A decades old oak tree makes way for growing young minds

by Janine Jackson

Estimated around 30 years old, the oak tree at the back of Raglan Kindergarten was felled recently to make way for a new development that will nearly double the size of the building.

Students, kaiako, whaanau and friends gathered to farewell the tree with a karakia led by Whaea Ruhi (who has been connected to Raglan Kindergarten for many years) in an early morning ceremony.

Kindergarten head teacher Isabel Crawforth says many of the children hugged the tree and whispered fond goodbyes.

“It was a nice way for our tamariki to honour and pay their respects to the tree.”

The new development has been in the pipeline for around 15 years and will take place over two phases.

The new extension will be built first, and then the kitchen and office area, which will now be in the middle of the building, will be rebuilt and reconfigured.

The expansion will also mean a larger outside area for the children to play.

“We have been waiting for this development for many years and now the time is right. The extension will enable us to continue to support learning for tamariki and make connections with our community, which we have been doing for over 40 years,” Isabel says.