In this issue, read about:
Why and how to celebrate Matariki in early learning services
Matariki at Ako Early Learning
Free Matariki activity booklets for whānau
Professional Development videos: Matariki for early learning staff
Celebrate Matariki in your local area
INTRODUCTION
As we welcome the rise of Puanga and Matariki let us embrace this special time to reflect, reconnect, and nurture health and wellbeing. In this edition of Kid’s Health Pānui, we explore how celebrating Puanga and Matariki can strengthen wellbeing across your service. This time invites us to reflect, reconnect and care for our wellbeing and our environment — values that nurture deeper connections and support the holistic development of tamariki, whānau, kaiako and communities.
The purpose of this pānui is to provide top tips for healthy tamariki. We share helpful ideas, useful resources and activities, the latest health campaigns and upcoming events. We want to grow our community connection by sharing cool things local Early Learning Services are doing around health and wellbeing.
Look out for coloured blobs! These blobs will link up how all these things can be supported by the various blocks of Building Blocks for Hauora.
NATURE IS A POWERFUL TEACHER
Spending time in nature supports tamariki to grow curious, confident, and connected — fostering wellbeing, resilience, creativity, and a strong sense of identity and belonging. E hoki atu ki Papatūānuku – Let Nature In, part of Building Blocks for Hauora, encourages early learning services to embrace the outdoors, where learning is rich, play is imaginative, and relationships with people and place are nurtured.
As we celebrate Matariki — a time to reflect, reconnect, and care for wellbeing — it’s the perfect moment to return to nature and deepen our connection with Papatūānuku.
Register for Building Blocks to access more support to 'Let Nature In' to your learning environment.
CELEBRATING MATARIKI
At Ako Early Learning Service, celebrating Matariki is deeply embedded in the heart of the teaching team and their approach to learning. Over a carefully planned two-year cycle, teachers continue to deepen and build on the foundations of Te Ao Māori already woven into the early learning environment, inspiring tamariki and their whānau to connect with Māori traditions in meaningful and authentic ways.
RESOURCES
Check out the latest gems we've added to the Building Blocks Resource Hub where you can filter by block and type to find a range of helpful hauora resources.
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Puanga Activity Sheet - Free printable download Embracing our differences. Learn about Puanga – the star marker which heralds in the Māori New Year in different parts of the country Matariki Activity Book – Free printable download
EXPLORE KIDS GREENING TAUPŌ ONLINE NATURE CLASSROOM The Matariki Online Nature Classroom is a fun, interactive way to connect with te taiao while exploring Matariki values and wellbeing through videos, activities, and reflection prompts that weave together mātauranga Māori, nature play, and environmental kaitiakitanga.
FIND THESE RESOURCES HERE Check the 'E hoki ki Papatūānuku" + 'Activity' filters are selected and scroll through for these stellar Matariki resources and more! |
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UPCOMING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MATARIKI for early learning staff videos
In June we will be releasing three short videos around Matariki for early learning staff. These will cover variations of Māori New Year celebrations, their significance, associated practices and how this knowledge can be applied to support child health and well-being in the early learning setting. Stay tuned!
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Explore local celebrations of Puanga and Matariki and inspire learning through culture, whānau, and community.
