Discover, grow and thrive together.

Our Spaces

Our centres house spaces that are carefully designed to support the different stages of early childhood. They offer a sense of calm, safety, and belonging, which help our tamariki to settle in and feel at home.

Our spaces for younger children provide a quiet, nurturing setting where strong, responsive relationships are at the heart of daily life. With age-appropriate resources and familiar routines, our youngest learners are supported to grow at their own pace. Spaces for our older preschoolers are designed to offer rich opportunities for independence, creativity, and extended learning.

Our outdoor environment allows tamariki to play, explore, and build friendships. With a sandpit, climbing structures, balancing logs, and natural play elements, the outdoor area fosters imagination and active exploration.

Our Spaces

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“The outdoor play spaces are beautiful, and I love how cultural celebrations are respected and embraced.”
-Emma, Aurea parent

Our Team

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Our philosophy

Aurea is a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment where relationships are at the heart of learning. Inspired by Te Whāriki and grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, we honour the unique identity, voice, and learning journey of every child.

Children are encouraged to follow their interests, make choices, and explore at their own pace. We see children as capable, curious learners, full of ideas and potential.

Through a balance of free play and focused experiences, including STEM, literacy, art, movement, and social-emotional learning, our kaiako support each child to develop confidence, critical thinking, and a strong sense of self.

Relationships with whānau are deeply valued. We work in partnership with families, recognising the importance of shared knowledge, trust, and community in supporting each child’s growth. At Aurea Preschool and Nursery, your child is seen, heard, and celebrated.

Our Philosophy

Nutrition & Well-being

Nutrition &
well-being

Mealtimes are a calm, social part of the day where tamariki are encouraged to build independence, enjoy a variety of foods, and develop positive eating habits.

Newlands & St. Mary's Locations
We serve fresh, balanced meals and snacks every day with a special focus on ensuring each food portion provides proper nutrition for growing children. We believe that introducing balanced nutrition early in life supports optimal growth, brain development, and the formation of lifelong healthy eating habits. We happily cater to a wide range of dietary needs, including:

Vegetarian and vegan preferences
Cultural or family-based dietary choices
Allergies and intolerances (e.g. dairy, gluten, egg, nut-free)

Kelburn
Currently children bring their own lunch boxes. We provide morning and afternoon tea and snacks.

Features & Facilities

Features & facilities

Our facilities are designed to inspire and support

Bright, well-resourced facilities provide inviting spaces for exploration, and creativity. Outdoors, our tamariki enjoy natural gardens, sandpits, climbing structures, and a mud kitchen for sensory play. Calm, cosy areas help infants and toddlers feel safe and settled.

We prioritise your child’s comfort and well-being with central heating, modern security systems, and plenty of parking for smooth drop-offs and pick-ups. Our centre exceeds all Ministry of Education licensing and health and safety standards.

To help you stay connected, we use Educa, a secure, easy-to-use online platform where our kaiako share updates, learning stories, photos, and daily routines. It’s a window into your child’s day and a meaningful way to stay involved in their early learning journey, wherever you are.

Our Spaces

Our centres house spaces that are carefully designed to support the different stages of early childhood. They offer a sense of calm, safety, and belonging, which help our tamariki to settle in and feel at home.

Our spaces for younger children provide a quiet, nurturing setting where strong, responsive relationships are at the heart of daily life. With age-appropriate resources and familiar routines, our youngest learners are supported to grow at their own pace. Spaces for our older preschoolers are designed to offer rich opportunities for independence, creativity, and extended learning.

Our outdoor environment allows tamariki to play, explore, and build friendships. With a sandpit, climbing structures, balancing logs, and natural play elements, the outdoor area fosters imagination and active exploration.

Our Spaces

BACK TO TOP

“The outdoor play spaces are beautiful, and I love how cultural celebrations are respected and embraced.”
-Emma, Aurea parent

Our Team

Meet our Kelburn team

Our teaching team reflects the rich cultural diversity of our whānau. Many of our kaiako are multilingual and bring a wide range of life experiences to their work, creating a warm, inclusive environment where every family feels welcome, including those new to Aotearoa.

Over 80% of our team hold formal early childhood qualifications and are continually growing their knowledge through professional development. Most importantly, they’re passionate about what they do, helping your child feel safe, supported, and excited to learn every day.

Craig Johnson, Founder

“It is a privilege to work with our amazing team of early childhood educators led by Megan Watson but also to be part of the day to day journey of learning and discovery for our tamariki. As a parent myself, I know just how quickly these early childhood years go and I am honoured that our team have an opportunity to be a part of each and every family’s journey.”

Craig is the owner of Aurea Preschool & Nursery. He has been involved with Early Childhood Education for the past 20 years and understands the importance of quality early education to create and nurture inquisitive minds. In the last few years he has also opened a sister school in Wuxi, China and looks forward to fostering this relationship to allow the children of Aurea Preschool and Nursery to create new friendships internationally.

Megan Watson, Manager

“I am passionate about Early Childhood education because it provides the foundation in curiosity and confidence that children will need as they learn and develop valuable social, mental, emotional and physical skills and knowledge in preparation for their next challenge in life.”

Megan is our Manager and licensee of Aurea Preschool & Nursery. She has been working in early childhood education for over 20 years and values relationships while being committed to building reciprocal, responsive and meaningful connections with tamariki, their families/whānau and teachers. She is a mother to a son and enjoys spending time with her family and going on bike rides.

Aude, Team Leader

“I believe in treating children with respect and providing warm loving interactions. I aim to provide children with a safe, fun and stimulating environment in which they can learn new skills and develop their interests. Et voilà!”

Aude moved to New Zealand from the beautiful region of Champagne, France and has been calling Wellington home since 2008. She has spent the last 12 years teaching French while raising her daughter in the windy city. In 2020 she compelled to complete her postgraduate diploma in early childhood education as she enjoyed engaging with children and is passionate about understanding what truly interests them to support their curiosity.

Spring, Teacher

“As a mother to a bilingual daughter, I appreciate the richness that language and culture bring to learning. My diverse cultural background and professional experience help me connect with children and families in meaningful ways, and I am committed to supporting every child to grow, explore, and thrive. I believe that a caring and dedicated teacher can have a lasting, positive impact on a child's life.”

Originally from China, I spent 20 wonderful years living in Los Angeles, USA, before moving to New Zealand in 2022 with my Kiwi husband. Throughout my career, I’ve worn many hats — most recently as a Chief Financial Officer for US-listed companies and joint ventures in China — but my true passion has always been early childhood education. In 2024, I followed my lifelong dream and completed my Postgraduate Diploma in Early Childhood. In my teaching practice, I aim to create a nurturing, engaging environment that balances focused learning with joyful, open-ended play, while honouring and celebrating each child's unique cultural background.