With the new school year drawing near some families in the Bay of Plenty are finding it hard to cater to the costs and demands of education.  Fees, stationary and uniforms come at a cost and funding avenges to pay for them cuts into families income.  Jonathat Miki, kaiako at Te Kohanga reo o Te Ao Marama in Whakatāne, says that they help the parents with in there kohanga by buying school bags and other items for those children ready to start at the primary school level.

Ko te rā tuatahi tēnei mo ētahi ki te haere ki te kura, mo ētahi o ngā whanau huri noa ka puta mai te taumaha ki runga i o rātou pūkoro na runga i ngā utu mo te mātauranga.  Ngā mana kura, pukapuka me ngā Kākahu kura ētahi o ngā uauatanga e pā ana ki te taha utu.  Na kona kua tahuri te kōhanga reo o Te Ao Marama ki Whakatāne te awhina i ngā whanau o ngā tamariki kei roto i to rātou kōhanga reo, ma te hoko peeke, pukapuka hei perehana ma ngā tamariki kua eke ki te reanga kua tata ki te haere ki te kura.