In February 2025, four Indigenous students from the Coast Mountain College (CMTN) Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Program embarked on a field school to New Zealand. Travel costs for the 17-day tour were covered by a student travel grant.

In addition to learning about early childhood education in Aotearoa, New Zealand, the tour allowed the students to make connections between Māori Indigenous knowledge and their own Indigenous knowledge. They learned how New Zealand early childhood education services “weave” their curriculum using a Te Whāriki framework and they came to understand the significance of relationships to people, places, and things from the Māori perspective.

Te Whāriki is New Zealand's early childhood (birth to age five) education curriculum, a framework that guides educators in supporting children's holistic development through play and exploration, focusing on the four core principles of belonging, well-being, contribution, and communication.

In Te Rito Maioha, students were welcomed by the Wellington Māori community with a traditional pōwhiri, or formal welcoming ceremony, which set the tone for their visit, with speeches, songs, and the traditional hongi greeting, where noses and foreheads touch.

During their stay in Wellington, the students learned about Te Whāriki and its history, context, and diversity. They compared their Canadian programs with those in New Zealand and, as student Emma Robinson reflects, "My trip to New Zealand... reinforced my belief in the potential of our program to fully embrace and embed our Nisga’a culture into early childhood education. The Māori model of education demonstrates how an immersive, culturally grounded system can thrive, and I am confident we can take meaningful steps toward a similar future." 

Another student, Hazel Williams adds, “I found the tour had amazing, shared material that was very informative, helpful, enriching, and enjoyable,” she says. “Going on this tour and working through the course has contributed a significant amount towards my knowledge as a Gitxsan [person] from Gitwangak, BC.” Hazel goes on to say that she is bringing home a lot of knowledge and practices to implement at her current place of work in a daycare.

“I’d like to thank Trenna Johnson for being an inspirational instructor and taking care of her crew while there and pushing us to really embrace what we will bring to the table as educators,” Hazel says. “I never thought I’d fly over the Pacific Ocean and complete a bucket list item for my education.” 

ECCE Instructor and Program Coordinator Trenna Johnson reflects, "It was an honour to be a part of this experiential journey where Early Childhood Education students were provided with a unique opportunity to immerse themselves into Māori culture and witness Māori's strong commitment to cultural inclusivity and emphasis on the child's holistic development."

The students say the tour also strengthened their resolve to continue embedding First Nations’ ways of educating their children by standing tall and embracing being the best to help their nation, their families, and their children. 

Students in front of a building during a visit to a Māori Language Nest.

Student Emma Robinson playing with Māori children at one of the Language Nests. 

Students listening to Arapera Herewini-Card, one of the hosts, share Māori culture and traditional child rearing practices. 

Student Hazel Williams reflecting on her experiences and appreciating the beauty of Aotearoa.

Hazel Williams, Trenna Johnson, and Elizabeth Williams shortly after participating in their first Pōwhiri (Māori welcoming ceremony).  

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Media Contact

Heather Bastin
Executive Director, External Relations
hbastin@coastmountaincollege.ca