Te Puna Playcentre has been around for 50 years – but the gear keeping the kids entertained remains largely the same.

Elyse Ward is the treasurer of the playcentre. She says an upgrade is desperately needed, and wants to start with a 'mud kitchen” by raising some funds from the community.

When questioned on what a 'mud kitchen” is, Elyse says it is a wooden outdoor area where making a great big mess is encouraged.

'The kids love it. It's a place where we can put mud or sand inside, and easily wash it away after playtime.”

Messy play isn't only for fun and games, as Elyse says it is 'an important part” of what a playcentre is.

'Kids do lots of learning making a mess and utilising mud kitchens. They learn all about textures, and how these objects interact.”

This mud kitchen effort is part of a long term plan by the playcentre to slowly upgrade their equipment over time.

Elyse says to upgrade the whole playground all at once would be a lot of money, so they're starting with a goal of $4000 to put a few mud kitchens in the place of the recently removed old 'dark and spooky” playhouse.

The playcentre is always looking for more families, and Elyse encourages anyone interested in utilising their facility to contact them on their Facebook page or website.

To make a donation or find out more about the Te Puna Playcentre's fundraising effort, visit their GiveALittle page, https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/local-playcentre-needs-some-tlc.