in beautiful Mount Maunganui
Superior quality furniture
Operating ethically & sustainably
We are very proud of our team
With this centre, there was a story to tell and together we found a way to communicate that story. I took inspiration from the traditional Cook Island houses with their straw roof shape to try and create a silhouette of the furniture pieces that was familiar. On the the locker doors we used the center’s logo and the art work from the center that tells the story of how the Cook Island people once came to New Zealand. We also engraved the play house. We used the lockers and storage units as dividers for the big open room that hosts all age groups, to separate the Infants from the Toddlers and Preschoolers. In the middle of the dividing wall we had tunnel seat units with a clear perspex window so that the separated age groups could still see and connect with each other.
Rouruina and her team have been so lovely to work with and truly inspirational. We have had great communication from the first day and she always had a clear idea of what she wanted to achieve and that story to tell, and that has made our work so much easier. The highlight was to come back to the centre and see it all finished. The centre is beautiful, warm, inviting and fun, both inside and outside. This will be a great place for the community. We wish you all the best for the future! – Elinor, Starex Designer
"It is incredibly emotional for us seeing this vision come to life. It has been a seven-year project and it is so good to arrive and see what perseverance and persistence can produce. This space makes me so happy – the building makes me so happy – here we talk about three key things: the children and their families, the teachers, and the resources that are available in this centre for the education of our children. We tell our families that they deserve the best and with this centre, they get the best. We are so proud of what we can showcase for them – this place is built for them and everything reflects this
One of the most difficult challenges for us was finding the right partners that would see our vision and who would then give us an excellent product. Starex came highly recommended from our architects and we know they know what excellence looks like: we chose to work with Starex because they’re an excellent producer of furniture.
The Starex team have been amazing and really listened to what we wanted and were patient throughout and provided helpful information whenever it was needed. I loved the process because it helped us refine what this space looks like, not just for 2-3 years, but 10-15 years in the future.
We saw what Starex had done with ECE’s and we trusted the recommendations of our providers. We absolutely love what has been produced. The engagement throughout has been the highlight.
We wouldn’t settle for anything but excellence for our children and community. We didn’t want to compromise on a centre of excellence and the vision of having a beautiful space with the highest quality product. We want to keep everything that will last for our families and their families to come. All of our furniture and resources we have here we see as an investment into our children and we are so happy for that."
18 Portside Drive
Mount Maunganui, 3116
New Zealand
+64 7 575 4247
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