Survey of Pt Chevalier community regarding the kindergarten
hub to be constructed at 90 to 94 Walmer Road, Pt Chevalier –
results
September 2015
1. Introduction
The Auckland Kindergarten Association surveyed residents of Pt Chevalier to
ascertain opinions in relation to the construction of a new centre at 90 to 94 Walmer
Road, Pt Chevalier. The survey ran on the ‘Survey Monkey’ website in August 2015.
There were 227 respondents.
2. Executive summary
The survey reveals three different groupings of opinion: ‘centre neighbours’,
‘kindergarten community’, and ‘non-kindergarten community’.
‘Centre neighbours’ tend to want a centre with the least possible impact on their
neighbourhood. Their concerns include noise, traffic and parking issues, and impact
on real estate prices.
Members of the existing ‘kindergarten community’ tend to want to preserve a
kindergarten option in Pt Chevalier. They tend to want 8.30am to 2.30pm hours only,
no school holiday services, and a traditional kindergarten approach.
Members of the ‘non-kindergarten community’, on the other hand, tend to want allday hours, and school holiday services.
Substantial numbers in both the ‘kindergarten’ and ‘non-kindergarten communities’
say they would be likely to use on-site community services such as Plunket, B4
School Health Checks, after-school classes for school children, and parenting
courses. And significant numbers in both groups say they would be likely to use an
on-site playgroup.
There is a sub-group, within the kindergarten community, however, that wants
nothing but a kindergarten. No Plunket. No B4 School Health Checks. And no
playgroup. Not even extension programmes for centre children such as gym and
dance classes. Those in this sub-group appear to want nothing but what they
perceive to be core kindergarten services.
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3. Three different groupings of opinion
The survey reveals three distinct groupings of opinion. These groups can be defined
as follows.
 ‘Centre neighbours’ are those who identify themselves as living ‘in the
immediate vicinity of new centre’ (n = 64);
 The ‘kindergarten community’ is those who indicated they are either currently
attending the kindergarten, have attended in the past, or will be enrolling
within the next 6 months (n = 133); and
 The ‘non-kindergarten community’ is those who indicated they have no such
association with the existing kindergarten (n = 65).
4. The contrasting views of those in the ‘kindergarten
community’ and those in the ‘non-kindergarten community’
This section compares the views of those in the ‘kindergarten community’ with those
in the ‘non-kindergarten community’.
‘What approximate opening hours would be of most use to you?’
When asked this question, those in the ‘kindergarten community’ answered as
follows.
o 12.62% said ‘7.30 am to 5.30 pm to align with the work day’;
o 72.82% said ‘8.30 am to 2.30 pm to align with the school day’;
o 12.62% said ‘4 hour sessions, mornings and afternoons’; and
o 1.94% said ‘none of these’.
When asked the same question, those in the ‘non-kindergarten community’
answered like this.
o 54.55% said ‘7.30 am to 5.30 pm to align with the work day’;
o 33.33% said ‘8.30 am to 2.30 pm to align with the school day’;
o 9.09% said ‘4 hour sessions, mornings and afternoons’; and
o 3.03% said ‘none of these’.
‘Rate the importance to you of… all-day opening hours… when choosing
childcare?’
When asked this question, those in the ‘kindergarten community’ answered as
follows.
o 13.73% said ‘very important’;
o 24.51% said ‘somewhat important’; and
o 61.76% said ‘not important’.
When asked the same question, those in the ‘non-kindergarten community’
answered like this.
o 42.42% said ‘very important’;
o 24.24% said ‘somewhat important’; and
o 33.33% said ‘not important’.
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‘Would you like the new centre to be open during the school holidays?’
When asked this question, those in the ‘kindergarten community’ answered as
follows.
o 28.16% said ‘yes;
o 55.34% said ‘no; and
o 16.5% said ‘don’t know.
When asked the same question, those in the ‘non-kindergarten community’
answered like this.
o 57.58% said ‘yes;
o 33.33% said ‘no; and
o 9.09% said ‘don’t know’.
‘We are considering running a “stay and play” group for families with under
two year olds in a dedicated room at our new centre. How likely would you be
to use this service?.’
When asked this question, those in the ‘kindergarten community’ answered as
follows.
o 10.78% said ‘very likely’;
o 21.57% said ‘somewhat likely’; and
o 67.65% said ‘not likely’.
When asked the same question, those in the ‘non-kindergarten’ community
answered like this.
o 18.18% said ‘very likely’;
o 33.33% said ‘somewhat likely’; and
o 48.48% said ‘not likely’.
‘How likely would you be to use the following services were they run from
rooms in our new centre?’
When asked this question, both ‘kindergarten’ and ‘non-kindergarten’ communities
showed substantial interest in the same four services: Plunket, B4 School Health
Checks, after-school classes for school children, and parenting courses.
Those in the kindergarten community answered as follows.
–
–
Plunket
–
'B4 School' health
checks
–
After-school classes
for school children
–
Parenting courses
Very likely
Somewhat likely
Not likely
–
–
–
28.57%
26.32%
45.11%
32.33%
21.80%
45.86%
20.30%
31.58%
48.12%
21.05%
33.08%
45.86%
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Those in the non-kindergarten community answered like this.
