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The first co-designed community kindergarten between the Tongan Community and Ngā Tamariki Puāwai o Tāmaki-Auckland Kindergarten Association was officially opened last weekend.
Known as the Fonua ‘Alaha Manongi Kindergarten, it shows the importance of two cultures coming together says Pauline Winter, CEO for Ngā Tamariki Puāwai o Tāmaki-Auckland Kindergarten Association.
“It’s historic for the Auckland Kindergarten Association. We’ve been going for 115 years; this is the first Pacific language-based kindergarten that the association has had. So, it’s very special,” Winter says.
“It’s been a two-year journey. So, for us, it’s about learning, it’s about being community leaders. I know lots of people talk about community lead, but this is really truly being community lead; we’ve listened and so we haven’t rushed anything.”
Reverend Taniela Vaka from the Tongan Community Church of Hephzibah was behind the partnership from the beginning, he’s grateful his community persevered with the project.
Speaking in Tongan, he says it’s important to lay a foundation for the spiritual and secular education of their children.
Teacher Luahine Laungaue Tupouniua has taught in Tonga and New Zealand for many years, she understands the need for New Zealand-born Tongans to embrace their language when they are young, “even though they were born here.”
The kindergarten is designed to reflect and celebrate the identity, language and culture of the youngsters who are enrolled. From the Tongan alphabet on the walls, cards on desks and encouraging playdough creations and designed to embrace the Tongan culture.
This is one of the many reasons why Mele Toakase Tongotongo, a proud mother of nine, has enrolled her youngest child into the kindergarten.
“I feel that’s really important that we encourage to teach our young generation like the Tongan way, the Tongan customs of ‘fakaapapa” (respect). I believe if we teach them young, no matter what they do in life, they will never depart from it.”
