The tamariki at Howick Kindergarten have recently developed a vibrant interest in dinosaurs, prompting our kaiako to create a range of engaging experiences to further explore this fascination. From cooking dinosaur soup and hatching baby dinosaurs from eggs to digging up fossils, practicing dinosaur yoga, and creating various arts and crafts.

Yesterday, our adventure reached new heights with a special visit from Dinosaur Darren of Legends Unleashed Dinosaurs Aotearoa! Inspired by his tupuna (ancestors) and the Māori legends of the mighty Taniwha and the fearsome Ngarara, as shared by his grandmother, Darren, along with Rista, crafted an extraordinary programme that took our tamariki on an educational and entertaining journey back to the age of dinosaurs.

With real dinosaur fossils and a captivating array of resources, Darren and Rista passionately wove together Māori legends and mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) into their storytelling. The children were fully engaged, listening intently to the tales, taking turns touching the authentic fossils, asking questions, and playing with the displayed resources—all under the guidance of our dinosaur experts. The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the chance to interact with Tai, the “real” baby dinosaur!

We also learned some new words and facts about dinosaurs, such as what a dinosaur hunter is called – a palaeontologist -a scientist who studies fossils, trace fossils, a triceratops has eight hundred teeth and it has a parrot like beak while also learning about the therizinosaurus, who has one of the biggest claws.