About Us

We are a learning community that includes four kura and eleven ECEs, located in and around the central city of Christchurch. 

One of our kura has returned to a central city location after being relocated to the suburbs following the Christchurchearthquakes. Another is recently established, choosing to be located close to the central city.

What makes our Kāhui Ako unique is the number of kura and ECEs that are could be described as non-traditional. Three of four kura have designated special character status. One is a reo Māori kura, another offers a full range of English language classes for new immigrant and refugee ākonga, while another offers an alternative pedagogical approach.  One primary kura is located in the heart of an inner city transient residential area. 

Transitional pathways into and out of these kura and ECEs are unconventional. Ākonga transition into our education environments from throughout the city and beyond, and out into equally diverse education settings.

Three of the twelve early childhood services are new to the city, having recently been established as part of the refurbishment of the central city.  A number of our ECEs have special relationships with primary, secondary or tertiary providers as they are located on the sites of these institutions. Two of these ECEs are bilingual Māori immersion early childhood services. The remaining four ECEs are scattered across the city centre.

Our kura and ECEs do not have traditional geographical communities, but rather whānau communities who choose to come to our services for adult education, whānau work or study, low cost rental reasons or to access a pedagogical approach to teaching that differs from mainstream. 

Enrolments in kura and ECE occur throughout the year at all year levels, for various timeframes, and often for defined purposes. This results in a transient population base.

The collective diversity of our communities is the strength of our Kāhui Ako.