About Gumboots

Maraekakaho Early Childhood Centre, commonly known as Gumboots, was opened in October 2002. Gumboots is a non-profit incorporated charitable trust, managed by a team of valued staff and committed volunteers. The teachers, committee and trustees are dedicated to providing affordable, quality care and education for preschool children, while maintaining the unique and special nature that our rural setting brings.

Tangata ako ana i te Kāenga te tūranga ki te marae, tau ana.
A person nurtured in the community contributes strongly to society.

Working together to nurture our children as active, imaginative, independent learners in body, mind and spirit.

Gumboots is a unique rural centre based on a core foundation of whanaungatanga (relationships) which places our learners and families at the core of what we do. We believe that partnership and collaboration with our families and community, together with high quality teaching and leadership, supports the achievement of best possible learning outcomes for all tamariki (children). We believe that through aroha (love), nurturing and respect we can foster children’s curiosity, creativity, individuality and empowerment so they can develop into confident and competent learners. We do this by supporting children's interests and dispositions through play led learning, intentional and spontaneous teaching. We value an inclusive environment with no barriers to access, where children’s holistic well-being is paramount, tuakana/teina (older children mentoring younger children) teaching and learning is celebrated and an appreciation for Papatūānuku (Mother Earth) and the natural environment is promoted. Our centre is committed on its journey to strive towards biculturalism through adopting the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi / Treaty of Waitangi.

As part of our commitment to keeping children at Gumboots safe at all times we have a number of policies and procedures including a robust child protection policy and safety checking process which we regularly review. If you wish to see any of these please contact the supervisor on supervisor@gumboots.org.nz.

If you would like to have a read of our ero report you can find it here.

Please find details of our fees here.