Ōtaki Playcentre

18/04/2026

New (or rather slightly adjusted) session times. We are welcoming new whānau on all days still just email ahead or drop in anytime.
Mon, Tue Thu 9:15 to 1:15

See you then!

23/01/2026

Look at our fabulous new mural 🤩
Sessions restart next week. Get in touch if you want to join our sessions - we have space for more tamariki (and of course their caregivers).
Haere mai!

01/12/2025

Giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi - a statement from our Board

Te Whānau Tupu Ngātahi, Playcentre Aotearoa and our 390 ECE Centres stand with kura and schools across Aotearoa that continue to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi despite recent legislative changes.

Joining the many schools and education providers that have confirmed their commitment, our stance is clear: giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi is not negotiable. Our identity, our governance, and our practice are underpinned by Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Partnership between tangata whenua and tangata tiriti.

We affirm our commitment to honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi in every aspect of educating more than 14,000 tamariki, our decision-making, and our governance.

This is more than a principle; it is a promise to each one of those tamariki and their whānau and our communities, that partnership, equity, and respect will remain at the heart of everything we do at Playcentre.

It is a pledge to the countless generations of whānau that have called a Playcentre “our village”, and all those who will entrust us with their tamariki mokopuna for generations to come.

We acknowledge the decades of work by thousands of Playcentre people, who have embedded our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi throughout our organisation, from the sandpit to the Board table. Our two-house governance model is a powerful expression of this commitment.

A cornerstone of our governance practice, it ensures that Te Tiriti o Waitangi is integral to every decision as mandated by our Trust Deed, Rules, and Philosophy. We know equity, respect and Tiriti-based partnership are essential to delivering high quality education and best outcomes for all learners.

We stand united with kura, schools and other education providers in upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

I raro i te haumaru o Te Tiriti o Waitangi, nā mātou noa nā,
Te Pōari o Te Whānau Tupu Ngātahi, the trustees of Playcentre Aotearoa

Image description: Yellow Playcentre-branded tile. Text reads: "Giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi."

25/11/2025

Come and join us on Sunday, we'll be serving refreshments at the Ōtaki Repair Café. This year we are raising money to give our tamariki and whānau an amazing Christmas / end of year celebration.

12/11/2025

We are recruiting for a programme facilitator for a new SPACE programme at Ōtaki Playcentre. Applications close 17 November - more information here -

Te Whānau Tupu Ngātahi o Aotearoa - Playcentre Aotearoa is a well known and loved Early Childhood organisation with over 80 years of supporting parents to take the lead in their children’s...

10/11/2025

Nature Play at Pharazyn Reserve

Bush walk, bird spotting, pine-needle nest building, swans with fluffy cygnets, and even measuring rabbit holes — what an adventure today! 🦢🐣🕳️📏

Our weekly (Monday mornings) nature play sessions are all about curiosity, connection and getting muddy with our tamariki. Parents join in too — it’s a real whānau experience.

Keen to come along for a trial session? Send us a message and join the fun! 💚

04/11/2025

Look what we were up to a few weeks ago!

04/11/2025

🌿 See how much fun we had this week! 🌿

This Monday we crossed the Waikawa Beach bridge and headed into the forest and sand dunes — climbing, digging, collecting treasures, and enjoying te taiao together. So many sandy feet, curious minds, and happy tamariki! 💛✨

Ōtaki Playcentre runs weekly nature play sessions for tamariki aged 0–6, every Monday 9:30am–1pm. We explore beaches, bush tracks, rivers and dunes — following our children’s curiosity and learning through real outdoor adventure.

Keen to join us next week?
📩 Send us a message to book a trial session — we’d love to welcome you! 🌱🤗

03/11/2025

Our tamariki love the amazing sandpit in Ōtaki Playcentre - come and join us for a play in the sun this week!

19/10/2025

Ōtaki Playcentre has some left from our clothes swap at the weekend. If you pop into the Playcentre during session times this week, you can fill a bag ($10 koha appreciated). Our sessions are Tuesday and Thursday from 9am to 1pm and Wednesday from 11am to 3pm. This week only.