Rationale: To ensure the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi are implemented in our centre.

Objective: The staff and Management of Bright Stars Educare will acknowledge Te Tiriti o Waitangi as the founding document of New Zealand. The staff and management of Bright Stars Educare will make every effort to fulfil the provisions of Te Tiriti o Waitangi by the following means:

Procedure: We acknowledge the importance of tikanga Mäori and incorporate it into our centre routines.  This includes the use of karakia before eating, not stepping over sleeping children or sitting on kai tables etc and paying attention to tikanga Mäori matters relating to food preparation and centre hygiene.

We acknowledge the importance of whänau.  Children’s links with whänau will be affirmed, and whänau are always welcomed in our Centre.  Major changes to centre policies, routines etc will be made in consultation with whänau.

We acknowledge the importance of Te Reo Mäori.  We aim to instil in the children an appreciation of Te Reo as a living and relevant language.  All staff will use Te Reo frequently and will be continuously seek to improve their knowledge and use of the language.  Where necessary staff will be offered support and/or professional development in this area.  We seek to incorporate Mäori values into our centre.  We will foster the values of kotahitanga-unity, whanaungatanga-family, manäkitanga-kindness and caring and aroha-love among both adults and children.  As the centre develops, we seek to reflect the Mäori heritage of Aotearoa/New Zealand in the physical environment of the centre by making Mäori symbols and artefacts visible.As the centre develops, we see to provide resources such as books, puzzles and dress-ups etc that support teaching and play which reflect tikanga Mäori and Te Reo Mäori.  Staff and management will actively work towards improving and extending the provision and use of these resources.