Kindergarten Associations Join To Form Largest Community Based ECE Provider

The parents and whānau of Kindergarten Taranaki have voted to join Whānau Manaaki Kindergarten Association in a historic decision that will see Whānau Manaaki become the largest not-for profit, community-based early childhood provider in the country.

Kindergarten Taranaki operates 24 kindergartens in the wider Taranaki area, with some 1,200 children attending. At a Special General Meeting held on Wednesday 22 October, the parent and whānau members of the association voted to join Whānau Manaaki.

Kindergarten Taranaki General Manager Dawn Osman says “Our governing board, elected by the members, undertook a comprehensive twelve month due diligence process that revealed how joining Whānau Manaaki would help build on the high quality early childhood education already provided by Kindergarten Taranaki. We believe that through our shared values and the comprehensive support provided by Whānau Manaaki, kindergarten in Taranaki will go from strength to strength”.

Whānau Manaaki Kindergarten Association currently operates 111 kindergartens and a homebased learning service, with the kindergartens situated in the lower North island and in South and West Otago. “We are really honoured and excited to have Kindergarten Taranaki join us”, says Whānau Manaaki Board Chair, Martin Robinson, “Early Childhood Education is a public good and community based services such as kindergartens put people ahead of profit, ensuring that resources go into providing high quality early childhood education for tamariki. We believe we’re better together and that with a larger organisation, more tamariki will have access to kindergarten as a result. Research tells us that high quality early childhood education is pivotal in giving children a great start on their learning journey, and we are determined to ensure that happens”.

Kindergarten Taranaki will formally join Whānau Manaaki on 2 March 2026.

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