To celebrate 100 years of kindergarten in Aotearoa, NZ Kindergartens invited kindergarten associations around the country to be part of a special centenary celebration in Wellington.

To be part of the celebrations, we asked our kindergartens to create an artwork capturing what 100 years of kindergarten means to them. Four of our kindergartens (Nelson Central, Motueka, Murchison and Waimea Kindergartens) took part, and we were treated to four very different and very special pieces of art.

With everyone having a say, Waimea Kindergarten's 100 Years of Growing Together was selected as our winning artwork and chosen to make the trip to Wellington.

There was lots happening at Motueka Kindergarten during Lea Faka-Tonga / Tongan Language Week, as tamariki and kaiako spent time exploring Tongan language, music, stories, games, food and cultural traditions.

Yes. Really. There’s no catch.

When you see “up to 30 hours free kindergarten”, it’s understandable to wonder what that actually means. Is there a hidden fee? Do you have to meet certain conditions? Is it only free for a few hours?

At most of kindergartens, the answer is simple: yes, you can access up to 30 hours of free kindergarten each week from age 2.

Nelson Tasman Kindergartens is part of the fabric of our local communities, providing welcoming places where tamariki can play, explore, build relationships, and grow in confidence.

Many of our kindergartens give tamariki the opportunity to care for animals, whether it's feeding chickens, tending to pets, or exploring the natural world through real-life experiences. At Pinegrove Kindergarten, those learning experiences recently came to life as they followed the incredible journey from egg to chick.

This July, kindergartens from across Nelson Tasman will come together for our second annual Ngā Whetū Pīata Kapa Haka Day, a special event held in celebration of Matariki.

When you think about kindergarten, what comes to mind?

Perhaps it's tamariki building towers, digging in the sandpit, dressing up as superheroes, painting colourful masterpieces, or creating mud pies in the outdoor kitchen.

To many adults, it can look like simple fun. But play is serious business.