Marking the legacy of Kindergarten in Auckland

Marking the legacy of Kindergarten in Auckland

To celebrate its long history of providing local children with quality early childhood education, the Auckland Kindergarten Association (AKA) has published a free e-book.

“For the Children – a History of the Auckland Kindergarten Association 1908 – 2016”, written by Tania Mace, chronicles AKA’s growth over the last two centuries and how it’s responded to the changing needs of the community.

Tanya Harvey, AKA’s CEO says the book will help with recordkeeping. She says it’s also a great way to inform families about the association’s services as the rest of early childhood education sector, local and national government and student teachers.

The book details the AKA’s proud history and growth, from the opening of its first kindergarten in Freeman’s Bay in 1908.

“We started from small beginnings and then had a long period of rapid growth, averaging one kindergarten per year until the early 21st Century,” Tanya says.

“We now provide early childhood education to around 10,000 children each year. As a charitable trust, the AKA operates 107 kindergartens, five KiNZ early learning centres and five playgroups throughout Auckland, making us the largest Kindergarten Association in the country,” she says.

Tanya says the AKA has adapted to changing times and altered circumstances throughout its history, including changes to funding and the advent of the kindergarten day model.

“We wanted to be able to give parents more flexibility with their childcare options. With more caregivers going back into the workforce, we needed to respond to this community need.”

The book also includes an overview of each of the AKA’s kindergartens, including site changes and alterations to buildings and outdoor areas.

The second half of this book, which covers the history of the AKA kindergartens, KiNZ centres and playgroups, builds on Brian Marshall’s 1983 publication “A History of the Auckland Kindergarten Association”. Information was also sourced from library archives and Education Review Office reports.

“For the Children – a History of the Auckland Kindergarten Association 1908 – 2016”, is available for reading or downloading here.

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