NKA’s 25 kindergartens can be likened to a family of strong ancient trees joined together through time and space by an ever-expansive root network.
Each individual NKA kindergarten is deeply rooted in the community it is situated in, and in our organisation’s values of Rangatiratanga (leadership of self and others, personal integrity, ethical behaviour and decision making), Auaha (innovation, creativity, entrepreneurship, problem solving, learning and adpating, evolving), Kohitanga(unity of purpose and direction), Manaakitanga(generosity, reciprocity and good will), and Whanaungatanga (kinship, collectivism, care for whānau and the community). The trunks of these great trees hold the many rings of age-old tikanga(customs) central to that particular community. The branches of these trees stretch out to embrace the cultural diversity of the community; the individuality, interests and aspriations of each tamaiti and their whānau; and the registered and qualified kaiako who dedicate themselves to these communities by applying our philosophy of play-based education through culturally-relevant curriculums. Each leaf of each tree represents all the countless and multifaceted ways in which our overarching philosophies and practices are uniquely actualised by each individual kindergarten; because its the little things, the small moments, the little ones, that make up the big turns, the broader cycles and lessons, the future communities and carers of this planet.
