Hero photograph
 
Photo by Chelani Gray-Clarke

Introducing Chelani Gray-Clarke

Kathleen Russell —

Te Reo Māori Teacher Aide and Kapa Haka Teacher

Pepeha

Ki te taha o tōku Māmā

Ko Tanui tōku Waka

Ko Tararua tōku Maunga

Ko Waitohu tōku Awa

Ko Te Pou-o-Tainui tōku

Marae

Ko Ngati Raukawa ki te tonga

tōku iwi

Ko Ngati Kapumanawawhiti

tōku Hapū

Ko Christine Morehu Gray

rāua ko Bryan Richards ōku

Tupuna

Ki te taha o tōku Pāpā

Ko Horouta tōku Waka

Ko Hikurangi tōku Maunga

Ko Waiapu tōku Awa

Ko Hinerupe tōku Marae

Ko Ngati Porou tōku Iwi

Ko Tūwhakairiroa tōku Hapū

Ko Moara Huihui Te Kaui rāua

ko Robert Clarke ōku Tupuna


This is the genealogy of both my mother and father showing how I whakapapa Māori. I am not qualified but I am very passionate about Te Reo Māori and Te Ao Māori. Te Reo is my first language it is my mother tounge and having the opportunity to teach the tauira (students) of Raphael House. Ko Otaki tōku whare kainga enagri noho ana ahau ki Wainuiomata I tēnei wā. Kei au Kotahi te pepi e rua ona pakeke no reira ka haere ia ki te kura pēpi. I have high hopes not only for my Te reo students but also the school when it comes to Kapa Haka. I am so lucky to be working alongside the other passionate, supportive and all-round great faculty members of Raphael House and I cannot wait to see what this year will bring for us all. Lastly, I work three days a week from Wednesday to Friday.

Ahakoa he iti, he Pounamu.