Tapawera Kindergarten

Up to 30 hours free • Play-based learning • Transition to school • Enviroschools Bronze

Hours
About
Our Team
More Info

Where we are

40 Main Road
Tapawera 7096

(Behind Tapawera Area School)

021 0878 8070
tapawerakindergarten@ntk.org.nz

Hours

Monday: 8.45am - 3.00pm
Tuesday: 8.45am - 3.00pm
Wednesday: 8.45am - 3.00pm
Thursday: 8.45am - 3.00pm
Friday: 8.45am - 3.00pm

 
Children playing with wooden architectural model in classroom or play area.

Welcome to Tapawera Kindergarten

Nau mai, haere mai ki tō tātou hāpori ako o Tapawera – welcome to our Tapawera learning community.

We are a small, close-knit kindergarten providing early childhood education and care for tamariki and their whānau from Tapawera, Dovedale, Glenhope, St Arnaud, and the surrounding valleys.

At Tapawera Kindergarten, we recognise the unique journey of every tamaiti (child). We see each child as taonga – a treasure – and our role is to support and prepare them for their lifelong learning journey.

Our Team

  • Head Teacher at Tapawera Kindergarten.

    Gina Head

    Head Teacher

  • Kaiako at Tapawera Kindergarten.

    Lisa Hewett

    Kaiako 

  • Teacher Aide at Tapawera Kindergarten.

    Tami Wi

    Teacher Aide

  • Administrator at Tapawera Kindergarten.

    Geoff Persen

    Administrator

  • Dyneta Hebberd

    Kaiako

  • Our philosophy is guided by four key values:

    Whanaungatanga – Relationships
    Tamariki are part of our community that fosters respectful reciprocal relationships.

    Whakamana – Empowerment
    Tamariki have their mana protected and empowered to develop a positive view of themselves as a confident and capable learner.

    Akoranga – Learning through Play
    Through play, tamariki develop the learning dispositions of curiosity, perserverance, resilience and courage.

    Kaitiakitanga – Guardianship
    Tamariki connect with nature, community and the wider world.

  • Our small, rural setting allows tamariki to experience the beauty and uniqueness of our natural environment. We create spaces that encourage exploration, discovery, and connection to the land, while also reflecting the strengths and interests of our local community.

  • At Tapawera Kindergarten, learning is play-based and shaped by the interests of tamariki. Our kaiako (teachers) provide open-ended resources, experiences, and opportunities that nurture each child’s individual learning journey while fostering collaboration and connection.

    Regular outdoor play and engagement with our local environment are an important part of our programme, helping tamariki to develop confidence, resilience, and a deep respect for Papatūānuku (the earth).

  • Most sessions are free under the Ministry of Education’s 20 Hours ECE policy. Some fees may apply for additional hours or children under two. Family contributions are requested to cover extra activities.

    Learn more about fees and funding

  • Nau mai, haere mai – a big welcome to all tamariki and whānau.

    At Tapawera Kindergarten, children can begin their learning journey with us from the age of two. We’re open Monday to Friday, 8:45am to 3:00pm. Our kindergarten operates from mid-January through to late December, with a break over the Christmas period.

    Settling visits are an important part of starting kindergarten. They give tamariki time to become familiar with the environment, while also allowing us to work alongside whānau to develop a transition plan that supports each child to settle at their own pace.

    At Tapawera Kindergarten, our small team works closely together, getting to know tamariki and whānau well and building strong, trusting relationships.

    We look forward to meeting you and welcoming you to our kindergarten.

    Read the latest Education Review Office report for Tapawera Kindergarten.

ENQUIRE TO ENROL
  • Group of young children engaged in a creative activity at a table with colorful art supplies and artwork, in a classroom setting.
  • Two young boys wearing orange ear protection and rain boots are working together outside on a woodworking project. One boy is hammering a nail into a piece of wood placed on a small wooden stool, while the other is leaning over a work surface with various tools, including pliers and a level, nearby. There is a large metal storage container and a green tool cart with assorted hand tools in the background.
  • A young girl with blonde hair in a bun, wearing a brown jacket, is arranging a bouquet of artificial flowers in a yellow container with a smiley face. The table nearby has orange tissue paper and additional artificial flowers. The background shows an indoor room with toy storage, a dark chalkboard wall, and a window with sunlight streaming in.
  • Two young children, a blonde girl in a blue hoodie and a curly-haired boy in a gray t-shirt, are focused on a sensory or craft activity involving brightly colored paint and slime on a white tray.
  • A person wearing a blue hoodie and green vest is planting or tending to a small plant or seedling in a rural, mountainous landscape with a clear blue sky. There are white buckets nearby and the person appears to be kneeling or crouching in the grass.
  • A young girl is playing with wooden toy structures in a classroom or play area with other children and adults in the background. The foreground shows a wooden bowl filled with colorful wooden spinning tops.
  • Children playing in a sandbox outdoors on a sunny day, with a black metal fence, trees, and houses in the background.
  • A group of children and women on a stage, wearing colorful costumes with rainbow streamers, participating in a performance or rehearsal.
  • Group of children wearing safety vests standing and sitting around a large green John Deere tractor outdoors on a sunny day.
  • Children walking in a line along a narrow trail through a grassy field, surrounded by a fenced area with hills and dense forest in the background on a sunny day.