Past and present friends and whanau of Avon Kindergarten together celebrated the kindergarten's 50th birthday on Saturday.
Head teacher Lynsi Latham-Saunder thanked those present for their support over the years, saying "it feels like a patchwork quilt, each person has added their own piece of fabric in their time with the kindergarten, helping us to create this beautiful place".
Lynsi also paid tribute to Nancye O'Keeffe, a founding member of the kindergarten. Nancye, who was present, says she saw the need for another kindergarten in Stratford as she and other mothers had to "walk a fair way to get to the central one at the time".
Nancye says not only did she and her peers have to fundraise and campaign for the kindergarten, but they were also fighting a prejudice of the time, which saw people thinking that mothers should stay home with their children and so a kindergarten wasn't needed.
Staff planted a copper beech tree in the play area to mark the occasion, with Lynsi saying it would provide welcome shade for future generations of children to play under.