Introducing Karen

Nō Kōtirana ōku tīpuna, ki te taha o tōku māmā.

Ko Agnes McDonald tōku tipuna.

Ko Agnes Cameron tana tamāhine.

Ko Irene Montgomerie tana tamāhine.

Ko Peggy Hopson tana tamāhine.

Ko Barbara Gault tana tamāhine, tōku māmā.

Ko Karen Gault āhau.

This is the genealogy on my mother’s side, starting from my great, great grandmother who was born in Scotland in 1829 but later lived in Ōtaki and raised her ten children and her husband’s first-born son Hugh (his mother, a niece of Te Rauparaha, died in childbirth) speaking Te Reo Māori and English. So, I follow in the footsteps of pākehā women speaking Te Reo! I am part of the team teaching and learning Te Reo Māori and supporting kapa haka. My role is strengthening Te Reo Māori with akomanga 1 – 7 in a lesson alongside class teachers and rotations with akomanga 5, 6, and 7.

After teacher training and travelling I taught at Raphael House 2000 -2005 returning as a kindergarten parent and reliever a few years later. This year my tamariki are in classes 12, 11 and 8.

When I am not teaching you may find me reading a book, swimming, doing Pilates, walking with friends or gardening.