BREAKING NEWS
Story
8 Oct 2025, 11:26 AM
Trailblazers in tiny gumboots
In Kerikeri, two early childhood centres, Harinui and Arohanui, have recently completed a journey that’s as thoughtful as it is transformative.
Set on two acres of land with their own wilderness area, Ngaherenui, the two centres are the first early childhood education centres in Te Taitokerau to be supported through the new Enviroschools Holistic Reflection process.
Led by NRC’s Enviroschools facilitator Judy Crooks, the reflections are a shift from the previous bronze, silver, and green-gold framework to a more authentic and grounded approach.
Teaching tiny tamariki how to recycle at the Harinui recycling centre launched with the help of NRC’s Environmental Leaders Fund (ELF).
Harinui and Arohanui were invited to pause, celebrate their highlights and set goals to support them to move forward in their Enviroschools journey.
The reflections were guided by the metaphor of the awa, a river that flows through time and place, carrying with it the experiences, values, and aspirations of those who travel alongside it.
For Harinui, the process created space for professional conversations and a renewed sense of shared purpose.
“It was so nice to have that time to reflect and have those professional discussions,” they shared. “Our kaiako really gained a sense of the journey so far.”
“We understand it is a new system with a more holistic approach which we found really fitted our philosophy and the way we do things. We loved the river metaphor and through this there was a real sense of accomplishment and moving forward.”
Arohanui echoed this sentiment, describing the reflection as enjoyable and meaningful.
“We all found it to be an enjoyable and meaningful experience.”
“We particularly liked and connected with the awa metaphor and visual as well as the meaning behind this analogy – it really describes the Enviroschools learning journey we have been on. The reflective process felt easy, organic, and accepting of however we each saw this journey to be, and that meant the outcome was authentic.”
Arohanui kaiako with their reflection document. They connected with the awa metaphor and visual, as well as the meaning behind this analogy.
Judy Crooks, who facilitated both reflections, says the power of the process lies in the kōrero - the conversations that emerge when people feel safe to reflect honestly and creatively.
Their reflections are now living documents which are adaptable and responsive to the evolving needs of tamariki, kaiako, and whānau at each centre.
As part of their ongoing commitment to sustainability, Harinui has recently launched a worm farm and mini recycling centre with support from NRC’s Environmental Leaders Fund (ELF). The centres are also exploring new nature-based projects, like a banana garden, to deepen the connection of tamariki, kaiako, and their whānau to the land and inspire future learning. From a national perspective, the shift to holistic reflection supports ECEs across the country in understanding the new process.
Open Spaces kaiako engaging in their holistic reflection process.
Resources are available to guide centres through the change, answer pātai, and build confidence before they begin their own reflections.
For Harinui and Arohanui, the journey has been empowering. It has strengthened their connection to place, to each other, and to the values that guide their work with tamariki.
And for Enviroschools, it’s a glimpse of what’s possible when reflection is rooted in authenticity and guided by each centre’s unique journey.
Since Harinui and Arohanui completed their reflections, three more early childhood centres have joined the journey: Kiwi Kids Early Learning Centre, Open Spaces, and Springbank Preschool. Each centre brought its own unique flavour to the process, deepening the collective understanding of what holistic reflection can look like in practice.