–
–
Plunket
–
'B4 School' health
checks
–
After-school classes
for school children
–
Parenting courses
Very likely
Somewhat likely
Not likely
–
–
–
20.00%
24.62%
55.38%
26.15%
21.54%
52.31%
27.69%
24.62%
47.69%
10.77%
35.38%
53.85%
5. The viewpoint of those in the ‘kindergarten community’
From the viewpoint of the ‘kindergarten community’ the situation looks like
this.
o
o
o
o
o
‘I think it would be a real shame to lose the current kindy model in Pt
Chev. We have lots of daycares but no other kindergarten or play centre
model in our suburb.’
‘My concern is that if the new centre becomes a commercially run day
care, as opposed to a sessional kindergarten, families who use the
current kindergarten may not be able to afford increased costs.’
‘We have enjoyed the way the kindy currently works, the relatively short
waiting list and the sense of local community for both the children and
parents.’
‘Strongly feel that enrolment in the kindergarten should be zoned for Pt
Chevalier (to maximize use by those who do live in Pt Chevalier).’
‘I feel that one of the best aspects about Pt Chevalier Kindergarten is the
teachers and I would be very disappointed if these teachers do not
continue on to the new kindergarten.’
A sub-group within the ‘kindergarten community’ would go further and appears to be
opposed to the inclusion of activities that most in the ‘kindergarten community’ say
they would use: services such as Plunket, B4 School Health Checks, and parenting
courses. This sub-group also rejects ‘extension programmes’ wanted by a majority in
both the ‘kindergarten’ and ‘non-kindergarten’ communities, programmes such as
such as ‘gym classes’, ‘specialist sports programmes such as mini soccer’, ‘dance
classes’, and ‘extension learning for four year olds’. For these people, it appears to
be unacceptable to digress from what they construe to be core kindergarten activity.
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6. The viewpoint of those in the ‘non-kindergarten community’
From the viewpoint of the ‘non-kindergarten community’, the situation looks
like this.
o
o
o
‘I think it is great the kindy will finally be changing their hours to meet the
needs of working families.’
‘I found the hours at pt chev kindy untenable when I returned to work and
sadly had to take my son out. My youngest has just started school but it's
great to hear Pt Chev kindy is finally moving with the times.’
‘Would be ideal if centre opened to 6pm. Very tough leaving work at 5 to
be back in Pt Chev by 5.30pm. Really good to see that you are
considering families where both parents work full-time and have realised
that needs have changed for families.’
7. The viewpoint of ‘immediate neighbours’
When asked if they lived in the immediate vicinity of the new centre, 64 survey
respondents said ‘yes’. This grouping (‘centre neighbours’) tends to want a centre
with the least possible impact on the neighbourhood.
From the viewpoint of centre neighbours, the situation looks like this.
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
‘Do not want this facility used as a community hub/centre… due to the
residential cohesion of our neighbourhood.’
‘I am very worried about the traffic… the site… is a very dangerous
narrow corner…’
‘I work from home and the noise from a kindy is a concern.’
‘I want to understand the type of groups that the room will be made
available to and restricted timelines of use.’
‘Safety (from community groups) of ourselves and our children after
hours.’
‘Construction delivery and work constraint schedules.’
‘(I want) to be kept informed with the progress and decision making
around the new kindergarten.’
‘The value of our houses will drop’.
Despite these concerns, it is interesting to note that exactly half of ‘centre
neighbours’ say they are either ‘very likely’ or ‘somewhat likely’ to use on-site Plunket
services; more than 40% say they are either ‘very likely’ or ‘somewhat likely’ to use
on-site B4 School Health Checks and ‘after-school classes for school children’; and
36% say they are either ‘very likely’ or ‘somewhat likely’ to use an on-site playgroup.
8. Conclusion
The survey makes clear which potential services are unwanted by all: ‘centre
neighbours’, the ‘kindergarten community’ and the ‘non-kindergarten community’.
These include: midwifery, budgeting services, family counselling, and the traditional
four-hour morning and afternoon kindergarten sessions.
It makes clear also that there is support in both ‘kindergarten’ and ‘non-kindergarten
communities’, and amongst ‘immediate neighbours’ for on-site services such as
Plunket, B4 School Health Checks, after-school classes for school children, and a
playgroup.
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Beyond this point, however, there is substantial disagreement between those who
want 8.30am to 2.30pm hours only, no school holiday services, and traditional
kindergarten services; and those who want all-day hours, and school holiday
services. And there is also concern amongst ‘immediate neighbours’ that a centre
with expanded services might disrupt the ‘residential cohesion of the neighbourhood’.
It is the job of the Auckland Kindergarten Association to address the frequently
contradictory wants and needs of all three community groupings - ‘kindergarten
community’, ‘non-kindergarten community’ and ‘centre neighbours’.
Services that work for the whole community are going to require goodwill and
tolerance from all parties – and compromise.
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