Children’s University, Te Mātāpuna Mātātahi

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Logo of Children’s University, Te Mātāpuna Mātātahi in different colours

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Te Mātāpuna Mātātahi | Children’s University (TMMCU) supports and encourages tamariki aged 7 to 14 to participate in exciting and engaging learning experiences outside the classroom.

This programme aims to support aspirations to higher and further education, create a community of lifelong learners, and help tamariki to achieve their full potential.

Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury and Te Whare Wānaka O Aoraki | Lincoln University are working in partnership to deliver the programme in the Waitaha | Canterbury region.

How it Works

  • Tamariki join the programme through their participating school or rūnanga and are issued a Passport to Learning.
  • Tamariki fill their passports with hours through a range of learning experiences outside of the classroom including:
  • Visiting any of the 120 Learning Destinations, such as Museums, Art Galleries, Wildlife Parks, Libraries, and Local Parks.
  • Exploring the online portal which contains a huge variety of online learning activities.
  • Participating in after-school clubs and other activities such as sports, music, Girl Guides, and Scouts.
  • Some schools are invited to a Campus Experience Day where tamariki get to experience a range of exciting activities at either Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury or Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki | Lincoln University.
  • Once tamariki receive 30 hours or more of learning in their passports, they attend a graduation ceremony at the Christchurch Town Hall where they get to wear a graduation cap and gown and receive a certificate on stage to celebrate their achievements with whānau.

blue circle smiley face with green mouth 2 black dots as eyes and a red square as had, with yellow feather

Learning Destinations

We are thrilled to announce that Waimakariri Libraries are now an approved Learning Destination for the Children’s University, Te Mātāpuna Mātātahi, with LEGO Club, Take and Make Craft Packs, the QR Code Trail, and the Story Box Library Activity of the Month, as eligible learning activities to get a stamp in the tamariki’s Children’s University passports.

Learning destinations are organisations or locations that have been validated to ensure they provide high quality learning and educational opportunities and activities for tamariki. The Learning Destinations can be visited by tamariki outside of school hours either at the weekends or over the school holidays.

Check out our website and social media for more information about activities and educational opportunities, and after tamariki complete an activity, they received a stamp or sticker in the passport.

Visit the Children's University Australasia website for more information and to learn more about the Waitaha | Canterbury Learning Destinations.