Hobsonville North Kindergarten Here To Stay

Press Release
17 February 2009

Hobsonville North Kindergarten Here To Stay

Hobsonville North Kindergarten will remain a leader in education for the local community after preparing for an absent outlook.

Established in 1985, Hobsonville North Kindergarten, a member of the Auckland Kindergarten Association (AKA), has been providing quality early childhood education for over 20 years.

Over the last year Hobsonville North Kindergarten has faced the possibility of relocation and even closure following the plans by the Hobsonville Land Company (HLC) to redevelop the airbase where it is situated. The site as AKA understand, is still to be developed into a residential area and commercial hub including 3000 homes, schools, public transport and new job opportunities. The project plan included a provision for new pre-school education facilities within the Hobsonville site; however there was no guarantee that the kindergarten would be this provider.

There have been numerous meetings with the developers, the Ministry of Education, public meetings and several months of uncertainty as to the future of the kindergarten. Now that the HLC project has been re-evaluated, the kindergarten has been advised it can remain in its current location until at least the end of 2011. AKA Assistant General Manager Peter Pablecheque said the AKA is now hoping the extension of the licence to occupy will allow a move to the new school site, as the new school construction and the kindergarten move are now happening in similar timeframes.

“We are relieved about having a future, and ecstatic about continuing to maintain our historical relationships and links with the local community“ said Janice Stead, Head Teacher of Hobsonville North Kindergarten.

The Auckland Kindergarten Association is New Zealand’s largest kindergarten association, and also the largest education provider outside the tertiary sector. There are over 9,000 young children attending 107 public kindergartens throughout Auckland every week, up to 14,000 in a year.

ENDS

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