Exciting News from CMKA
Exciting Announcement from Counties Manukau Kindergarten Association (CMKA)
Whiria te tāngata
Weave the people together
At CMKA, the well-being of our people is very important and a huge part of this is to treat all our employees equitably. As you may be aware, the Early Childhood sector in New Zealand has been struggling with the issue of pay parity and equity between those who work under the Kindergarten Teachers Collective Agreement (KTCA), the Kindergarten Associations Support Staff Collective Agreement (KASSCA) and those who work under other employment agreements.
We recently reviewed how Counties Manukau Kindergarten Association (CMKA) and its subsidiary Early Learning Counties Manukau (ELCM) operate alongside each other. Part of this review proposed the transfer of employees at our ELCM early learning centres to their equivalent employment agreement with CMKA, addressing the widening gap in pay parity by ensuring better pay and conditions for our valued ELCM kaiako (teachers) and support staff. We received overwhelmingly positive feedback from our ELCM employees during the consultation period for this proposal.
In light of our findings, we are pleased to announce our Board of Management voted in favour of an amalgamation of CMKA and ELCM, effective Monday 1st July 2024. An amalgamation means that ownership of all ELCM early learning centres and assets has transferred to CMKA and all ELCM employees have moved to new contracts as CMKA employees.
Now that the amalgamation has taken place, ELCM will be disestablished as an entity. This process may occur over several months.
This amalgamation will not disrupt our services and I can confirm that:
- All CMKA Kindergartens will continue to operate as normal. There will be no changes for our kindergarten tamariki or their families in relation to the amalgamation.
- The day-to-day operations of our early learning centres will not be changed or affected by amalgamation.
- The service that we provide our early learning centre tamariki and whānau will remain unchanged by the amalgamation.
- All our early learning centre teaching and support staff have retained their current positions and now receive the same pay and conditions as their kindergarten colleagues.
We are excited to have our early learning centres join our kindergartens as CMKA services and they will now be known as:
- Alfriston Early Learning
- Pacific Early Learning
- Park Estate Early Learning
- Settlement Road Early Learning
- Takaanini Early Learning
- Wattle Cove Early Learning
ELCM branding on signage, our website, social media, uniforms, badges etc. will be phased out over time and replaced with CMKA branding.
I welcome our ELCM employees, tamariki, and their families to our CMKA whānau and I look forward to the journey ahead.
Nāku noa, nā,
Adam Berry
Chief Executive Officer
Early Learning Counties Manukau Ltd. and Counties Manukau Kindergarten Association
Tuakau Kindergarten 35th birthday
Happy birthday to Tuakau Kindergarten who recently celebrated 35 years as part of their close-knit Tuakau community (opened on 27 May 1989).
As part of the celebration, they incorporated the replanting of their riverbed and invited whānau to come along to plant a tree/shrub with their tamariki. The native trees were donated to us as part of the One Billion Trees project.
Whānau, tamariki, and kaiako enjoyed cake while reminiscing and looking through the photo albums of Tuakau Kindergarten throughout the years. Happy Birthday Tuakau Kindergarten!!
Roscommon Kindergarten 45th birthday
Roscommon Kindergarten celebrated their 45th birthday by hosting a morning tea for children, parents, and whānau past and present. Popcorn the Clown came and entertained with his amazing magic tricks leaving our children and families astonished and highly amused!
We are so grateful for our families and whānau who have supported Roscommon Kindergarten since we opened our doors in 1979. We look forward to being part of our vibrant Manurewa community and welcoming past and new families for many years to come!
Papakura West Kindergarten 50th birthday
Brenda (Head Teacher) and the team at Papakura West Kindergarten put on a fantastic community event to celebrate their 50th Anniversary.
Opened on 6th April 1974, the kindergarten opened their doors to community members of all ages – including past and present students and kaiako. The festivities included the unveiling of their new pou that was carved by Kate Witten from Tree Candy – Timber and Glass Artistry and now sits proudly in the kindergarten’s outdoor playground for everyone to enjoy. It was so much fun and a really special morning!
