For a long time now the teachers at Greerton Early Childhood Centre have asked the question: “What does it mean for a child and their wha-nau/family to walk through the doors of our early childhood centre for the first time, each day and every day?” Over time as we have listened to families, read widely and come to understand Te Wha-riki (Ministry of Education, 1996) more deeply, our under- standing of children, families and wha-nau has undergone radical review and change.