Mātauranga Ake

Mātauranga Ake is the Central Kids social support team. The team supports whānau with tamariki enrolled in Central Kids early education services, to ensure every tamaiti gets the best start in life. 

All tamariki are a taonga, and we believe every tamaiti deserves to live in a world where they are safe, loved and nurtured by whānau and supported by our communities.

How we help

When supporting whānau we start with whakawhanaungatanga, getting to know them, their goals and the challenges they’re facing.

We believe in tino rangatiratanga, everyone has the right to self determination. That means we’ll listen with respect and kindness, and whānau will decide whether our support could make a difference for them.

Our friendly and supportive team can make connections to help with things like:

• permanent housing
• debt management
• WINZ entitlements
• advocacy with other agencies
• social or psychological support
• disability, dental and healthcare support.

We believe all tamariki should experience the benefits of early childhood education, so we’ll also work with whānau to help solve any problems that are keeping tamariki away from ECE.

Our support is mana enhancing and whānau led. We awhi whānau by building respectful relationships and creating a safe environment to help people navigate their circumstances and achieve sustainable, positive outcomes for future generations. 

Start the journey today

Mātauranga Ake offers social support services across three major regions, Rotorua, South Waikato and the wider Waikato region spanning from Thames, Ngāruawāhia, Kirikiriroa Hamilton and Te Awamutu.

If your whānau would benefit from some extra support to help you achieve your goals, please get in touch for a kōrero.

If you have tamariki enrolled with a Central Kids early education service, you can talk to your kaiwhakaako about making a referral for you, or contact us by phone or email.