EC-MENz National Summit 2025
Kia ora e te kaupapa whānau,
We are excited to announce that our 2025 National Summit will be held in Whangārei on the weekend of 8 March. This will be a fantastic celebration of gender diversity in early childhood education in a safe and supportive space. Quality professional development will be combined with a chance to meet others in the profession, share your own story, and be inspired.
For more details please contact EC-Menz President Robin Christie at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Kia kaha, e hoa mā!
Cost $140 (includes membership to EC-MENz for the year).
Student cost $60
Below are the details from our 2023 Summit, to give you an idea of what we have done in the past
Some of our speakers and workshops:
- Kahukura Te Kata
In my workshop you will learn: local history of Ngāti Hauā and Waikato Tainui people, why Māori connection and relationship to Ranginui and Papatūānuku is essential to their wellbeing, why the Kīngitanga is important to Waikato Tainui, what Te Ao Māori looks like in ECE, identifying Māori dispositions in tamariki, the Māori education strategy Ka Hikitia – Accelerating Success 2013–2017, Te Paki o Matariki, ERO report success for Māori children, and Te Ahu o te reo Māori revitalisation! All of these fun- filled facts will be infused with interactive activities, sensory learning and energetic game challenges. Kuareri kaiako ma ki te wero? Are you ready, kaiako, for the challenge?
- Karin & Bill Shaw
This workshop will be presented by Bill Shaw a psychologist and tutor and Karin Shaw an experienced ECE Professional Development Facilitator. They have a particular interest in teacher wellness.
When a centre/ kindergarten teaching team feel depleted, children also feel the impact. As educators we need to surround children with high- quality caring, safe environments that nurture the holistic nature of children’s learning.
The pandemic and lockdowns have impacted on teacher and children wellbeing. Teachers are burnt out and over whelmed. They are dealing with a raft of changes, teaching, legislative, and compliance requirements. Teachers need practical support in order to bring their best self to the centre/ kindergarten each day. Karin and Bill will share discuss the tools, support, and guidance teachers require to be mentally and physically able to do their job. Tools to ensure everyone thrives.
- Stephanie Wacker (The MacKenzie Centre) - Working with children with autism
A little bit about me, I am an Early Intervention Teacher and the current Service Manager. I have been with McKenzie Centre for 16 ½ years, 9½ as an Early Intervention Teacher and 7 years as an Education Support Worker and Teacher. I have a son who required special education which led me on a journey into the world of children with special needs from 2013. I am passionate about helping families and educators to understand their child’s development and look forward to extending the groups knowledge of McKenzie Centre’s service.
- Mark Smith - Fun with Science
Tired of being bored sitting in the sandpit? Come along for a fun time and discover the magic that is science, specifically tailored for pre-schoolers. You’ll develop great new skills that you can easily share with the children in your care.
Take a ride on a tea-bag rocket to the moon for green cheese, or have a ball exploding a sandwich bag! You’ll even learn a new recipe for a volcano that is sure to delight everyone, along with the odd magic trick or two.
Come along and challenge yourself as you develop new skills to engage tamariki and make their time with you memorable, in this fun, hands-on, interactive workshop.
- Lewis Morgan
Summit Reports
