Hua Whenua Soup: A Bowl Full of Aroha for Matariki at Mason Avenue Kindergarten
Rachel Chapman – Teacher, Mason Avenue Kindergarten
At Mason Avenue Kindergarten, Matariki is a really special time of year. It’s when we slow down, reflect, connect with each other, and celebrate the Māori New Year. As part of this, we’ve been exploring the whetū iwa o Matariki, the nine stars, and the beautiful meanings behind each one.
One of our favourite ways to bring these ideas to life is by making hua whenua (vegetable) soup together. There’s no set recipe, no strict rules, just a pot full of colourful vegetables and a whole lot of aroha (love). Each whānau and kaiako (teacher) brings in a piece of vegetable from home, and together we create something simple but special.
This shared soup links directly to Tupuānuku, the star connected to kai that grows in the ground. But it’s more than just a cooking activity, it’s about whanaungatanga. It’s about everyone contributing a little and creating something meaningful together. Tamariki feel a sense of pride when they see their vegetable go into the pot. They help chop, stir, and most importantly, they share a meal made by their whole community.
We’ve found that this experience opens up rich learning opportunities. The tamariki talk about where vegetables come from, how they grow, and how food connects us to Papatūānuku (Mother Earth). They also learn about kindness, teamwork, and gratitude all through the simple act of making vegetable soup.
Learning about the nine Matariki stars presents numerous opportunities to connect with culture, nature, and one another. Whether it’s making wishes with Hiwa-i-te-rangi, learning about water with Waitī and Waitā, or preparing and sharing kai with Tupuānuku, each star offers something meaningful for our tamariki to explore.
If you’d like to try making Hua Whenua / Vegetable Soup, we’ve included our recipe for four servings below. Mason Avenue Kindergarten has forty children and five kaiako, so our batch is much bigger! Mānawatia a Matariki!
Hua Whenua (Vegetable) Soup: A Bowl Full of Aroha for Matariki
A recipe from Mason Avenue Kindergarten
The recipe below is for four servings. When we make our soup, we adjust the amounts of stock and seasoning accordingly to balance with the number of vegetables.
Please do not leave young children unattended while preparing or eating food.
Ingredients
- Approximately 1kg of peeled and chopped vegetables. Almost any combination or type of vegetable can be used in this soup, such as potatoes, celery, carrots, parsnip, kumara, pumpkin, cauliflower, cabbage, turnips, tomatoes, spinach, and squash.
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- Approximately 1.5 – 2 litres of vegetable stock – enough to cover all the vegetables when they are in the pot.
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1. Wash, peel, and chop vegetables. Children love being involved in this stage, but make sure to use age-appropriate utensils and do this under close adult supervision.
2. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat, then add any aromatics, such as garlic, ginger, and onion. Cook until softened (approximately 5 minutes).
3. Add the chopped vegetables and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
4. Add any herbs and vegetable stock. Add enough liquid to cover the vegetables by about one centimetre.
5. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover the pot and cook for approximately 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender.
6. Blend. Remove the stalks from herbs or any bay leaves you have used. Then blend to a smooth consistency, using either an immersion blender in the pot, or wait for the soup to cool a little and blend in batches in a traditional blender.
7. Serve. Season with salt and pepper. Best served as shared kai with fresh bread! So delicious and warming on a cold winter’s day!
Redoubt North Kindergarten wins 3rd Place in the Pest Free South Auckland Moth Plant Competition 2025!
Redoubt North Kindergarten recently participated in the Pest-free South Auckland Moth Plant Competition 2025, held by Pest Free South Auckland and the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board. We’re thrilled to share that after collecting an impressive 2,573 pods, Redoubt North Kindergarten secured third place in the ECE category!
A big THANK YOU to all of the Redoubt North whānau who supported the kindergarten in this competition. It shows what can be achieved when an entire community gets behind a project. As an Enviroschool, working collaboratively to collect these pods and destroy the vines was a great learning journey for the tamariki. It also helped raise awareness in our community about how we can protect our native plants from this invasive vine.
We’re proud to share photos of the team receiving their third-place certificate and the accompanying $150 prize from Sharlene McClay (Pest Free South Auckland). Redoubt North Kindergarten look forward to putting this towards their Enviro sustainable practices.
Ka mau te wehi Redoubt North Kindergarten! Congratulations to everyone at Redoubt North Kindergarten and all the other winners. Thank you for helping to make Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland pest-free!
Want to be involved next year? Keep an eye on the Pest Free South Auckland Facebook page for future updates.
Celebrating 65 years of aroha, learning, and fun at Waiuku Kindergarten!
The team at Waiuku Kindergarten
On Wednesday 28 May, Waiuku Kindergarten celebrated our 65th anniversary!
The day began with a special morning snow delivery into the playground for the children. The snow was a hit, and children revisited it throughout the day and the following day, too.
In the afternoon, Whaea from View Road School led kararanga for our visitors into the kindergarten. Raewyn van Lingen, previously a Head Teacher at Waiuku Kindergarten, and now part of our CMKA Senior Leadership Team, gave a short speech. Afterwards, we sang waiata and then it was time for cake!
We were delighted to have so many who had been pupils, teachers, or parents at our kindergarten in the past join us for the celebration and share their memories of the kindergarten, looking through photo albums and rekindling connections. It was wonderful to have a family with four generations of involvement at our kindergarten at the anniversary celebrations, and it was only fitting that their great-grandmother should cut the cake.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the celebrations and made it such a special occasion. We are proud to have served our wonderful Waiuku community for 65 years and look forward to another 65 years and beyond!
Sharing in our success: New and improved pay scale for permanent CMKA Support Staff!
We’re excited to share some positive news!
One of Counties Manukau Kindergarten Association’s strategic goals is to sustain quality early childhood education in Counties Manukau for present and future generations. Over the past few years, we have collectively worked together to increase occupancy in our kindergartens and early learning centres, which, in turn, has increased the funding we receive from the Ministry of Education.
Because of this incredible effort, we can make significant investments back into our services by improving resources, updating our buildings and learning environments, and looking after our people.
Following this overall improvement in our financial results, the CMKA management team has recommended, and the CMKA Board of Management has unanimously approved, the introduction of a new and improved pay scale for all permanent support staff across CMKA. This is a significant step forward in recognising the incredible work these valuable team members do each day.
Our support staff work in a range of roles, including ECE Administrators, Teaching Assistants, Teacher Aides, Cooks, Learning Support Assistants, Van Service Drivers, Van Service Assistants, and Unqualified Teachers.
While the Kindergarten Associations Support Staff Collective Agreement (KASSCA) and corresponding Individual Employment Agreements have provided a strong foundation, we know they don’t fully reflect the true value and impact of our Support Staff’s mahi. After considerable discussion and review, we have decided to improve on these published rates.
We are pleased to say that on Monday, 2 June 2025, this new pay scale came into effect for all permanent CMKA Support Staff. The first-year base rate for permanent roles has increased, with further steps provided in individualised pay scales for different job roles. We are also introducing a long-service recognition for the amazing support staff who have worked for us for 10 years or longer.
This new pay scale reflects our deep appreciation for the vital role that our Support Staff play — with our tamariki, within our teams, and throughout the wider CMKA whānau and community.
