Pitter patter of tiny feet for Daggs
All Blacks star Israel Dagg and wife Daisy will be hearing the pitterpatter of many feet after opening a childcare centre in Christchurch.
The couple, who became parents when son Arlo arrived in April, decided to invest in the new Moorhouse Ave branch of Co Kids after finding out the company, which has daycares in Auckland and Wellington, was coming to the garden city.
Daisy Dagg, who is passionate about healthy eating, first worked with Co Kids when she and Amber Vito — wife of Israel’s former All Blacks teammate Victor — helped the company design the sugar-free menu for its North Island centres after co-authoring the cookbook Kai For Kids.
“We are good friends with one of the owners and were having families around the same time,” she told the Herald on Sunday.
“I really liked what they were about.”
A group of Wellington dads founded Co Kids, formerly known as i-Kids, in 2005 as a quality childcare option for their own kids.
Steve Piper, one of Co Kids’ four directors, said they approached the Canterbury-based Daggs about being business partners because of their shared family values and knowledge of the area.
“The Daggs are on a similar journey to the one that the Co Kids established directors have already taken — starting their own family.”
Daisy Dagg said Co Kids Moorhouse Ave was “an innovative and modern” daycare that was easily accessible to businesses set up in the rebuilt CBD.
Her role involved creating recipes using seasonal produce for the on-site chef to prepare and providing nutritional advice.
“Co Kids is sugar-free which means they don’t use processed sugars, so I’m always keeping that in mind,” Daisy Dagg said.
“I definitely will be taking inspiration from our Kai For Kids cookbook over the next few months for new menu ideas.”
The Moorhouse Ave capacity for 75 children.
The facilities included two agespecific spaces “with natural textures and a peaceful environment” designed to support children’s learning and development based on respect and care, Piper said. site had