Our Kitchen ....

At Weka, we recognise that healthy, nourishing kai is essential to a child’s wellbeing and learning. By providing food that supports sustained energy, brain development, and a positive relationship with eating, we help tamariki flourish, participate confidently, and thrive within our calm, holistic learning environment.

Menu

Our menu is thoughtfully crafted in accordance with the Healthy Heart Programme, supporting children’s wellbeing through nourishing, balanced kai. At Weka, mealtimes are opportunities for independence and contribution — tamariki self-serve, make choices, listen to their bodies, and take part in preparing food in meaningful ways.
For our Tuatara children, a weekly “make your own lunchbox” experience helps them learn the skills needed for school life, fostering responsibility, confidence, and pride in preparing their own kai.
We offer a wide range of freshly cooked meals, introducing tamariki to diverse flavours and cuisines from Aotearoa and beyond. These shared experiences enrich children’s understanding of culture, encourage adventurous eating, and support a positive relationship with food.
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Sonia - Weka Chef

Our talented cook Sonia brings warmth, creativity, and genuine care into the Weka kitchen each day. She lovingly prepares nutritious, home-style meals that are both delicious and beautifully presented, making kai time a special and comforting part of every child’s day.
Sonia’s passion for food is reflected in the thoughtfully designed menu, which offers tamariki a rich variety of tastes, textures, and nourishing options. She works closely with kaiako and whānau to cater for individual dietary needs — including allergies, intolerances, and cultural or religious food practices — ensuring every child feels respected, safe, and fully included in our shared food culture.

Weka Gardens

Our Weka garden is a living classroom where tamariki build deep connections with te taiao. Through planting, nurturing, and harvesting their own produce, children experience the wonder of growth and learn the value of sustainable, home-grown kai.
Adding garden produce to their daily meals gives tamariki a sense of pride and accomplishment, strengthening their respect for the earth, for food, and for their own contributions. These rich, hands-on experiences nurture whole-body wellbeing and support children to grow into confident, capable, joy-filled learners with meaningful life skills.

Allergies/Intolerances

Honouring cultural traditions around food and meeting individual health needs are central to our kai practices at Weka. Our kitchen proudly caters for allergies, intolerances, and unique dietary requirements, ensuring that every tamaiti is safe, respected, and able to participate confidently in shared mealtimes.
Sonia works closely with whānau, taking a personalised, face-to-face approach to understanding each child’s needs. Her care, attention, and genuine connection with families ensure that every dietary plan is thoughtfully followed and every child feels valued and included.

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