Kids ‘n’ Koffee has become a Māpua institution over the years, and after the sale of the Old Church it has found a new home.
One of the coordinators, Mary Barton, says it has been a group for young families to make connections for more than three decades and that wasn’t going to end when the Old Church sold. Finding a new home just across the road in the Hills Community Church has been the perfect outcome.
“The church has done so much work to accommodate us,” she says. “They bring cakes and biscuits – amazing treats!”
She says the group is “super stoked” with its new space and will continue to create memories for families as well as carrying out an important role in the community.
“It’s as much a support group for mums and dads with young children and it’s neat seeing the connections,” she says. “Those connections are so important. We get so caught up in our own little world and it can be detrimental to mental health.”
Mary says there are fewer opportunities for parents with young children to meet casually these days, which makes Kids ‘n’ Koffee’s longevity very special.
Around 40 children come from as far as Richmond, Upper Moutere and Motueka to the weekly sessions and Mary says they’re seeing new faces all the time as young families join the community.
“They come for the vibe – they love it!”
