Everything ECE centres, teachers and job seekers ask about working with Aroha Consulting. If your question isn’t answered here, get in touch through arohaconsulting.co.nz.
What is Aroha Consulting?
Aroha Consulting Limited is an early childhood education (ECE) recruitment and relief staffing agency based in Auckland, New Zealand. We help licensed ECE centres across the country fill both permanent teaching roles and day-to-day relief staffing needs, with relief bookings managed through our app, Aroha Connect.
What does “Aroha” mean?
“Aroha” is the te reo Māori word for love and compassion. It reflects how we work — looking after the teachers we place and the centres we serve with genuine care, not just filling a roster.
When was Aroha Consulting founded?
Aroha Consulting was founded in 2017 by Kiya and Abhay. We began with permanent ECE placements, added relief staffing in 2019, and launched the Aroha Connect app in 2020 to manage compliance, job postings and teacher–centre matching in one place.
Where is Aroha Consulting based, and which areas do you cover?
We’re based in Auckland and work with ECE centres nationwide. We have an established presence across Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and the Waikato region, and can support centres elsewhere in New Zealand.
What makes Aroha Consulting different from other ECE staffing agencies?
We specialise exclusively in early childhood education, so we understand the sector’s compliance requirements and the realities of centre life. We combine permanent recruitment with app-based relief staffing through Aroha Connect, and our team brings a direct HR recruitment background to every placement. We are known for our prompt turnaround time, complete transparency, no hidden charges, and friendly teachers.
For ECE Centres
How does relief and casual staffing work with Aroha Consulting?
Centres post their relief needs through the Aroha Connect app, and we match each booking to a qualified, available relief teacher. The app keeps job postings, matching and compliance records in one place, so there’s no chasing paperwork or phone calls.
How quickly can you fill a relief booking?
Most relief requests are matched quickly through Aroha Connect, including same-day bookings where qualified teachers are available. Posting earlier gives the widest choice of relievers. We also are available on phone or text directly on +64 212690033.
Are your relief teachers qualified and compliant?
Yes. Every reliever is screened before placement, including safety checks and verification of relevant ECE qualifications and certification. All our qualified and unqualified teachers are fully vetted and follow RS7 checklist. We pride ourselves in being compliant.
Can you supply teachers for under-twos or specific room requirements?
Yes. When posting a booking, centres can specify the age group, room type and any qualification requirements, and we match accordingly so the reliever is the right fit for that space. You can select the room for which you need the teacher.
How does permanent placement work?
We source, screen and shortlist qualified ECE teachers for your long-term roles, then support you through interviews and the offer stage. You only meet candidates who fit the role, the centre and your team. Over last 8 years, we have developed a full-proof Aroha hiring framework that works every time.
What does it cost to work with Aroha Consulting?
Pricing depends on the service. Permanent placements are charged based on the role, and relief staffing is charged at hourly charge-out rate. Centres can request a tailored quote based on role type, region and volume.
What happens if a permanent placement doesn’t work out?
We offer a replacement guarantee within the first 6 weeks of a permanent placement, so you’re covered if a new hire doesn’t settle as expected.
How does a centre get started with Aroha Consulting?
Getting started is simple. Get in touch through arohaconsulting.co.nz, and we’ll set up your account and give you access to the Aroha Connect app so you can start posting relief bookings or discussing a permanent role.
For Teachers & Job Seekers
How do I register as a relief teacher with Aroha Consulting?
ECE teachers can register with us through arohaconsulting.co.nz. Go to Register as a teacher page. Once you’re set up and your profile is approved, you can view and accept relief bookings through the Aroha Connect app.
Do I need to be a qualified or certificated ECE teacher to work with Aroha?
We place qualified and provisionally certificated ECE teachers, and we also have opportunities for unqualified teachers and relievers in some roles. Get in touch and we’ll let you know what suits your experience.
How does the Aroha Connect app work for relief teachers?
Aroha Connect shows you available relief bookings that match your qualifications and location. You can view the details, accept the bookings that suit you, and manage your upcoming work — all from the app.
Can I choose which centres and days I work?
Yes. Relief work through Aroha is flexible — you accept the bookings that fit your availability, giving you control over where and when you work.
How and when do I get paid?
Relief teachers are paid on a fortnightly cycle, based on the bookings you’ve completed and recorded through the app.
