MEET OUR TEAM

Hi, My name is Juanita.

 

I am a proud mum of four amazing kids, wife and owner of Kowhai Consultancy Services.

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We operate three Early Childhood Education centers and provide essential social services to the northern Waikato community.

At the heart of our work is the desire to build a nurturing space for children and families, where everyone feels valued.

We understand the importance of trust, care, and dedication, values we hold close both as a business and as a family.

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Our commitment is to serve with integrity, ensuring that the families we work with receive the highest level of care and support.

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Kia ora tātou,
My name is Rubie Holmes, and I’m delighted to introduce myself as the Centre Manager here at The Children’s Garden.

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I was raised on a farm near the beautiful Hokianga Harbour in the Far North, surrounded by my five younger siblings. Coming from a large whānau, I was fortunate to grow up in a rich bicultural environment that continues to shape who I am today.

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In 2009, my husband and I made the move to Tauranga with our two daughters so I could pursue my Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. Our family has since grown to include our youngest son, Max, who is now a happy member of the Victory Centre whānau.

 

My journey in ECE began at a parent-led Playcentre, where I first discovered my passion for working with young tamariki. Over the past 20 years, I’ve had the privilege of teaching in a range of settings, and for the last three years, I’ve held leadership roles in the sector.

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It is an absolute pleasure to be joining the passionate and dedicated team here at The Children’s Garden. I already feel the warmth of the community that surrounds this special place, and I truly look forward to getting to know each of you and building strong, meaningful relationships together.

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Kia ora, I’m Jenny!

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I’ve been part of the Children’s Garden teaching team for over 7 years now, and I’ve loved every minute of it!!

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Building warm, caring connections with Tamariki and their Whānau is really important to me — it’s the foundation of everything I do.

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I’m passionate about respectful, culturally responsive practices and truly believe that every child deserves to be treated with kindness, empathy, and respect.

Helping children build the tools they need to face life’s challenges is something I feel really strongly about.

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I also love getting to know families and learning what matters most to them, so I can reflect that in my teaching.

It’s a real privilege to be part of each child’s early learning journey.

Lynn has two adult sons, Josh and Aaron, who are both currently studying at tertiary level. She enjoyed bringing them up on her own for many years and is now loving spending her free time with her friends and wider family exploring her many different interests.

 

Lynn went back to study and get her teaching degree when she was 49, which was the start of an incredible journey. Lynn started working at The Children's Garden straight from Uni in 2018, originally at the Preschool Centre, but then moved over to our Babies and Toddlers Centre mid 2022. She is now the Team Leader here and is loving her new role.

 

Lynn thoroughly enjoys her job for three main reasons, the precious children, building relationships and supporting the whanau from where they come and working with the amazing team in both centers.

Kia ora, I’m Bindi!

 

I’m a bubbly, friendly, and outgoing person who absolutely loves working with children. It’s such a joy to watch them grow, take on challenges, and shine in their own unique ways. I always aim to bring lots of energy, kindness, and a positive attitude into everything I do.

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I’ve been happily married for 26 years and have three amazing kids of my own. Over the past 11 years, my family and I have also welcomed 37 international students into our home — it’s been such a special experience, and we consider them all part of our whānau.

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Building strong relationships with Tamariki and their whānau is really important to me.

I feel so lucky to be in a role where I get to support children in these early, important years.

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Every child I work with holds a special place in my heart, and I’m excited to be part of their learning journey.

Sophie has been working in and studying early childhood education since 2016. She has relieved across of a range of different childcare centres and is really passionate about her job and passing her knowledge onto our children.

 

Sophie loves being a child's source of comfort and seeing their little personalities grow. She loves getting outdoors on Bush Kindy and watching the reactions and excitement of the kids when it comes to messy play.

 

Sophie hopes to have her own children one day, but for now her heart is filled by her three cats, five sheep, five chicken and pond full of fish. When she's not looking after her pets, you can find Sophie out on the family boat, at the gym or spending time with her friends and family. 

