Extra

Why not join the Friends of Aratoi?

Sue Harraway moved to Greytown the day before the first covid lockdown in March 2020. She feels that joining the Friends of Aratoi very much contributed to her integration into the Wairarapa community.

“When I arrived here, my friend took me to Masterton to show me around. We went to ConArt and when we left, she said I had to see Aratoi as well. I did know of Aratoi, as in my former job with the New Zealand Tourism Department I had Wairarapa as one of the areas I promoted to international visitors in my role as a regional liaison officer. My friend

Aratoi’s Little Jewels opening 2020. PHOTO/SUPPLIED was a member of the Friends and after we had looked around the galleries, she said I really had to join up and there and then she steered me to the desk and I joined up.”

Sue says she has never regretted the decision. “One thing I realised when I was with the Tourism Department was the essential place museums and galleries such as Aratoi have in small towns that service rural areas. They provide a space where art and local history are readily accessible to everyone. I have always been interested in art and I like to have art works in my house so it made sense in many ways that I would support Aratoi by becoming a member.”

Since then Sue has taken advantage of the privileges available to her as a Friend. “I have been on an Art and Architecture Tour and a bus tour to Wellington. These are discounted to Friends who get prior booking rights and as they are so popular, I am glad of my membership. I also really enjoy exhibition openings which are catered for by the Friends committee.”

There are many Friends’ activities planned for the coming months. The next Art and Architecture tour is in September, a visit to the Greek Orthodox Church one of six places of interest to be visited. The bus trip will be in October with at least one embassy on the visiting list. Palate to Palette, featuring wine tasting from Urlar and an art auction, will be another fundraising event and Little Jewels, with all works for purchase, is in November.

Individual membership of the Friends of Aratoi is $40 a year. Members can participate in events such as Sue has described, and also are eligible for members’ occasional discounts at the Aratoi retail shop.

The next financial year for the Friends begins in July but if anyone joins now, they will automatically get membership for the coming year.

Just go online (www.aratoi.org.nz) or inquire at the Aratoi front desk.

Meet community of positive parents

Art projects, dress ups, a bouncy castle, some outdoor exploration, and “a great community of positive parents” – Westside Playcentre’s Open Week event has plenty on offer for Wairarapa families.

Playcentre Open Week, held each year throughout the country, allows Playcentres to introduce the community to their spaces, resources, and kaupapa of parent-led early childhood education.

In Masterton, this year’s Open Week kicked off on Monday with a weeklong event, supported by Masterton District Council’s community events fund, at Westside Playcentre on Renall Street.

At the event, families are invited to try out the “range of free resources” available at the Playcentre, such as art stations, dress-up boxes, gardening activities, communal kitchen, bike tracks, and swings.

A morning tea will be provided each day — and kids with extra energy to burn can try out the bouncy castle and face painting corner.

Playcentre, a familycentred early-learning service unique to New Zealand, is based on the philosophy of whānau tupu ngā tahi — families growing together.”

Playcentre provides an unstructured learning environment, where children can learn by playing alongside their peers and parents.

By providing resources and materials, Playcentre allows parents to learn alongside their children as they explore and interact with their surroundings.

Westside Playcentre parent and spokeswoman Lucy Griffiths said the centre has “grown considerably” over the past two years – and has added another weekly session to its schedule.

“We are now open from Monday to Thursday – and, at this stage, we are the only Playcentre in Aotearoa to be increasing our opening days in 2022,” she said.

“Playcentre is more

At Westside Playcentre, children and parents can learn together – and through fun activities, like dress-ups. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

than an early childhood centre. It’s a place to make great friends, study towards early childhood qualifications, learn leadership skills, develop strong community networks, and enjoy supporting our children play and develop.”

This year, Playcentre has partnered with the national parenting education programme SPACE (Supporting Parents Alongside Children’s Education), which is now running a support group out of Westside Playcentre.

SPACE’s 30-week programmes, aimed mostly at first-time parents, are designed to support whanau through the first year of their child’s growth and development.

Westside’s SPACE programme is at capacity with 16 mothers and pepe (babies) attending.

There are about 400 Playcentres nationwide, all co-operatively governed by volunteer parents and grandparents, including centres in Carterton and Martinborough.

Open Week at Westside Playcentre has two more sessions: today and tomorrow (May 26) from 9am to noon, at 165 Renall St, Masterton. The centre is open from Monday to Thursday, 9am to noon – all families are welcome.

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