Waiheke Island Playcentre

16/08/2026

Due to illness, our centre will be closed today (Monday).

Don't worry, there's still plenty of time to join us for Open Week! We'd love for you and your tamariki to visit on another day this week, explore our play spaces, and see what Playcentre is all about.

Can't make it this week? You can book a visit for next Monday here:

Discover a world of fun and learning at our Playcentre, where children engage in creative play, develop social skills, and make lasting friendships

20/07/2026

We’re now open every weekday morning, so you can come on the day that suits you… or join us all five mornings if you’d like!

Whether you’re looking for somewhere your tamariki can play, a chance to chat with other parents, or simply a change of scenery, we’re here.

Click the link to arrange your first visit: https://www.playcentre.org.nz/centre/waiheke-island/

19/07/2026

✨ What a magical morning! ✨

A huge thank you to Aro & Artworks Community Theatre for an incredible Interactive Tamariki Show! 🎶💚

Our Playcentre whānau had such a wonderful time singing, dancing, laughing and joining in with the performance. It was so special to see tamariki confidently exploring the stage, moving to the music, and becoming part of the show.

Afterwards, Waiheke Island Playcentre was delighted to host our Matariki Star Wand Workshop, where little hands (and plenty of grown-up helpers!) created beautiful, unique star wands to take home. ⭐ Every wand was different, filled with creativity, imagination and aroha.

It was also lovely to see our collaborative Matariki stars on display in the Artworks foyer, celebrating the creativity of our island’s early childhood community.

A big thank you to everyone who came along, crafted with us, and stopped by to chat about Waiheke Island Playcentre. We loved meeting so many new whānau and sharing a little of what makes our Playcentre so special.

We hope to see you at Playcentre soon! 💚

16/07/2026

While we've been closed for the term break, our whānau have been busy sprucing up the centre, with our mud kitchen now tidy and ready for plenty of messy, imaginative play!

One of the special things about Playcentre is that families work together to care for our shared space, building a strong sense of community while showing our tamariki the value of teamwork, responsibility, and contributing to something bigger than themselves.

We can't wait to welcome families back for Term 3 from Monday 20 July. If you've been thinking about joining Playcentre, we'd love to meet you and show you what makes our whānau-led community so special. Send us a message or arrange a visit online here: https://www.playcentre.org.nz/centre/waiheke-island/

24/04/2026

Today in 1941, as Aotearoa prepared to remember the men who went to war, a group of mothers in Karori, Wellington, did something quietly extraordinary.
Born of necessity, they created a place where parents and tamariki could learn together, that would quietly outlast the war and grow across Aotearoa.

Eighty-five years later, we’re still here, and still playing, learning, and growing together – one of the most enduring ideas in New Zealand’s history.

Join us on our journey over the coming year as we share the stories of our rural communities, bicultural foundations, the generations of women who built the movement, and our vision for the next 85 years.

Donate today and help us to Power the Play for another 85 years: https://85years.raiselysite.com/
Learn more about our beginnings: https://www.playcentre.org.nz/news-and-events/events/85-years-anniversary/