Mayfield Kindergarten’s Mara Kai
Tānemahuta, Rongomatāne and Tangaroa greet you at the entrance to Mayfield Kindergarten. These Pou represent the Kindergarten’s connection to their environment. The characteristics of these Atua underpin the learning priorities for the tamariki that attend. Kaiako and tamariki tiaki (care for) these atua and their wide spread environment, made up of the native gardens, mara kai, a rocky awa and open spaces.
Mara kai has been the focus over the last 6 months for kaiako, tamariki and Joy, their gardener. Joy spends 3 hours a week at Mayfield Kindergarten. During this time she empowers the tamariki to be hands on and involved in the garden. Together they sow seeds, plant seedlings, pull out weeds, water the plants and harvest produce. The excitement of having Joy’s support in the gardens is evident as soon as she walks in the gate, immediately there is a group of tamariki huddled around her waiting eagerly to know what they will do each session.
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- Giving the garden a well needed drink
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- Tamariki helping to weed the garden
In the garden there is a diverse range of plants from tomatoes, cucumbers, popping corn, kumara, a banana palm (with bananas on it), taro, guava, apples, plums, coffee bean tree and much more.
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- Fruit trees ladened with apples and plums
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- Banana palm… can you spot the bananas?
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- Popping corn
The kaiako recognise the importance of their mara kai as a way to build on experiences and connections with home. It is an opportunity to empower tamariki to share their knowledge and expertise. They are able to represent and learn about culture through growing, harvesting and cooking diverse kai. They can also provide support for their community by sharing excess produce. These opportunities to connect with the whenua also nurture their wellbeing as they ground themselves with papatūānuku.
The experiences that tamariki gain from engaging in the mara kai encompass the Kindergarten learning priority that kaiako have connected with Rongomatāne. “Tamariki will develop respect for the needs and wellbeing of themselves and others. Their relationship with taiao/environment is based on whakapapa, respect and aroha. Tamariki will grow in their unique identity and mana”.