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"I have built some really special relationships with our tamariki and I feel so fortunate to work alongside an amazing team of people who are all so friendly and helpful."

Hi, I’m Michelle

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I’m a teacher working with children aged 0 to 3 and have been teaching throughout my adult life.

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I absolutely love what I do!!

 

 I have a young family with my partner, and we enjoy spending time outdoors, exploring nature, and getting creative with different resources.

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I look forward to connecting with whānau and watching your children thrive!

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Kia ora, I’m Emma!

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I’m a passionate teacher who loves working with children of all ages, but I especially enjoy spending time with toddlers and young children.

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There’s something so special about watching Tamariki learn, grow, and develop their own personalities through fun and meaningful play.

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I love getting involved in messy play, arts and crafts, storytelling, and imaginative play — it’s all about having fun while supporting their learning and helping them build confidence (and a great sense of humour along the way!).

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I live with my family and our dog Sadie, and in my spare time I enjoy bush walks, going to the beach, and getting creative with art.

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I’m really looking forward to getting to know you and your child and sharing this exciting learning journey together here at the Children’s Garden.

Staci has been teaching since her studies began in 2014. She has taught right across the North Island. Starting in Wellington, moving up to Auckland, across to Ōpōtiki and finally settling in Tauranga.

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Staci firmly believes that everyday brings a new adventure, and she loves to take part in these different adventures with the children, asking and answering questions and really taking advantage of these spontaneous teaching moments.

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"An environment that shows the true meaning of Manaakitanga, Kotahitanga and Whakawhanaungatanga helps both of our tamariki and kaimahi to thrive! And after searching right across the motu, I feel that I have found this at the “Children's Garden!"

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Outside of the Children's Garden, you'll find Staci running her busy daughter between music, drama, swimming, netball, softball and karate. You'll also find Staci partaking in karate as she works hard towards gaining her black belt.

Nat is a qualified ECE and primary teacher with a huge passion for ECE education. She strongly believes in inspiring children to achieve their goals, interests and personal strengths and loves to provide a nurturing safe environment for them to learn in. Nat has a particular interest in creating learning experiences that will challenge and support children through their transition to school.

 

She loves that The Children's Garden as a centre is focused on encouraging children to learn in a natural environment. She aims to ensure our children feel a sense of empowerment and enjoyment as they learn.

Outside of work, Nat is married with two children and loves spending her time making a difference in young children’s lives.

Kia ora, I’m Aimee

 

I’m so excited to be part of the team here at the Children’s Garden.

 

I absolutely love working with preschool-aged Tamariki — it’s such a joy to watch them grow, learn, and explore the world through play, especially in a natural environment.

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I live in Welcome Bay with my husband, our two wonderful kids (who are both at Sullivan Rich), and our two dogs. We love spending quality time together as a family.

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I’m really looking forward to getting to know you and your Tamariki, supporting them on their learning journey, and sharing those special everyday moments with our whānau.

Kia ora, I’m Rajdeep

 

I’m incredibly proud to be part of the teaching team here at The Children’s Garden—it truly feels like a second home.

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My journey with the centre began during a six-week placement just before Christmas, and from the moment I arrived, I felt a genuine connection with the tamariki, the team, and the wider community.

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Since completing my Level 7 Diploma in Early Childhood Education, I’ve been thrilled to return and contribute to this nurturing and inspiring environment.

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I live in beautiful Welcome Bay with my husband and our two daughters, who continue to inspire me daily in both my parenting and teaching journey.

I am passionate about creating a warm, inclusive, and respectful learning space where every child feels seen, heard, and valued. I believe in celebrating each Tamariki unique identity, culture, and strengths, and I place strong importance on building meaningful relationships with children and their whānau.

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Being part of each child’s early learning journey is a true privilege. I feel incredibly grateful to do what I love, in a place that holds such a special place in my heart.

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