About us

Puataunofo Aoga Amata was established in 1990.  We are a Samoan Language Nest located within the church grounds of ‘Ranui Pacific Islands Presbyterian Church’.

Our Operating Hours are Monday to Friday; 7am -5pm.

Puataunofo is currently licensed to cater for 24 children.

We cater for children aged six months to five years old.

Work & Income NZ forms are available for childcare subsidies.

We are closed every Statutory holiday and for one month during the Christmas break.

Our philosophy

Puataunofo Aoga Amata is a Samoan immersion early childhood education centre affiliated to the Samoan Presbyterian Church.  The Aoga Amata is situated at the base of the Waitakere Ranges in Ranui West Auckland.

We at Puataunofo Aoga Amata believe in the importance of the gagana samoa and aganuu (Samoan language and culture).  This is evident in the curriculum of everyday experiences offered to young children.  We believe that for children to engage actively in their environment and therefore in their learning they need to feel safe, respected, and valued, they need to feel they belong.

We believe that we are responsible for providing infants, toddlers and young children with positive learning experiences.  We strive to model respect patience and care for children and adults we come in contact with. We aim to encourage and support a community of confident and independent learners, who when they leave Puataunofo, will be ready to learn, to take on new risks and challenges, become problem solvers and critical thinkers, and will love learning no matter what language it is in.

We acknowledge Maori as Tangata Whenua and encourage partnerships with all parents through the concept of whakawhanaungatanga.  Parents are encouraged to share their aspirations for their children as learners with a strong sense of identity language and culture.

Partnerships with home school and church are valued as we aim to support and maintain the cultural and spiritual growth of our children and their families.  We believe our role as educators is to protect, nourish and nurture the language, culture and identity of the children, their families and our community.