All but over at Houhora

"Transportation is a big issue. People can't afford to go running around in their cars as much as they used to in case they run out of gas" - Jaqi Brown, Education adviser

Children and parents alike were enjoying themselves, as usual, when Kaitaia-based Ministry of Education adviser Jaqi Brown called in at Houhora Playcentre on Tuesday, but that was not what she was hoping to see.

Ms Brown had had her fingers crossed that some new children would be there.

There were no new faces, and worse, no one had responded to her survey of families living north of Waiharara.

The survey is designed to establish how many children are living on that part of the Aupouri Peninsula and what pre-school educational opportunities they are availing themselves of. But whatever happens now it might be too late for Houhora Playcentre.

Unless there is a dramatic influx of children next Tuesday's session will be the last, at least until a healthier roll can be established.

The centre will then go into recess, albeit with the hopes that enthusiastic parents/caregivers will wish to do something with it in the future.

"Playcentre is a great place for women," Ms Brown said.

"Many have gone on to further teaching and professional careers through the skills and papers they learnt and sat during their time at playcentre."

A number of factors appeared to be behind the fall in numbers, including last year's closing the service station at Pukenui, which had restricted many people's ability to get around, and which coincided precisely with the roll decline.

"Transportation is a big issue. People can't afford to go running around in their cars as much as they used to in case they run out of gas," she said.

She had approached local health provider Whakawhiti Ora Pai, seeking a count of the district's pre-schoolers; last year there were 70.

"Parents need to understand that children learn through play, interacting with other children," Ms Brown added.

A public meeting called at the playcentre last week attracted "about 10" people, but unfortunately none of them were 'new' parents. The playcentre currently has a roll of seven, with three of those children either leaving the district or going to school next term.

Ms Brown said her main aim was to keep the playcentre open and increase enrolments, and, if that wasn't viable, to find out what the community would like, be it a playcentre or playgroup, that could use the same facilities.

"I would love something to be as parent-orientated as much as it is child-orientated. Places like playcentre are not just for the kids, they are just as much for the adults too," she said.

Heather Denison, whose granddaughter India attends the playcentre, said it had been built with community fundraising, "and to lose it would be sad."

Tania McBirney, who has been attending "off and on" for the last 14 years, had enjoyed it.

"It's been great for the kids and I've made lots of good friends.

"It will definitely be a loss for the community," she said.

The mothers generally accepted that times had changed, however, and that factors such as women having to return to work sooner could have played a big part in the decline in numbers. Ms Brown noted that attendances had dropped nationwide.

Meanwhile anyone with any ideas was welcome to contact her on phone 408-6293.