At BestStart Katikati, learning is woven through the whenua, the environment, and the stories that shape the place our tamariki call home.
Recently, our children have been exploring the pūrākau—the traditional narratives—that belong to our local area of Katikati.
These stories offer rich opportunities for connection, identity, and cultural understanding. Pūrākau help tamariki develop a strong sense of belonging, showing them that the land around them holds history, meaning, and relationships.
One pūrākau from Katikati tells of people travelling along the Uretara River in their waka. Mistaking the mangroves for kūmara plants, they ended up eating all the kūmara they had stored away. This story reminds us that appearances can be deceptive and that things are not always as they seem.
The children have also learned the meaning behind the name Katikati, which translates to “nibble nibble,” referring to a chief who was nibbling on the kūmara. We have been using dramatic play to bring our pūrākau to life. Children proudly row their waka and step out onto new, unknown land. They now recognise what kūmara plants look like and understand why they are important to our area.
These moments show us how deeply they are making sense of their world. As we continue this journey, we see children developing curiosity, empathy, and a growing love for the place they live in—learning not just stories, but their own connection to whenua and community. We welcome new whanau to visit our Centre and hear the local story of Katikati.