Three stars for Pasifika early childhood education
Cannons Creek in Porirua notched up a New Zealand milestone in early childhood education with the opening of Toru Fetū, the nation’s first purpose-built Pasifika kindergarten.
The facility, which caters for children aged six months to five years, was officially opened on 3 June by the Minister of Education Anne Tolley and Geogina Te Heuheu, the Minister of Pacific Island Affairs.
The idea for the kindergarten was born three years ago out of the common goal of existing playgroups –Niue Aoga Tama Ikiiki, Cook Islands Te Punanga Reo Kuki Airani Porirua and Tuvalu Akoga from the Porirua East Communities.
Its aim is to help the local community preserve and promote its Niuean, Cook Island and Tuvaluan languages and cultures, while also increasing the number of children from Pasifika backgrounds participating in high-quality early childhood education.
Toru Fetū is sited at Maraeroa School and Maraeroa Kindergarten in Cannons Creek, and uses renovated classrooms to create a brand new space for children.
The building itself has been designed to provide family support services such as anti-natal classes, parenting courses, cultural resources and health information.
Wellington Kindergartens will provide support and professional development opportunities for Toru Fetū staff with a senior teacher dedicated to the kindergarten in the early stages.
She and the Wellington Kindergartens’ Pasifika co-ordinator will work with the three groups to establish learning programmes, provide professional support to teachers and ensure a strong relationship with other early childhood centres and schools in the wider community.
Caroline Mareko, Wellington Kindergartens’ Pasifika co-ordinator, says Toru Fetū’s point of difference is that it’s an integrated service. “We have a purpose-built community room we hope community services will use to workshop their services to the Porirua community. We want Toru Fetū to become a community hub where parents can access services.”
She says parents of children enrolled in any kindergarten in the area are welcome to use the space, even if that is to drop in for a coffee and chat.
The aim is to acknowledge cultural diversity, while promoting shared learning and an appreciation of each Pacific Island group. It provides each group its own space, although they come together for shared play and meal times.
In line with this shared vision, the name of the kindergarten is significant to each culture. Toru incorporates the Cook Island Maori spelling and Fetū is Tuvaluan and Niuean. Together, this translates as Three Stars, a symbol that adorns the building.
This signifies Pacific peoples as explorers, where the stars were the only navigational points. It also signifies continued migration to New Zealand and subsequent unification to establish Toru Fetū for the common good of their cultures and people.
Toru Fetū is currently staffed for 50 children, but is licensed for 80.
To contact Toru Fetū, call 04 239-6063 or Wellington Kindergartens on 04 232 3069 or email info@wn-kindergarten.org.nz
