Wednesdays, from 10.30am till 1pm at 90 Rodney Street. And if you’d like to volunteer, we’d love to hear from you!