26 | REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Waikato Business Awards: Central Kids T T Sue Russell Central Kids big winner at awards Chief executive Christine Hall accepting the For Purpose award. T T to page 28 Word has it that the place to be when the winners were announced at the Waikato Business Awards, was somewhere close to tables 40 and 41, home to the contingent of professionals from early childhood education and social services provider Central Kids. Central Kids chief executive Christine Hall describes the gala event, held on 17 November 2023 at Claudelands Event Centre in Hamilton, as a wonderful evening among a bevvy of highly motivated professionals. “We had so much fun that night – two all-women tables celebrating our hard work and outstanding results. I was so very proud of the wāhine standing with me on stage, and for all the dedicated colleagues I’m fortunate to work alongside,” Christine says. Central Kids administers 52 early childhood services across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty, with around 4,000 tamariki enrolled in their centres each year. Christine says one of the organisation’s key goals is to break down any barriers that may prevent tamariki from engaging in early education, especially in communities that face challenges with housing and employment. “It’s vital we do all we can to encourage participation by tamariki and their whānau. Research has proven again and again how critically important the first five years of a child’s life are. The opportunities they receive to play and learn in a child-centred, warm and welcoming environment have lasting positive outcomes that flow on through their life.” Central Kids received two prestigious awards on the night – the For Purpose and People’s Choice awards. IT & Communications integration specialists in both cloud hosted and on premise environments We design, implement and support computer networks and telephone solutions for organisations of all sizes. Cloud Hosted Solutions | Conferencing and Displays | Consultancy and CIO Services CCTV Security Cameras | Document Management Systems | Managed Print Services Microsoft Solutions | Mobile Technologies | Onsite Network Solutions | Phone Systems Power Platform | Security and Protection | SIP Trunks | Ultrafast Broadband 07 929 4932 info@skypoint.co.nz skypoint.co.nz Ebbett Toyota - Three locations Waikato wide. Proudly supporting Central Kids since 2020. HAMILTON 5 Kahu Crescent, Te Rapa Park, Hamilton, 07 838 0499 MORRINSVILLE 85 Avenue Road North, Morrinsville, 07 889 7678 TE AWAMUTU 29 Kihikihi Road, Te Awamutu, 07 872 0017 YOUR VEHICLE SPECIALISTS. ebbetttoyota.co.nz
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=