About OKA

Oamaru Kindergarten Association is the umbrella organisation for five individual kindergartens in the Oamaru area.

We belong to a national organisation New Zealand Kindergartens (www.nzkindergarten.org.nz) with whom we network and share national expertise.

To inspire nga tamariki to grow as confident and competent learners

Growing Young Learners

Strengthen Kindergarten

Dynamic Organisation

A focus on quality ensures tamariki remain at the heart of all decisions

A focus on engagement within our communities

A focus on quality ensures tamariki remain at the heart of all decisions

Our Values

Success for every learner

Support every child, their whānau and our community

Accessible to all families without bias

Nurture leadership across the OKA community

Our Structure

Oamaru Kindergarten Association is governed by a Board who collectively work together with the five kindergartens and their communities to deliver an educational service that they are proud of. The Board oversees the strategic direction and purpose of the association with teaching and learning as the core business, with the ultimate outcome for children.

The Oamaru Kindergarten Association has a constitution which defines how it operates and is the employing body of all the staff. The Board is made up of six (6) elected members from Kindergarten parents and interested people and one (1) Board Member – Teaching and Learning who is elected from the teaching staff of the Association. The Board meets once a month and minutes from these meetings are displayed at each kindergarten.

The Association employs a General Manager who is delegated responsibility for the day to day management of the Association. An Education Services Manager is contracted from another Association and the their role is to support the resourcing and professional learning of the teaching staff.

Each kindergarten has a head teacher and teachers (this can vary from 3-4 depending on group size and the license the kindergarten operates under) whose responsibility is to ensure that they deliver teaching and learning that reflect the principles and strands of the curriculum document – Te Whāriki and is responsive to the community they are a part of.

Each kindergarten has a small parent fundraising team that meets a minimum of twice a year who undertake fundraising when necessary to provide funding for special projects or purchases at their kindergarten. We see this as an opportunity to encourage the partnership with parents that are needed for a successful kindergarten.

Interested in joining our governing board?
Find out how you can join.