about Villa aroha
Welcome to Villa Aroha,
where children bloom like kowhai flowers and grow strong like mighty kauri trees. We are absolutely delighted that you have chosen to entrust us with your most precious treasure, and we are honoured to walk alongside you and your whānau on this incredible learning journey.
Villa Aroha is more than just a place of care and education. It is a community built on aroha (love, compassion, and respect), where every child is valued, celebrated, and nurtured to reach their full potential.
Our beautiful old villa, nestled in the heart of Hamilton, provides a warm, homely environment where children feel safe, loved, and free to explore, discover, and grow. We believe that the early years are the most important in a childs life, laying the foundation for all future learning and development.
Our dedicated team of qualified, registered teachers and caring, experienced support staff is committed to providing the highest quality education and care, ensuring that every child thrives across all areas of development socially, emotionally, physically, intellectually, and spiritually. We look forward to building a strong partnership with you, working together to support your childs learning, celebrate their achievements, and create beautiful memories that will last a lifetime.
Villa Aroha is a place where aroha flows through everything we do—where children are loved and respected, where families are valued as partners, where our team cares deeply for each child, and where we all care for our environment and each other.
THE STORY BEHIND OUR NAME
The name ‘Villa Aroha’ holds deep meaning and reflects the heart and soul of our centre. Villa celebrates our gorgeous old building that has become home to so many precious memories and moments of learning. It also honours a childhood dream inspired by Astrid Lindgrens beloved character, Pippi Longstocking, who lived in a fantastic, big old house called Villa Kunterbunt (Villa Villekulla in English), a place of wonder, adventure, imagination, and joy where anything was possible. Aroha is a beautiful Māori concept that encompasses love, compassion, empathy, respect, care, and a deep sense of connection to others and to the world around us.
In te ao Māori (the Māori worldview), aroha is about showing genuine care and concern for others; wellbeing, nurturing relationships, acting with kindness, and creating an environment where everyone feels valued and supported. Aroha is both a feeling and an action, it is love expressed through how we treat each other, how we care for our environment, and how we build our community together.
Image retrieved from: Desenio (n.d) Pippi Longstocking and Villa Villekulla Print. Astrid Lindgren.
OUR PRESCHOOL VILLA AND CHILDCARE COTTAGE
WHARE KOWHAI (0-3 YEARS)
We chose Whare Kowhai (Kowhai Cottage) for our youngest learners because of the spectacular, vibrant yellow flowers that burst forth from the kowhai tree each spring. These bright, joyful blooms perfectly represent the exciting, colourful, wonder-filled world of infants and toddlers. Full of energy, discovery, and new beginnings.
In Māori culture, the kowhai symbolises new beginnings, renewal, growth, vitality, joy, strength, and courage. Just as the kowhai bursts into brilliant bloom, our infants and toddlers are blossoming every day, discovering the world with wonder and joy.
WHARE KAURI (3-6 YEARS)
We chose Whare Kauri (Villa Kauri) for our preschoolers because the mighty kauri tree represents the developing strength, confidence, and enduring spirit that we see growing in our older children as they prepare for their journey to school and beyond. The kauri is one of the most revered trees in Aotearoa, New Zealand, symbolising strength, endurance, wisdom, leadership, and mana (prestige and spiritual power).
Just as the kauri grows tall and strong, developing deep roots and a mighty trunk, our preschoolers are building the strong foundations: confidence, knowledge, social skills, and resilience, that will support them throughout their lives.