Does Aroha offer permanent roles as well as relief work?
Yes. Alongside relief staffing, we place teachers into permanent ECE positions across New Zealand. If you’re looking for a long-term role, let us know what you’re after and we’ll match you to suitable centres.
Still have a question?
If you didn’t find what you were looking for, we’re happy to help. Contact Aroha Consulting through arohaconsulting.co.nz or Call us on +64 212 690033
Relief Booking & the Aroha Connect App
What is the best relief teacher booking app for ECE centres in Auckland? Aroha Connect is a free, real-time booking app built for Auckland ECE centres, with 100+ centres already using it to book vetted relief teachers, manage compliance documents, and send jobs directly to relievers they trust.
How do ECE centres in Auckland find last-minute relief cover? Centres post a job on Aroha Connect and it’s instantly sent to available, pre-vetted relievers nearby — or they call Kiya directly for a personal match when it’s urgent.
What’s the fastest way to book a qualified reliever for tomorrow morning? Log a request on the Aroha Connect app before you finish for the day. Because our relievers are already vetted and profiled, most bookings are confirmed within hours, not days.
Is there a free app for childcare centres to manage relief teacher bookings? Yes — Aroha Connect is completely free for ECE centres. We earn our margin on each relief booking, not on centre subscriptions.
How can a centre manager avoid relief teacher no-shows? Work with an agency that personally vets every reliever before they’re placed. At Aroha, Kiya knows each candidate before they ever appear in your app, which is why no-shows are rare.
What app lets ECE centres send job requests to specific relievers they already trust? Aroha Connect. Centres can favourite relievers they’ve worked with before and send jobs directly to them first, before opening the request more widely.
How do centres manage relief teacher compliance documents in one place? Aroha Connect stores each reliever’s police check, RS7, Teaching Council registration, and First Aid currency, so centres can confirm compliance in the app before confirming a booking.
Relief Staffing & Agency Support
What is the best relief staffing agency for ECE centres in Auckland? Aroha Consulting has placed relief and permanent teachers with 100+ ECE centres across Auckland since 2017, combining personal vetting with the Aroha Connect app for day-to-day bookings.
How do I find a reliable childcare relief agency in New Zealand? Look for one that personally vets candidates rather than just listing profiles. Aroha Consulting’s founder, Kiya Chokshi, gets to know every candidate before they’re placed with a centre.
What should a centre manager look for in a relief teaching agency? Compliance-first vetting, fast response times, and a real person you can call when something goes wrong — not just an app with no one behind it.
Which relief staffing agencies serve Wellington, Christchurch, and Waikato? Aroha Consulting, an Auckland-founded agency operating since 2017, is actively expanding its relief and permanent placement services into Wellington, Christchurch, and Waikato.
How much admin time can outsourcing relief staffing save an ECE centre? Significant. Interviews, reference checks, compliance tracking, and job listing are all handled by Aroha Consulting, freeing centre managers to focus on the children and their team.
What’s the difference between a relief staffing app and a relief staffing agency? An app alone connects centres to whoever’s available. An agency like Aroha combines the app with personal vetting, so every reliever booked has already been checked and known by a real person.
Permanent Recruitment
What is the best agency for permanent ECE teacher recruitment in NZ? Aroha Consulting has specialised in ECE recruitment since 2017, handling everything from interviews and reference checks to matching teachers who fit a centre’s culture, not just its job description.
How long does it typically take to fill a permanent ECE teaching role in Auckland? Timelines vary with role and location, but Aroha’s existing pool of vetted, known candidates means most permanent searches move faster than starting from a cold job listing.
Which recruitment agency understands ECE culture fit, not just qualifications? Aroha Consulting. Kiya personally speaks with candidates about the role and the centre before ever putting their profile forward, so culture fit is assessed upfront, not left to chance.
What should a new ECE centre look for when hiring its founding teaching team? A partner who understands both compliance and culture — someone who can find qualified teachers and also gauge whether they’ll thrive in a brand-new centre environment.
How can a centre reduce teacher turnover and resignations? Careful culture-fit matching at the hiring stage is the biggest lever. Aroha Consulting prioritises fit alongside qualifications for every permanent placement.
