Tumuaki-Principal
Presiding Member
I have lived in the Melville area for the past 20 years with my partner Sarah and we have two children at Mangakōtukutuku College. Our children have attended local early learning, Deanwell Primary and Melville Intermediate. I have run a small business in Hamilton for almost 30 years and I was volunteer member of the Fieldays Society for over 30 years as well, I learned much about governance through the various roles I filled on boards, steering committees and advisory panels in both business and my voluntary roles.
Recently, I joined the Mangakōtukutuku College school board, bringing my governance experience and a strong commitment to our school community. I am passionate about fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where every student is given the opportunity to thrive.
Parent Representative
I’m a proud stay-at-home mum to three wonderful children aged 18, 15, and 10. My two eldest have both attended Melville High, with one now continuing at the newly established Mangakōtukutuku College, while my youngest daughter attends Southcity Christian School. I’ve been an active member of Friends of Southcity School for the past three years and also enjoy being the basketball manager for my daughter’s team.
I’ve been married for 23 years in Eskdale, Napier, where I’ve built a deep connection to the Bay and its community. Each Monday, I volunteer at a Christian charitable foodbank, which allows me to give back and support those in need. Alongside family and community life, I’m completing my Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing, driven by a strong passion for rescue animals and their care. I have a big heart for youth and mental health advocacy and am deeply committed to making a positive difference in the lives of others. I look forward to giving my all to serve on the Mangakotukutuku College School Board.
Parent Representative
Parent Representative
Naku te rourou, nau te rourou ka ora ai te Iwi!
He mihi nui ki te Atua
Naana ngaa mea katoa i hanga.
Ngaa mihi ki te Kuini, Nga Wai Hono i te Po, rire, rire hau – Paimaarire
Ko Pukewa me Moehau ooku Maunga,
Ko Te Pai-o- Hauraki me Taharua ooku Marae,
Ko Ngaati Tama-te-Ra me Ngaati Hako ooku hapuu,
Ko Ohinemuri tooku awa,
Ko Hauraki tooku Iwi.
Ko Tainui tooku waka.
Ki ngaa mate, ooku matua i te tau kua pahure me ngaa tupuna katoa ki tua o te aarai,
Moe mai ra koutou katoa.
No reira, teenaa koutou, teenaa koutou teenaa taatou katoa.
I am originally from Paeroa in Hauraki but have lived in Kirikiriroa (Hamilton) 32 years and am widowed now 12 years. I have 5 children and also cared for 8 foster children.
It is coming up 30 years, that I have represented whaanau on 8 different school Boards in Kirikiriroa. I learned early that I had a strong passion and tenacity for the kaupapa of improving educational success, in mainstream schools for all aakonga, with an eye for identifying akonga Maaori inequities and finding solutions to address these. This came from my own experience both personally as a Maaori wahine in education and with my own children of Maaori and Pacific birth right. It also enabled me to authentically speak up for Board members and their aakonga while holding regional and national positions in NZ School Trustees Assn as it was known then. This journey has enabled me to build up a wealth of professional experiences, expertise and national relationships in the work of a school board and therefore will benefit this Kura alongside the work of our staff, board colleagues and our great community of south west Hamilton.
From this point forward (Sept 2025) I am absolutely future focused and that begins with knowing who I service, our aakonga today alongside their whaanau and all the staff we employ. The words mahitahi and kotahitanga – epitomizes for me, our next steps as a Board in our work. Working together, whaanau and their rangatahi, staff, Iwi, Hapuu, Ministry of Education and you, our wider community stakeholders, using our collective strengths, strategically planning and getting the work done in a timely manner. Having a strong foundation will enable us to build a future focused, whaanau friendly successful educational institution.
We must be the school of choice for whaanau and their rangatahi, we must be the employer of choice for our staff as they inspire and work with our aakonga to achieve success and we must be the institution that neighboring, regional, national and international organisations want to partner with to resource the outstanding work that is required to achieve success for all.
I am ready to work smarter, excited to be here and humbled to know that I am not here by chance.
Kia Kaha, Kia Maia Kia Manawanui.
Ngaa mihi nunui.
Parent Representative
Ngaati Wairere
Staff Representative
Student Representative