Matariki Herenga Waka 2026

What a stunning morning down at the beach today.  Being up and ready at the crack of dawn is no easy feat, however not a problem for our robust kindergarten whanau!  

They understood the mission...meet at the beach at 6am for star gazing experience, cozy winter fire and hot chocolate!

Under the light of the Moon, such a spectacular experience for tamariki and adults alike!  

How often is it, that we take time out of our hustle and bustle lives to just sit and be in awe of nature?  These threads of connection to nature, our families and the people within our community are so important. Today was a day of reconnection and that sense of belonging that just feels so good for the soul!

The official theme for Matariki 2026 is Matariki Herenga Waka - for everyone.

"The phrase "Herenga Waka" translates to the mooring place of many canoes.  It uses the waka as a metaphor to symbolize convergence, inclusivity, and community. The theme emphasizes that Matariki is a time for all people in Aotearoa to come together, 

share their cultural heritage, and celebrate their shared journeys" 

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, 2026.

These are the memories that hold a special place in our hearts. The crispness of a chilly winter morning, the gentle lapping of waves on the shoreline and getting to watch nature in all it's stunning glory as the sun peaks over the maunga!  What a magical moment. 

The changing colours of the dawn, isn't it beautiful, our place!

A group of children gather on the shoreline, watching the waves come closer and closer as the tide comes in, running to avoid wet feet.  Such fun!

The morning is here, the sun is up and now it's time for us to gather at kindergarten for our much anticipated Matariki breakfast. We've good company to enjoy and fabulous food to eat.  The perfect way to round off the perfect morning!

Bacon and eggs, pancakes, corn fritters, cereal, fruit and yoghurt...what's not to love!!

Revisiting our experiences through art...

Tarewa - "The fire.  The flames are getting higher."

Taimania - "Come sit with me, I'm looking at the Matariki stars."

Charlie - "These are the Matariki stars, and this is me standing with the stars."

Gracie - "When I was lying down I saw a star."

Charlie - "These are the Matariki stars."

Aria - "I like the stars.  I like sparkles on them."

Zion - "The clouds are dark and I can see the moon."

As the stars of Matariki rise, may they bring hope, reflection, and new beginnings.

May we remember those who came before us, celebrate the people beside us, and look forward with courage and joy.

May our hearts be filled with gratitude, our hands with generosity, and our community with kindness and belonging.

Mānawatia a Matariki.  

May this new year bring peace, wellbeing, and abundant blessing to us all.

The team at Bream Bay Kindergarten

Kuaka - BBK Birding Tours

 

BBK Birding Tours,

 Powerful learning opportunities for tamariki.

Our Kuaka friends are still down at the beach hanging out and enjoying the last of their New Zealand summer holidays.  

It's a time of rejuvenation, replenishment and relaxation in the summer sun before embarking on their next big journey across oceans.  

Time is running out for us to view these incredible birds; their departure date draws near.  

Slowing down, noticing, and building a relationship with the natural world.

Seeing birds in their natural habitat fosters tamariki respect, care and a sense of guardianship for whenua and wildlife.  

Experiential learning at it's best...feeding in language!

Our birding tours provide opportunities for tamariki to engage all their senses, in turn, creating new vocabulary to describe what we are seeing, hearing, 

doing and feeling.  

The language of the Kuaka - 

feathers, pattern, beautiful, bill, crabs, feet, paddle, strut, wade, wings, flutter, fly, motion, migration, flock, formation, distance, resilience, estuary, river, tide, beach, surf, dunes, weather, habitat, conservation, kaitiakitanga, look, view, observe, notice, binoculars, telescope, focus, zoom, close-up, far away.  

Tamariki describe their Kuaka experiences, testing new words on their lips, sharing these discoveries with their friends, learning, growing.

Opportunities to watch birds encourages careful looking, listening, and wondering.

Learning how to use the binoculars an experience all on it's own.  It's hard to manage, but we can learn hard things!  We're on our way to becoming birding experts!

 Looking up, down and all around...where are those pesky birds!

 

Excitement growing, off in the distance we see our feathered friends!

Through birding, tamariki practice many skills...waiting quietly, managing their excitement, controlling their movement and voice, all whilst having opportunities to develop sustained attention.

That these special birds come to our little place in the world is pure magic for our tamariki, whanau and teachers.  And as we get to know these birds, our hearts grow in love and appreciation for them.  We begin to understand the connection we have to them and the significance of looking after local spaces that nurture and support them while they are here with us.  What a treasure we experience each year as they return to us, right at our door step.  Truly a special experience.

  

                

We're excited for more Kuaka adventures...watch this space!

Margaret May Blackwell Travel Fellowship

The Flyway of the Kuaka: A journey of connection, inquiry and storytelling across oceans

I’m excited to share some special news with you all — I have been awarded the Margaret May Blackwell Travel Fellowship, a national recognition given each year to an early childhood teacher undertaking research and travel to enrich teaching and learning in Aotearoa.

