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Whānau Manaaki Kindergartens

Working for whānau, not for profit.

Whakakitenga | Our Vision: to be a respected leader in early childhood education and a strong advocate for tamariki and whānau

Whānau Manaaki News

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Kōriporipo Report

A survey of 500 parents with children in early childhood education shows that parents value high quality, safe, culturally responsive education that is affordable.

Spaces Available now at Sunshine Kindergarten!

📣 Sunshine Kindergarten in Karori has spaces available now! Located right next to Karori Park, with plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventures...

✅ 20 hours free for ALL tamariki aged 2-5
✅ 100% qualified teachers
✅ Open all year round in 2026 (including school holidays!

Visit us to find out more. 🏠 21a Sunshine Avenue, Karori. ☎ 04 476 9903 or contact us below!
100% qualified early childhood education teachers

Whānau Manaaki kindergartens bring learning, connection and fun to whānau across Aotearoa.

Whānau Manaaki is a non-profit association providing free early childhood education and community services for whānau across Aotearoa. We offer high-quality teaching and learning with our 100% qualified and registered kindergarten teachers and our skilled and trained educators.

Whānau Manaaki provides administrative, management and property management support to over 100 kindergartens across Aotearoa, supporting educational leadership and professional development to over 800 teaching staff and educators.

A focus on innovation and excellence supports our teachers and educators to provide for the needs of children and their families.

Around 5000 tamariki are enrolled in our kindergartens, and over 80 children are enrolled with our Pasifika-focused Etu Ao home-based services.

Whānau Manaaki children get a great start to their formal education in a caring community environment. Each kindergarten offers its own individual programme, created around community interests along with Te Whāriki - New Zealand's early childhood curriculum.
Over 90% of our kindergartens offer fees free for 2-year-olds

Kindergartens Aotearoa

Kindergartens Aotearoa is a collective of regional kindergarten associations dedicated to supporting tamariki and whānau through community-based, not-for-profit early childhood education.