Background
In 2005 a group of Northland early childhood teaching professionals identified a gap in ongoing engagement in professional learning from teachers within the early childhood sector in Te Taitokerau. They determined at the time that a Northland focused conference needed to be held that was both affordable and accessible to all involved in the wider ece sector in order to grow their professional knowledge.
From here the Celebrating Northland’s Tamariki conference committee was formed by this group of inspirational leaders within the early childhood community. The now biennial not for profit conference and all that goes with organising it, is done so on a voluntary basis with representatives on the committee from the Ministry of Education, Northland District Health Board, Northland Kindergarten Association, Educare, Avenues Educare, Te Rito Maioha, and the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand.