Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board has made the tough call not to fund the two Kauri Kids ECE programmes at Ōtara Leisure Centre and Papatoetoe Allan Brewster, from its already reduced budget, now that the regional funding for the programme has been discontinued.
As part of its Annual Budget decision-making process, Auckland Council confirmed regional funding for the centres would be cut.
That left affected local boards to decide whether they would try to support local Kauri Kids facilities from their own reduced budgets, close them or explore third-party arrangements.
Ōtara-Papatoetoe local board chair Apulu Reece Autagavaia says the decision was not made lightly.
“Firstly, the Ōtara-Papatoetoe local board sincerely sympathise with the parents, children and staff affected by the Governing Body's (Mayor and Councillors) decision to close all Kauri Kids centres in Auckland.”
“Many of us on the Local Board have young children, and others have young grandchildren that are of pre-school age."
“We can appreciate that these are difficult times with such uncertainty and especially being in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis."
“The local board would like to re-emphasise that our unanimous decision on the Kauri Kids centres in our area was made in context that local boards had a reduced budget to try and save the centres."
“Last night, we resolved that the Mayor and Councillors' decision to close the centres will have to continue - as we simply have no money”, adds Apulu.
Despite the board not directly funding the delivery of the ECE services in the area, the board expressed concern at the lack of discussion with communities on the provision of the ECE service, and the tight timeframe provided.
Having spent the last few months trying to plan for their work programme for the next financial year based on a reduced budget, the board had to make cuts to many of the programmes, events, and activities they have provided previously.
“We would have had to cut our other activities even further to try and find the funds for the centres”, says Apulu.
The board requested further information on options for activating facilities vacated by ECE services, that staff consider the impact of discontinuing this service on low-income families and implement a transition approach that supports their needs, and to receive the updated financial information from council.
“Now that the Mayor and Councillors have decided to stop funding the centres, and there are no funds to save them, we reaffirmed our concern for our low-income families who will be affected. We have asked council staff to work with our families and staff during this transition time”, says Apulu.
Next steps
Council will carefully plan to minimise any impact to parents, children, staff, and to the community.
Both Kauri Kids ECE programmes will remain operating as per usual until decisions are made and transition plans agreed.
The council will move to a process of transition planning and implementation including an 8-week notice period.
The staff plan set up is in place to ensure support is available to affected families by proactively working with other ECE service providers, local boards, the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social Development, IRD and impacted staff to enable as smooth a transition as possible while providing substantial notice.
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