Hibiscus Kindergarten & Nursery

Historic Stanmore Bay Cottage in Brightside Road is now home to Hibiscus Kindergarten & Nursery, recently opened and welcoming its first families.

Its owners share long and varied experience in education. Sue Milnes has been a high school principal and also worked for almost a decade in Early Childcare Education (ECE) evaluation in the Education Review Office.

Her business partner, Sangeeta Karmokar, was a senior lecturer in entrepreneurship and innovation at AUT, specialising in creative technologies. When the pair met they discovered a mutual interest in ECE, and the opportunity of creating their own centre was too good to pass up.

While Sangeeta is mainly in a management and leadership role, Sue will be front and centre of Hibiscus Kindergarten & Nursery, along with five staff.

She says the centre is taking full advantage of the garden and nearby beach, offering a nature-based and child-led curriculum. There will be a strong emphasis on numeracy and literacy learned through play, enhancing the transition to school.

The large interior of the cottage has been divided into spaces to interest and engage the children, including an art deck that is always open to explore, a science space, music, performance and library. The decks have been glassed in, expanding the space without losing natural light. For the youngest, three months to 15 months old, there is a dedicated nursery.

Heart Foundation approved meals will be served, and the children can help grow vegetables in the garden that end up on their plates.

Sangeeta and Sue invite anyone interested in finding out more to drop in.

“Even if they are just curious about the house itself and want to see inside,” Sue says. “We welcome everyone.”

Business Directory: Hibiscus Kindergarten & Nursery