money and get the centre started. It was decided to hold a dance to try to raise £50 for equipment. Everybody helped; there were raffles and stalls; donations were given and the catering was done by the mothers. After all expenses were paid, we found we could bank more than our target figure. The problem of a building was solved, temporarily at least, by the Headmaster of the Tiki Tiki Maori District High School, Mr H. Lambert, B.A., who offered us the use of an empty school house.

Making a Start The Tiki Tiki Play Centre was opened for the first time in June with a roll of seven. There wasn't much equipment to start with, mainly painting, drawing, cutouts, a few painted tins and blocks for the sandpit, but the Supervisor, Mrs Mana Rangi, managed to keep the small group of children happily occupied. Today the centre is much better equipped and the roll has grown to fifteen which includes the only Pakeha pre-school child in the township. Mr A. Grey, who visited us from Auckland, commented on the happy, relaxed atmosphere and the progress of both the mothers and the children. We are now applying for affiliation and, if this goes through, we receive a grant of £50 from the Government for upkeep and still more equipment. We owe much to Miss McIntosh, the District Nurse, who as Secretary has contacted the necessary people, acquired films, books, recordings and given the mothers an idea of what a Play Centre is and how it is run.

Special Section for Education This is the beginning of a regular feature on education which will appear in every issue of Te Ao Hou. It will include sections on pre-school, primary school and, we hope, post-primary school education. We invite contributions from readers who can tell us something about the ways in which their own communities are helping their children—with Play Centres, with homework schemes, and in many other ways. In the next column we publish an article about Play Centres, where pre-school children learn, through play, so much that helps them on their way when they begin at school. There is great interest in Play Centres in Maori communities these days; Mr A. Grey, who is the Director of Supervisor Training in the Auckland Play Centres Association and a lecturer at the Auckland Teachers' College, tells us here just what Play Centres are, and how they can be started.

Play Centres in Maori Communities by A. Grey Do children under five need pre-school experience? Do Maori children need pre-school experience? What kind of pre-school experience is best for children under five? Every year sees more children attending a pre-school. So if we judge by numbers only, we get the answer to our first questions—yes, children under five do need pre-school experience. Do Maori children need this experience? Yes, being children, they naturally need it, like all other children do. But what kind of pre-school for Maori children, any children? One kind of pre-school being developed with increasing swiftness throughout New Zealand is the Play Centre.

Widespread Interest Play Centres have become full, affiliated members of the Play Centre Association in Maori communities at Kokohuia and Te Ahu Ahu and another is nearly ready for affiliation at Tikitiki. Others are under consideration at Pukepoto, Te Hapua, Oruawharo, Omaio Bay, Ruatoria, Waiomatatini, to mention just a few names. Impetus was given in Northland earlier and has continued in its development under the hands of Mrs G. Andrews, Onerahi, Liaison Officer for the Northland Sub-Association of the Auckland Play Centres Association. On the East Coast and Bay of Plenty the first moves came from Alison McIntosh, Health Nurse, Tikitiki, and from school teachers on the Coast at Rangitukia, Tikitiki, Ruatoria and other areas, in discussion with Mrs O. E. Bickerton, County Liaison Officer, Auckland Play Centres Association. Then in May 1962 the Ruatoria Maori Leaders' Conference gave time to discussions on Play Centre. This was reinforced by a talk to interested groups in Gisborne, Ruatoria and Tikitiki, and still further by a tour of the Bay of Plenty and East Coast by the Director of Supervisor Training, Auckland Play Centres Association, Mr A. Grey and his family. On a five-day tour they demonstrated, lectured,