As you go up the walkway you will find Kowhai Kindergarten surrounded by trees and birds with a backdrop of hills. The building, tamariki, whānau and kaiako are intrinsically connected to Papatūānuku

Poipoia te kakano, kia pūawai

Nurture the seed and it will blossom

Tamariki are encouraged to respect and care for their environment and each other in a learning environment that enhances their mana and nurtures their inquisitive minds.

Teachers and whānau work in partnership to create a learning environment that supports social competency, confidence and manaakitanga from a strong whanaungatanga perspective.

Our current curriculum priorities are:

Whanaungatanga- a relationship through shared experiences and working together which provides people with a sense of belonging.

Manaakitanga – children develop the skills to care for and respect others, nurture relationships, look after people, and be careful about how others are treated.

Kotahitanga – over time and with guidance and encouragement children will increasingly develop the ability to work with others as a one in a harmonious and united manner.

Kei te ora, kei te whakatipu te tamaiti kei waenganui I tōno ake whānau

A child grows within the context of a family or a community.

Situated at 16 Coonoor Road, TIMARU

Phone: (03) 688 0285

Cell phone (txt messages): 0273 173 542

Email: kowhai.kindergarten@sck.nz

Hours: Monday to Friday – 8.30am - 2.30pm

 Whānau comments:

"Kowhai Kindergarten has a family atmosphere, is welcoming, loving, caring and supportive who support the independence of tamariki"

"Love the massive indoor/outdoor area for the kids to play"

"I love the interaction and kindness the children get from all the staff"

“We couldn’t be happier with the progress the kids are making. They are building their confidence and it really shows at home. The constant updates and stories we read up on helps us better understand their day as they come home with a lot of stories to tell after school regarding the activities and games they enjoyed throughout the day!! Thank you Team Kowhai”

“Bula, Dorothy and I are very happy with Rachel’s first week at Kowhai and we know she enjoys it too. As we work towards settling her in especially in the morning, we would also like to say a big Vinaka to you and the team for helping us with our transition into school and into Timaru. During our search for schools, we made our first and only stop at Kowhai and decided that this was the place for our kids. We know that they have a long way to go in terms of their education with many years of learning ahead and we are happy that they will begin their journey right here at Kowhai Kindergarten”