Centre Cook Mana

Do you love creating delicious, nourishing kai and bringing joy to little hearts through food? Active Explorers Mana is looking for a vibrant, organised Centre Cook to join our busy, laughter‑filled centre.

Nestled in the heart of Mana, Porirua, our centre is surrounded by natural beauty, community spirit, and rich Māori identity. With 77 tamariki to fuel each day, this role is full of energy, purpose, and connection — you’ll be right at the heart of our whānau.

What you’ll enjoy:

• Close to natural scenery, supermarkets, and public transport
• Plenty of onsite parking
• A fun, supportive team who value your mahi
• Subsidised childcare for your tamariki
• Half‑day birthday leave (because you deserve it!)

What the role looks like:

You’ll independently run our kitchen — planning menus, preparing morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea, managing stock and supplies, cleaning up and doing the dishes, and keeping everything humming. You’ll chat with tamariki, support teachers during mealtimes, and occasionally lead fun baking or cooking activities. It’s a busy role, but full of warmth, creativity, and connection.

You’ll thrive here if you:

• Have experience with menu planning or bulk cooking (ECE experience is a bonus)
• Are calm, organised, and great at managing your time
• Love working with children and being part of a team
• Can follow food safety guidelines (we’ll train you if needed)
• Are a confident communicator with strong English skills
• Enjoy a role where no two days are the same

If this sounds like you, we’d love to meet you. Come join our whānau and help nourish the next generation.