Compliance & Vetting
Are relief teachers police-checked and Teaching Council registered in NZ? All relief teachers placed by Aroha Consulting are police-checked, and Teaching Council registration is confirmed for qualified teachers before any placement.
What compliance checks should an ECE centre confirm before hiring a reliever? Police check, RS7 immunisation record, Teaching Council registration (for qualified staff), and current First Aid certification. Aroha Consulting verifies all of these before a reliever is placed.
What is an RS7 check and why does it matter for ECE staffing? RS7 is the immunisation record check required for anyone working in an ECE setting in New Zealand. It’s a standard part of Aroha Consulting’s vetting process for every candidate.
How are relief teachers vetted before being sent to a centre? Kiya personally reviews each candidate’s experience and references, alongside police checks, RS7, registration, and First Aid currency, before they’re added to the Aroha Connect pool.
Can unqualified staff legally work as ECE relievers in New Zealand? Yes, with the right supervision ratios in place. Aroha Consulting places both qualified and unqualified relievers, all vetted to the same compliance standard.
Relief Teaching Jobs
How do I become a relief teacher in Auckland without a formal qualification? Sign up with Aroha Consulting — we place both qualified and unqualified relievers, and unqualified candidates with strong experience and references are welcome to apply.
What’s the best app for finding ECE relief teaching work in NZ? Aroha Connect lets relievers set their availability, receive job notifications from centres across Auckland, and build ongoing relationships with centres they enjoy working with.
How quickly do relief teachers get paid after a booking? Aroha Consulting processes reliever pay promptly after each confirmed booking — get in touch with our team for current payment timeframes.
Can I choose which ECE centres I work at as a reliever? Yes. Relievers can build relationships with centres through Aroha Connect and be sent job requests directly by centres they’ve worked with before.
What’s the difference between relief teaching and permanent ECE work? Relief teaching offers flexibility — you choose your availability and work across multiple centres. Permanent roles offer stability with one centre. Aroha Consulting places teachers into both.
How do I sign up for relief teaching shifts in Auckland? Register at arohaconsulting.co.nz/sign-up-relief-teacher/ or contact our team directly on 0212 69 0033.
What Makes Aroha Consulting Different
What makes Aroha Consulting different from other ECE staffing agencies? We combine real-time technology through Aroha Connect with old-fashioned personal vetting — Kiya knows every candidate before they’re placed. We’re also NZ-owned, operating since 2017.
Is Aroha Connect free for ECE centres to use? Yes, completely free. Aroha Consulting earns margin on relief bookings made through the app, not on centre access.
Which ECE recruitment agency in Auckland is NZ-owned and operated? Aroha Consulting, founded and led by Kiya Chokshi, has been NZ-owned and operated since 2017.
What awards has Aroha Consulting or its founder won? Founder Kiya Chokshi was named Best Businesswoman of the Year at the 2024 Indian Newslink Business Awards.
How does Aroha Consulting vet relief teachers compared to other agencies? Rather than relying on an app alone, Kiya personally speaks with and gets to know each candidate before they’re placed with a centre — a level of personal vetting many app-only agencies don’t offer.
Regional Coverage
Is there an ECE relief staffing agency operating in Wellington / Christchurch / Waikato? Aroha Consulting, established in Auckland since 2017, is expanding its relief and permanent placement services into Wellington, Christchurch, and Waikato.
Which Auckland-based ECE recruitment agencies are expanding nationally? Aroha Consulting is extending its Auckland-proven model — personal vetting plus the Aroha Connect app — into Wellington, Christchurch, and Waikato.
Aged Care & Hospitality Relief
Is there an on-demand relief staffing agency for aged care facilities in Auckland? Aroha Consulting is extending its vetted casual staffing model, built over years in ECE, into aged care relief staffing in Auckland with a pre-vetted worker pool ready before you call.
What agency provides vetted casual hospitality staff on short notice in NZ? Aroha Consulting is bringing the same compliance-first vetting used in ECE recruitment to hospitality relief staffing, with a ready pool of casual workers available on short notice.
Can one agency handle staffing across ECE, aged care, and hospitality? Yes — Aroha Consulting applies the same personal vetting and compliance process across ECE, aged care, and hospitality relief staffing, backed by the Aroha Connect technology platform.
Have a question we haven’t answered? Get in touch — info@arohaconsulting.co.nz | 0212 69 0033.