I applied for this fellowship in hopes of growing and strengthening my skills as a teacher and developing opportunities to expand the world of children through conservation initiatives, exploration and discovery. My intention is to facilitate a place-based inquiry project that connects tamariki to their whenua and the wider world. An inquiry that weaves together mātauranga Māori, conservation science, whilst strengthening children’s identity as kaitiaki and global citizens. I am so excited that I get to turn dreams into reality and do this project alongside our Bream Bay kindergarten children. It’s going to be epic!

Here is what I’ll be doing throughout 2026…

Expedition:  Flyway of the Kuaka

Travel to South Korea and Alaska.

I will travel along the flyway of the Kuaka, stopping at South Korea and Alaska to view/study the Kuaka and to contact with Early Childhood Centres in these areas. My aim is to develop authentic and meaningful connections so that we can set up exchange of information between children and teachers, focusing on research of the Kuaka whilst they visit each country.

Inspiration from the kuaka (godwit) — This incredible bird travels thousands of kilometres from the shores of Alaska to Aotearoa, completing an epic 9-12 days of non-stop flight. Record breaking, the Kūaka holds the world title for the longest flight. For a few precious months they gather here in Ruakaka, resting, feeding and preparing for the next stage in their journey. Nature calls, and by early April our Kūaka friends have left our shores for the breeding grounds of Alaska, stopping along the way in places such as South Korea and Japan. What an amazing opportunity to study these birds and experience in some small way, their flyway expedition.

Expedition into conservation

Travel to Cape York Australia

This aspect of my journey focuses on learning the skills and strategies necessary to nurture conservation learning with children. This is an excursion into the wild Northern Territory of Australia, to work alongside other teachers in professional development. This is hands on conservation work with turtles and is led by indigenous knowledge holders of the area. Such an exciting opportunity to learn and grow as a teacher!

Expedition into practice

Travel to Reggio Emilia in Italy

It has long been a dream of mine to attend professional learning at the birthplace of the world-renowned Reggio approach to teaching and learning.

The Reggio-inspired approach to teaching and learning is a philosophy that views children as capable, curious and full of potential. Learning is seen as a process of exploration and discovery, driven by the child’s interests and questions. Teachers act as co-learners and researchers – listening, observing, and guiding. The environment is considered the “third teacher”, designed to inspire inquiry and collaboration. Documentation of learning makes children’s thinking visible and supports reflection. Relationships, community, and respect for children’s voices are at the heart of this approach.

This aspect of my scholarship focuses on attending an international study tour in Italy, where I’ll be engaged in professional learning alongside other teachers from around the world.

Expedition into practice

Travel to Croatia

And lastly, a quick trip from Italy to Croatia, sees me attending further professional learning on conducting Project work with children which  will help me bring everything together.

Flyway of the Kuaka – An Exhibition of learning

Throughout this entire process, I will be documenting children’s learning, as well as my own along the way. I look forward to sharing this learning with our community — through stories, reflections, and in ways we can together strengthen our children’s pathways of discovery.

This bird is known for its long journey and guided by intuition, endurance, and connection. In the same way, this fellowship will support me to explore how we, as teachers, whānau and community, can nurture children’s sense of belonging, curiosity, and connection to people and place.

I hope you are as excited as I am!

Ngà mihi nui

Tania

Wild, rugged, beautiful!

Our local area is a wonderland waiting to be explored.  

Wild, rugged, beautiful! 

A tapestry of new adventures just waiting to be experienced within the rich landscapes of native bush, limestone caves, and flowing streams.  

Today was a special day and we were excited!  

Today was the day we'd get to venture beyond the kindergarten gates, 

beyond our regular Base Camp excursion.  

Today we were going caving!  

  

Under the quiet presence of glow-worm twinkle, a sense of awe and curiosity abound in the hearts and minds of tamariki out adventuring on their first 

caving experience.

"The glow worms were very cool.  I wanted to touch them but there is special stuff on the cave and I heard them say 'Don't touch'.  It was very beautiful" said Scout.

"The glow worms were dropping water on my head.  They were bright up on the roof" 

said Sofia.

"I was feeling a little bit scared.  I stayed near the group so I didn't get lost in the dark cave" said Scout.

"It was dark, I not scared" said Bowie.

Today we were explorers, risk takers, and adventurers! 

Jungle Story

Just off the track leading to the caves held an adventure all on it's own, with tree roots gripping the earth, rocks to scramble over, around and through, birds calling overhead and sunlight gently filtering through the tree top canopy.   

These spaces promised excitement and challenge, and we'd need to be 

bold and daring explorers.

        

 

             

Today was epic!

A big thank you the the team out at Waipu Caves Farm Park.  The opportunity to experience nature in a relaxed, playful and unhurried way was so good and we can't wait to visit again!