8:30am-9:00am: Registration and coffee and tea on arrival
9:00-9:30: Mihi Whakatau (welcome)
9:30-10:30: Keynote by Miraka Davies
10:30-11:00: Morning Tea provided
11:00-12:30: Workshop Session One (select from below)
12:30-1:15: Lunch provided
1:15-2:45: Workshop Session Two (select from below)
2:45-3:00: Break
3:00-3:30: “Step into Joy”
3:30-4:00: Keynote by Wendy Lee
4:00-4:15pm: Whakawātea (Farewell)
1. Whakamana | Empowerment
Ehara taku mana i te mana takitahi – Empowering ourselves through play
Emma Parangi
Let’s feel strong and confident in our mana through connecting to the mana of te taiao – the beyond human world. In this wānanga you will be invited and guided to explore story and storytelling, learning from and about pūrākau (Māori cosmologies and histories) along the way. You will be supported to build whanaungtanga (relationships) with atua (spiritual guardians of the physical world) through experimenting, creative expression, and most importantly play. We will ground ourselves by connecting to whenua (earth), exploring taonga pūoro (singing treasures) and ngā tae uku (earth pigments). You will have the opportunity to make some of your own, and/ or play with whenua in whichever way feels resonant for you.
Together we will empower ourselves to work through any perceived barriers between our knowledge as kaiako, and the potential joyful impacts of embodied mātauranga Māori for our learning communities.
Mauri ora!
About Emma:
Emma Parangi is a kaiako (teacher) and an ākonga (learner). She has been a Professional Learning Facilitator with Educational Leadership Project for the past 4 years, and is also a Professional Teaching Fellow and Doctoral Candidate with Waipapa Taumata Rau – University of Auckland.
Emma’s academic path includes undergraduate studies in linguistics and languages, with a focus on te reo Māori, postgraduate study specialising in indigenous research, leadership, and language planning and policy, a Master of Education exploring the intersection of cultural identity with pedagogy and practice, and her current PhD study highlighting the integral roles of wāhine taketake (Indigenous women of the Pacific Ocean) leading in mainstream ECE in Aotearoa.
With 18 years of teaching experience, Emma is a strong advocate for all kaiako, understanding their connections and responsibilities to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, centring her work on the values of whakawhanaungatanga, kotahitanga, aroha, and manaakitanga, and striving to create inclusive educational spaces that honour the partnership between tangata whenua and tangata tiriti.
2. Ngā Hononga | Relationships
Rich Relationships: The Heart of Our Work
Julie Killick
At the heart of all powerful teaching and learning lies the magic of relationships, those warm, responsive, and reciprocal connections that make mokopuna feel seen, safe, and deeply valued. Ngā hononga – Relationships is one of the foundational principles of Te Whāriki, and in this uplifting workshop, we will take time to reflect on what this really means in our daily practice.
We’ll begin by turning gently inward, exploring how we can deepen our relationship with ourselves through simple yet powerful mindfulness and self-compassion practices. When we are grounded, present, and kind to ourselves, we are so much more able to offer genuine connection to others.
From this place of presence, we’ll then explore how we build rich, trusting relationships with the mokopuna and whānau who are new to our centres. You’ll hear real-life examples of how we welcome tamariki and whānau, weaving belonging into their very first moments with us.
This is a workshop to fill your kete with practical ideas, to restore your spirit, and to celebrate the beauty of connection at the heart of early childhood education. Let’s honour the relational essence of our work, because it is through relationships that learning and wellbeing flourish.
About Julie:
Julie graduated from Waikato Teachers College in 1981 and has been in Early Childhood ever since. She has worked as Head Teacher in several Kindergartens, and also in Adult Education with Auckland Kindergarten Association as a facilitator. She is currently Head Teacher at Chelsea Kindergarten in Auckland.
Julie has had a long, enthusiastic and committed relationship with Learning Stories. She is passionate about teaching and learning and has a special love for the arts. She once delivered singing telegrams dressed as a gorilla. Be very afraid!
3. Holistic development | Kotahitanga
Rediscover the Joy of Play
Martin Putt
Step into the moment and rediscover the creative spark that makes teaching joyful—play. In this energising and light-hearted workshop, we’ll explore simple improvisation activities, movement, and laughter to awaken spontaneity, imagination, and presence. Let’s reconnect with play itself and one another—reminding ourselves that connection is at the heart of learning and living. Designed for all bodies, backgrounds, and beliefs, no prior experience is needed—just a willingness to join in…and play. Come as you are and leave refreshed, recharged, and reminded of why play matters—for children, and for you.
About Martin:
Martin Putt is a psychodramatist, trainer, and group facilitator who brings a rich background in improvisational theatre and embodied learning to his work. He trained in physical theatre with John Bolton in Melbourne, has performed and conducted with Playback Theatre, and is a trainer with the Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand Psychodrama Association (AANZPA). Martin’s workshops are playful, inclusive, and grounded in the here-and-now, inviting connection, spontaneity, and creative expression. He is married to well-known New Zealand early childhood dance and drama educator Fairy Clare, with whom he shares a deep commitment to the power of play and imagination in learning and life.
4. Whānau Tangata | Family and Community
Deepening Connections: Embracing Whānau and Community in Practice
Roberta Skeoch
This workshop will explore how to truly partner with families and communities, recognising their vital role in the learning and development of mokopuna
We’ll dive into practical strategies for:
- Building strong, respectful relationships with diverse families.
- Celebrating and integrating children’s unique cultural, social, and linguistic backgrounds.
- Actively engaging with the wider community to enrich learning experiences.
- Facilitating smooth and supportive transitions for children and their whānau.
Join us to empower children’s holistic development by strengthening the essential learning partnerships between kaiako, families, and communities.
About Roberta:
Roberta Skeoch brings a wealth of experience and a passion for early childhood education. Her journey in early childhood began over 25 years ago, inspired by the complex learning she observed after enrolling her eldest child in Te Kōhanga Reo. This led her to complete a Diploma of ECE at Waiariki Polytech. After graduating, Roberta spent 12 years as a kaiako, specialising in working with older children on project-based learning and inquiries. In 2015, she transitioned to a lecturing role at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, teaching on the Bachelor of Education (ECE). It was here, while completing an Adult Teaching qualification, that she recognised Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum, as a universal “learners curriculum” applicable to all ages, and she continues to let its principles guide her practice through her as Pouako Whakaako with Educational Leadership Project. A devoted parent and nanny to four mokopuna, Roberta is guided by the unconditional love and support exemplified by her own grandfather, Kapiti Hamiora.