Rangitira - Management Team
“The visionary starts with a clean sheet of paper and re-imagines the world.”
Tracey and Johnny - centre Owners
Tracey's enormous heart discerns the world through the needs of those around her, and her greatest joy is to help every beautiful person feel valued, cared for, and understood.
As a successful midwife of many years, she bonded with mums and babies and saw their struggles when it came time to look for childcare and go back to work. She is famous for saying "we are modern mums with stone age babies", and always wished there was a way to match the realities of working parents with a kinder and more nurturing solution.
She had visions of orchards and gardens, natural toys and furniture, good old-fashioned values, and home-grown, home-cooked meals. She dreamed of teachers that were passionate learners, advocates for children, partners with parents, and brought their best selves to work every day.
She wanted city children to be able to run through grass and trees, fall in love with animals, and learn about the natural world around them. Old MacDonald's is Tracey and husband Johnny's labour of love for all parents and children. She is celebrating our opening with extra-long bubble baths and lots of family snuggle time.
Daynah - Operations Manager
Kia ora e te whaanau,
I have been on this journey with Old MacDonald’s since it was a tiny seed of an idea, and I feel privileged to have watched it grow and flourish in Newstead. Since it’s opening in January 2016 I have experienced a variety of roles, from teaching in every room, wearing the chef’s hat, working in admin and, most recently, the role of 2IC. I completed my qualifications in both management and teaching and I am so grateful to have been afforded the opportunity to learn and grow in my practice across the board and manage the Morrinsville centre and oversee the Newstead centre. Growing up, you could find me up at the crack of dawn me heading down the farm to feed the bobby calves I was determined to save before heading off to school. I was privileged to enjoy our beautiful country-side alongside my siblings, swimming in creeks, climbing the tallest trees and connecting with animals big and small. And now I am making it my mission along side for other children across the Waikato to experience this too. I am looking forward to working in partnership with you and our amazing team of talented child experts, who will hold, love, care for and treasure your child.
stephanie - Centre Manager
Bubbly, warm and welcoming Steph has been such a foundational part of Old MacDonald’s for the last 3.5 years! Steph has a heart of gold and will go above and beyond for anyone and everyone. Steph is married to her husband Lyall and has two awesome step daughters, Teeka and Willow at home. Steph is always up to something! Weather it is weekend day trips away with her hubby, popping over to Te Awamutu to see her family or whipping up creations in the kitchen.
Steph is the perfect person for our centre manager job! She is approachable, FUN and gets things done! Not only that, she puts on a fab shin dig! Old Macs is so lucky to have you, Steph!
Julie - Office Administrator
**Julie now works part time from home.
Meet Julie! Lucky for us, Julie has relocated to the Waikato from Whakatane to be closer to her whaanau. We certainly gained a gem when Julie walked through our doors. Her calm and approachable mannerism makes her the perfect addition for our front desk.
Julie has two adult children of her own, Jess and Matt. She is also a keen animal lover and is partial to say ‘yes’ to any new animal additions that need a safe and loving home.
Julie has four rescue cats- Little One, Pumpkin, Captain Handsome and Addy and two rescue dogs - Mandy and Duke. She will fit in just wonderfully with our animal loving teachers and children here at Old Mac’s.