At our centre, we believe every tamariki has the potential to grow into a confident, capable leader.
Our leadership programme provides opportunities for our older tamariki to take on responsibilities, develop independence, and learn what it means to be a positive role model for others.
With the guidance of our kaiako, we nurture these leadership skills so tamariki feel empowered, proud, and supported as they step into new roles within our learning community. As tamariki become older, they naturally look for ways to contribute and guide others.
Through our programme, they are encouraged to demonstrate manaakitanga (care for others) and whanaungatanga (relationships), showing the younger tamariki what it looks like to lead with kindness and respect. These experiences help them build confidence in their own abilities and a sense of pride in being trusted role models. Leadership is not about being the loudest or strongest – it is about helping, guiding, and showing others how to make good choices.
One way we support this is through our centre treaty. Together, our kaiako and tamariki created a set of shared understandings that help us live and learn well together. Our treaty is simple, clear, and meaningful:
• We use gentle hands.
• We use walking feet.
• We are kind to one another.
The treaty is displayed, discussed, and woven into everyday life at our centre. It provides a framework for how we treat each other and our environment, and it gives tamariki language to resolve conflicts and make safe, thoughtful decisions. When older tamariki lead by following and upholding the treaty, they set a powerful example for the younger children. They learn that leadership is about responsibility – caring for themselves, their peers, and the space we share. Empowering tamariki in this way has lasting benefits. They develop essential skills such as problem-solving, empathy, communication, and teamwork.
They learn that their actions can influence others and that they can create a positive change in their community. By giving tamariki the chance to lead, we show them that their voices matter and that they are valued contributors. For younger tamariki, seeing their older peers model leadership helps them feel safe, supported, and inspired. They know that when they grow, they too will have the chance to step into those roles. This creates a strong sense of continuity in our centre culture – leadership is not just for a few, but for everyone as they are ready.
Our leadership programme is more than preparing tamariki for school – it is about preparing them for life. By nurturing leadership potential early on, we are helping tamariki develop confidence, compassion, and a strong sense of belonging.
We are proud to see our tamariki take pride in being leaders, and even prouder to know they carry these values with them beyond our centre, into school, home, and the wider community.