Born in Wairoa, New Zealand

Ngāti Ruapani, Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Kahungungu, Ngāti Pākehā

Education: PhD, MA (Hons), Post Grad Dip Second Language Teaching, BA, Dip Teaching.

Experience: Grew up in a large family of eight children and our playground was Lake Waikaremoana, in the Ureweras. Lived in rural towns in the North Island and my whānau eventually settled in Hawkes Bay.

In the New Zealand Police in Auckland for nine years, which equipped me with a wide range of skills to work with the wider community. Been teaching for 26 years, including two years in Hong Kong. Spent a number of years at Auckland and Waikato universities involved in research on bilingual education and culturally responsive pedagogy.

Areas of responsibility: Director of International Students, Researcher.

Interests: Married with two daughters and two mokopuna and spend a lot of time with them and my wider whānau. I am passionate about education and believe that every student is entitled to the best education they can get. Enjoy travelling, walking and reading.

Massey High School: Been at Massey High School for 25 years teaching English and ESOL.

A strong believer in moral imperative, whānautanga and equity for all students. A context of working together in an educational setting may be seen as whānautanga. This is where teachers not only have a professional responsibility to teach their students, but they all begin to assume the same responsibility to nurture these students as though they were part of their own whānau.

I wanted to become a teacher to help make a positive difference for the future of the next generation of young people. I enjoy teaching and interacting with students every day and encouraging them to become life-long learners.

Ngā mihi aroha ki a koutou katoa.