Book a tour
Our original centre on Maskell Street has welcomed generations of St Heliers families. Two warm, characterful homes, expansive gardens, mature trees and a devoted team who carry 40 years of this community's trust.
Bear Park St Heliers is a Reggio-inspired early learning centre at 114-116 Maskell Street, Bear Park's founding home since 1986, caring for tamariki aged 3 months to 5 years from St Heliers, Glendowie and Kohimarama.
Bear Park was founded here in St Heliers in 1986, and this centre has inspired the entire Bear Park network ever since. The loyalty of its families and the depth of its community connections reflect four decades of care given and trust earned.
Spread across two warm, modified residential homes on Maskell Street, the environment is designed to feel familiar and nurturing. Shaded outdoor areas, mature trees and well-established gardens give children space to explore, create and imagine every day.
Children at St Heliers develop a strong sense of identity and kotahitanga within their community. A long-standing team builds deep bonds with tamariki and whānau across the infant-toddler centre and preschool, carrying children through to school with trusted kaiako alongside them.
A short welcome from the person who leads the St Heliers team, who would love to meet you and your child in person.
Our teachers are inspired by Reggio Emilia, the RIE approach and Te Whāriki, with genuine relationships between children, parents and teachers at the centre of everything we do.
Director nameCentre Director · St Heliers
We are gathering whānau stories from our St Heliers families. In the meantime, we would love to show you around in person.
Bear Park St Heliers is at 114-116 Maskell Street, St Heliers, Auckland 1071. St Heliers village shops and St Heliers School are a 5 minute walk, and St Heliers Beach is a 3 minute drive. A well-established choice for families in the eastern bays. Open Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 6.00pm. Nearby suburbs: Glendowie, Kohimarama, Meadowbank, Point England.
At Bear Park St Heliers, our kaiako-to-child ratios are kept generous so every tamariki is genuinely known. More teachers build security, and secure children learn better. We maintain ratios that go beyond licensing requirements, and in our youngest rooms the environment is particularly intimate and responsive.
Our kaiako at Bear Park St Heliers come with a range of experience and credentials. At least 80% hold a recognised ECE or Primary teaching qualification at NZQA Level 7 or above, with Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand registration. Those working towards their qualification do so while working in the centre, gaining real experience alongside their studies. All teaching staff, at every stage of their career, are supported by Bear Park's Curriculum and Operations team.
Bear Park St Heliers welcomes children from 3 months to 5 years. From pēpi through to preschool, your child can grow with us and build secure bonds with their kaiako over time.
For fee information, please contact Bear Park St Heliers directly. We're also part of the Government's 20 Hours ECE funding scheme for eligible three- and four-year-olds.
This is where Bear Park began. The centre has been part of Maskell Street since 1986, which makes it our founding home and forty years young in 2026.
Availability at Bear Park St Heliers changes regularly. Contact our team to find out about current spaces and we'll guide you through the next steps.
Visit bearpark.co.nz and click Book a Tour to arrange a visit to Bear Park St Heliers. You can also download our Parents Guide from the website to find out more about what makes Bear Park different.
Book a tour
Free, about 45 minutes, and it asks nothing of you. This is your time to see Bear Park's philosophy in practice.
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