Gems Kōwhai opened its doors in June 2017. This purpose built environment, conveniently located beside Shotover Primary School, cares for and educates children between the ages of 6 months and 6 years.
Centre features
The space for the young ones is created as a nurturing and warm environment where our youngest are nurtured and cared for. This is facilitated through the primary care system - which requires a dedicated and well functioning team to achieve this.
The Nest at Kowhai is homely in scale and furnishings, and well resourced to meet the ever changing needs and interests of our smallest people.
After interacting with the bigger tamariki through the fence, children are so excited and proud to move up into the bigger play spaces! The Kowhai playground wraps around the whole north facing part of the building and includes a kitchen garden, sandpits, play areas, outdoor covered carpentry and construction area, mud kitchen, native plantings, and climbing equipment. There is a lovely indoor outdoor flow with multiple entrances inside. Each day could feel like a completely different experience to an adventurous child.
Food offering
Kowhai and Rata both have the same food offering of home cooked meals with:
ALL MEALS PROVIDED
All food is freshly prepared in our purpose built kitchen by a dedicated chef. The meals are carefully planned to be both nutritious and yummy for little people. You will be pleasantly surprised to find that children will try new foods when sharing the experience with others and this can make meal times at home so much easier!
We cater for all food intolerances, eversions and special diets without any additional charge.
Additional excursions
Kowhai and Rata have the same nature-based programme for 4 & 5 year olds which is lovingly known as:
NATURE PLAY
Nature Play is Gems unique version of the Scandinavian concept of Forest School. One day a fortnight all of our 4-5 year olds have the opportunity to have a day of exploration and adventure in our local environment.
This is an integral part of our transition to school programme, where the focus on building on self management skills, social competencies and resilience as our tamariki journey towards the next step in their education.
Gems Nature play programmes are coordinated by our Gems Farm School lead teacher, who manages the programme across the organisation. It is a day enjoyed by all age groups - we welcome visiting family (grandparents are a familiar sight).
Meet the Kowhai team
Photos of the centre
Location 55 Stalker Road,
Shotover Country 9304
Phone 03 428 2862
Email accounts@gems.net.nz
Hours of Operation
Monday – Friday
8:00am – 4:30pm
Ages: 3 months – 6 years
With babies and toddlers in The Nest
Then when ready (approx 2 years) moving into The Hive
Food: All meals provided
Additional Excursions: Farm School (for 4-5 year olds)
Minimum Enrolment: 6.25 hours/day for 2 days a week
To learn about fee structures and to check if Kowhai is the right centre for you and your child, contact us.