Meet our kaiako
L to R: Tamara, Traceylee, Moni, Fenella and Natasja
Four Seasons Kindergarten began with a group of whānau who, after spending time with the Steiner Playgroup in Taupō, shared a vision for something more. They wanted a place where young children could simply be children — unhurried, deeply connected to nature, and free to learn through play, rhythm, and the texture of real life. Rooted in the Steiner Waldorf philosophy, Four Seasons was built on the belief that these early years are not a preparation for what comes next, but a precious and complete time in themselves. The kindergarten officially opened in January 2011, and for over fourteen years has offered whānau in Taupō an approach to early childhood that honours the whole child — their imagination, their senses, their need for beauty, warmth, and belonging.
We believe you should know the people who will spend their days with your tamaiti. We are a small, close-knit team — each of us drawn to this place for our own reasons, and each of us committed to the tamariki and whānau in our care. Here's a little about who we are.
Fenella has been a kaiako at Four Seasons for fourteen years, and was one of the founding whānau who helped bring this kindergarten to life. A mother of two grown children, she was seeking a more natural approach to childhood when she helped establish the playgroup that grew into Four Seasons. She values the unhurried rhythm of Steiner education deeply, and you'll often find her connecting with tamariki through time in nature, the garden, and the outdoors. Taupō, with its mountains and lake, is very much home.
Traceylee came to Four Seasons first as a founding whānau member, inspired by the Steiner Waldorf philosophy for her own children Blake and Amelia. She joined the daily life of the kindergarten in 2013 and has been woven into its fabric ever since. Alongside her kaiako role, she manages the administration that keeps the kindergarten sustainable, serves on the SEANZ board, and is a trained Simplicity Parenting Family Life coach. You'll find her in the kitchen, in the garden, and at the heart of our community three days a week.
Moni began at Four Seasons as a volunteer in 2019 during her Bachelor of Early Childhood Education, and never really left. Growing up in a farming community, she felt an immediate connection to the kindergarten's ties to nature, the seasons, and real-life meaningful tasks. Now nearing the completion of her Diploma in Steiner Education, Moni continues to be part of our team in a casual relief capacity following the arrival of her baby — and we are so glad to still have her with us.
Tamara first came to Four Seasons in 2022 as a relief teacher looking for work experience to complement her early childhood studies — and like so many of us, the people and the philosophy captured her heart. Now fully qualified and a full-time kaiako, she is a cherished part of our team. She begins her own Diploma in Steiner Education in January 2027 — a commitment that speaks to exactly the kind of kaiako she is. Outside of mahi, Tamara loves to read, bake, sing at church, and take quiet walks by the lake with her husband after busy days.
Natasja brings a wonderfully varied path to her role — a degree in French, officer training in the NZ Army, years in hotel management, and then a postgraduate teaching diploma before beginning her family. Born in Amsterdam and raised across several countries, she brings richness of experience and perspective to her kaiako role every day. All three of her tamariki spent their kindergarten years at Four Seasons, and when the time came to return to teaching, there was only one place she wanted to be. Natasja is with us three days a week.
Our values of play, nourishment, and whanaungatanga are not just words on a wall — they are the heartbeat of our days. You'll find them in the bread baking in the kitchen, in the tamariki deep in imaginative play in the garden, and in the relationships we build with every whānau who becomes part of our community.
The best way to get to know us is to visit. We'd love to meet you.