Ko Stacey Brown toku ingoa. Ko au te uri no Ngati Te Ata, no Ngati Porou, no Te Whanau Apanui hoki.

Tena koutou

Ko Stacey Brown toku ingoa. Ko au te uri no Ngati Te Ata, no Ngati Porou, no Te Whanau Apanui hoki.

First of all I would like to acknowledge my tupuna and the people that have stood here before me. They are the ones who have shaped who I am today and will carve who I am tomorrow. I am a strong believer in knowing who you are and where you come from. This is something some people spend their whole lives searching for and to me that is part of the journey in life. Acknowledging the past, learning in the present and building the future.

I am a mother of three beautiful children and my eldest shares the same birthday as me. They have taught me to face any challenge, be a good role model and follow my dreams. During my 12 years of being a mum I have received a Bachelor of Visual Arts, a Teaching Degree, Certificates in Te Reo Maori and played representative Rugby in Aotearoa. This is all due to having so much love and support at home.

I started teaching in 2014 where I soon realised all the hard work had finally come to light. Why teaching?.. Everyone has a place in this world and an opportunity to make a difference. If I were to speak in a room full of students and make a difference in at least one person's life then I have made a difference. I aspire to build the future of the children here in Aotearoa while holding on to significant values and stories of the past. Stories that may only have been told on the Marae, seen in art forms or heard from loved ones of the past. History is so valuable as you can never know where you are going, if you never know where you have been. It is important to restore what has been lost and to nurture those who need it the most.

‘Poipoia te kakano, Kia puawai’
(nurture a seed and it will blossom)
I value the cultures, the connections and being the best you can be! One thing I love about OJC is the way they acknowledge the history of where they stand today. I am proud to be a part of the OJC whanau.