BestStart Maunu Village

The Kākano Room provides care and education for our youngest tamariki, aged under 2 years. This space is licensed for 10 children and is supported by two permanent kaiako who are dedicated to nurturing each child's learning, development, and wellbeing.
Our practice in Kākano is deeply grounded in whakawhanaungatanga – building strong, respectful relationships with tamariki and their whānau. We prioritise creating a warm, responsive, and predictable environment where children feel secure, valued, and connected.
Through this focus, tamariki develop a strong sense of belonging and trust, which lays the foundation for confident exploration, learning, and growth.

Much like the Kākano Room, the Tui Room provides high-quality care and education for tamariki under the age of 2. Licensed for 20 children, the Tui Room is supported by five permanent kaiako who are committed to fostering nurturing, responsive relationships.
This space places a strong emphasis on developing whakawhanaungatanga – meaningful connections with both tamariki and their whānau. Kaiako create an environment that supports early friendships, emotional security, and a strong sense of belonging.
The Tui Room encourages exploration and supports children in developing working theories about the world around them, laying the foundation for lifelong learning and curiosity.

Much like their namesake, the cheeky and curious pūkeko, our energetic 2-year-olds in this room are provided with an environment that nurtures their natural curiosity and love for learning.
Licensed for 20 children, the Pūkeko Room focuses on supporting the development of early self-help skills and fostering independence in everyday routines. With a carefully planned and engaging environment, kaiako respond to the ever-changing interests of two-year-olds, offering opportunities for exploration, discovery, and meaningful learning.
The Pūkeko Room is a place where tamariki begin to build confidence in themselves and the world around them through relationships, play, and growing independence.

The Whānake Room is a vibrant and nurturing space for tamariki aged 2 to 3.5 years to learn, grow, and develop a strong sense of belonging within our Pōhutukawa Centre.
This room provides an environment that supports children as they continue to explore and strengthen their developing working theories about the world. Kaiako foster reciprocal relationships, encouraging tamariki to engage in meaningful interactions with both their peers and teachers.
Self-help skills are a key focus in the Whānake Room, with kaiako empowering children to build confidence, independence, and a strong sense of identity as they express themselves as unique individuals — all while having fun and learning through play.

The Kiwi Room is a dedicated space for our 3-year-olds, licensed for 20 children. It fosters a love of learning through the power of play in a thoughtfully prepared environment that captures learning opportunities throughout the entire day.
Kaiako act as gentle guides, supporting and extending children’s ideas, interests, and inquiries. A strong focus is placed on self-help skills as tamariki begin to take greater responsibility for themselves and their learning.
In the Kiwi Room, children are not only learning new skills—they are learning how to learn, developing the curiosity, resilience, and confidence that will support them on their lifelong learning journey.

The Kea Room, located in our Kauri Centre, is our dedicated set-for-school space, licensed for 20 four-year-olds. This room is designed to lay strong foundations for tamariki as they prepare to transition to school.
The daily routine offers a balance of learning through play and intentional teaching experiences that introduce early literacy and numeracy concepts in a fun and engaging way—mirroring aspects of a school environment.
Children in the Kea Room are seen as capable and confident learners. They are encouraged to lead their own learning, ask questions, and explore the world around them with curiosity and enthusiasm.
This is a space where tamariki grow as thinkers, communicators, and self-directed learners, ready to take their next steps in education.

The Rākau Room, located in our Pōhutukawa Centre, supports the learning and development of tamariki aged 3.5 to 5 years. Licensed for 30 children, this space places a strong emphasis on preparing tamariki for their next big step — the transition to school.
With a dedicated set-for-school programme for our four-year-olds, the Rākau Room provides a balanced approach that blends child-led interests with intentional teaching, turning everyday moments into rich learning opportunities.
Kaiako encourage children to be their authentic selves, fostering confidence, creativity, and independence. Through meaningful experiences that reflect each child's interests and identity, tamariki are supported to develop the skills, knowledge, and dispositions needed for a successful transition to school and beyond.