I have been working with young children in both New Zealand and China since 2014. After completing my Master of Teaching and Learning (Primary) here in New Zealand, I joined Tree Bears in 2022.At the beginning of 2025, my husband Tony and I were privileged to take over Tree Bears as part of our next exciting adventure. This opportunity is both humbling and inspiring, and we are committed to continuing Tree Bears' legacy of nurturing, play-based learning. I am passionate about creating a secure, flexible, and engaging environment that challenges tamariki and supports their development. I strongly believe in working alongside families and whānau, building partnerships that help each child reach their full potential.

I look forward to growing this learning community together.

I'm married with three lovely boys, I completed my Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) Level 7 in 2021. I have over 7 years' experience in Early Childhood Centres and I believe that every child is taonga (precious), they bring their own expertise, knowledge and world with them. My passion is to understand and connect with each child and their whānau to support them to become confident learners accepting themselves as a whole and an individual.

I believe that infants need to form a secure attachment to their primary caregiver to allow them to learn and achieve developmental milestones at their own pace. Forming an ever-growing respectful relationship with the infant will develop a sense of security for them. Allowing a reciprocal relationship to grow together shows a mutual respect between each other.

Kia ora, hello, 你好

My name is Mavis, and I am from China. I completed

Leavel 7 qualification learning in ECE in New Zealand.

I also hold a Master’s degree in Education from Australia

and have three years experience of physics teaching in

high school.

I believe every child is a unique individual with the

potenial to make meaningful contributions to our

community. Additionally, I deeply value the contributions that tamariki and whanau bring.

Therefore, I am committed to integrating music, visual arts, and science to create a learning environment where tamariki feel valued, respected, and empowered to express themselves authentically.

“Hi, my name is Georgia, I have been living in Hanmer Springs since 2019, I live on a dry stock farm with my partner Sam and my son Dalton.

I have my Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education), I have been qualified since 2017, and I am fully registered since 2021.

I have had the pleasure of working in different preschools and nursery’s for the past 8 years. I am very passionate about early childhood , I believe children learn through responsive and reciprocal relationships. I believe children should be free to explore the world and learn at their own pace. They need to feel safe and

secure in their environment but also be challenged by learning and trying new things.

I am so excited to be part of all Tree Bears children’s learning Journey. I look forward to working along side children and their families. “

Kia Ora koutou, Hello, Bonjour

My name is Manon. I am of French and Australian

background, and I’ve been part of the Tree Bears

whānau for almost three years now.

I’m currently studying towards my Diploma in Early

Childhood Education, and I’m passionate about

supporting tamariki as they begin their learning journey.

My goal is to create an environment that is fun, respectful, and full of adventure—where children feel confident, valued, and ready to take their next steps as they transition to school.

It’s such a privilege to be part of each child’s early

experiences, and I’m grateful to be doing this mahi

alongside such a supportive and passionate team.

Ngā mihi nui – thank you!

Hi, I’m Tony. I’m the owner of Tree Bears. At the

beginning of my career, I was a rocket assembler

working for the China Space Agency. After that,

I became an ECE teacher and worked at an

American International School. It has been my wife

and I’s dream to have our own kindergarten, and we

are very lucky to have realized this dream in our tenth

year of being ECE teachers.

I think every child is a unique treasure, and it is my

greatest fortune to accompany them as they grow up.

In the fifth year of teaching in New Zealand, we also

have our own treasure, which is my daughter. Being

a father is not only a new stage of my life, but also

gives me a different understanding of ECE.

We will work hard to create a more comfortable and

happy center for tamariki, and many thanks the

community for their trust and support.