# Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Kohao o Te Ngira [View online](https://theparentcircle.com/listings/te-khanga-reo-o-te-kohao-o-te-ngira) - Type: Te Kōhanga Reo - Location: Hamilton East, Waikato - Address: 951 Wairere Drive - Rating: 3.8 / 5 from 5 reviews - 20 Hours ECE: Eligible - Pricing: Available on request - Availability: Open spots reported ## Overview Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Kohao o Te Ngira is a te kōhanga reo located in Hamilton East, Waikato. Community based governed. 20 Hours ECE eligible. ## Key facts - Age range: 0-5 years - Teacher ratio: 1:5 - Licensed capacity: 35 children - Under 2s capacity: 12 children - Ownership type: Community based ## Philosophy Play-based learning with a focus on belonging, curiosity, and confidence. ## Reviews ### null review (5/5) Lovely doctors and staff. Even though its Maori service, they accept EVERYONE nit just Maori..as do most if not all Maori services. Appointments with gp's can be difficult to get ..spos just like other medical centres. ### null review (3/5) I engaged with Te Kōhao Health over several years, both as a service user and previously as an employee. My experience included Miro o te Ora medical clinic, drug and alcohol services, Te Whare Tūhono, Whānau Direct, and marae-based court processes. This review reflects my lived experience during a specific period of time. Services may have changed since then. Te Kōhao Health helped me in meaningful ways, particularly during periods of instability, and I acknowledge the genuine effort of many staff. The kaupapa Māori foundation is important and, at times, well expressed. However, positive intent does not negate the impact of systemic and operational failures that I experienced. Access to primary care (Miro o te Ora) Access to GP care was consistently difficult. Waiting two to three weeks for an appointment was common, and continuity of care was weak. If an enrolled doctor was unavailable, seeing another clinician often resulted in limited assistance. While this model may function administratively, in practice it created barriers for people needing timely and consistent care. Drug and alcohol services My experience with drug and alcohol support was unsafe and distressing. The counselling environment felt dismissive and, at one point, became aggressive. Despite engaging fully with what was asked of me, the service ultimately caused further harm rather than support. Te Whare Tūhono I stayed at Te Whare Tūhono for approximately four to five months. During that time, the service felt poorly structured, with policies and processes appearing to be developed as situations arose rather than through clearly established systems. A significant administrative error occurred when the required Residential Support Subsidy (RSS) was not completed with Work and Income. As a result, I was later required to pay over $600 directly to Te Whare Tūhono — a cost that should not have occurred. I was asked to leave the service due to alcohol use, while others involved in the same incident were permitted to remain. This inconsistency in how rules were applied raised concerns about fairness and transparency. Court-linked and whānau support services During marae-based court processes, I was expected to pay $80 per week in reparations despite being unemployed and living in emergency accommodation for an extended period. This expectation demonstrated a lack of realistic assessment of financial hardship and capacity. Psychological and counselling services Across multiple counselling engagements, I frequently felt pathologised rather than supported. On one occasion, a senior clinician stated they could not help me and sought to discharge me from the service, while also asking me to sign documentation limiting organisational liability. I declined and disengaged. The resulting gap in care had serious consequences, including loss of housing and employment. A recurring pattern across services was that when support was ineffective, responsibility was redirected back onto the client. This approach is unprofessional and inconsistent with kaupapa Māori principles of care. Organisational culture Interactions with staff, particularly by phone, were often abrupt and dismissive. From both an internal and external perspective, concerns appeared more likely to be met with defensiveness than reflection. While the organisation was clearly under pressure, effort alone does not replace accountability. Conclusion Te Kōhao Health plays an important role in the community and did help me in significant ways. However, it must be held to the same standards as any other health and social service provider. Being Māori-led does not remove the obligation to provide safe, consistent, and accountable care; if anything, it increases that responsibility. People engaging with these services deserve transparency. Vulnerable individuals need systems that function reliably, not assurances that cannot be sustained. ### null review (5/5) For the complete tikanga Māori health experience Te Kohao Health is your one stop medical centre. With simply amazing architecture and Te Ao Māori decor, a pharmacy, cafe etc this is the right place to go. Eager and enthusiastic doctors willing to go the second mile. Your loved ones will be treated with dignity and respect.