Nanako has been teaching Music at Te Puna Wai o Waipapa (Hagley College) since 2005.

Our evening Jazz course was her first experience of teaching Te Puna ākonga. Nanako’s hours were reduced at her previous kura in 2015 so she came across to us as a fulltime music kaiako at the beginning of 2016. Nanako is a ball of energy and great at teaching, managing ākonga into bands and leading those bands, encouraging all ākonga to reach for their dreams and achieve to their highest ability. Nanako knows how to place ākonga so they are compatable in their music groups and teaches how to make good choices. Regular reflection of how her ākonga learn has lead her to examine the best ways to get ākonga to tackle their approach to learning. Nanako plays in the All Girl Big Band in Christchurch, and is an amazing and passionate musician and enjoys this band as well as the other gigs she does from time to time.

Nanako is often referred to as Mumako because she is a strong pastoral kaiako to all her ākonga, but not a pushover when it comes to monitoring attendance, being on time to class and producing the work required for success. Nanako relishes in the diversity Hagley’s ākonga and kaiako bring to our Hagley Community. Nanako also gives back to Canterbury/Westland music by sitting as the president of the Canterbury/Westland Music Teachers Association. Nanako has whānau back in Japan so is often heading home to catch up with them. Her whānau was caught up in the recent earthquake in Japan and when disaster hits, New Zealand is a long way away.

 Nanako enjoys seeing her ākonga perform, whether it be the bustle of Southern Jam, Pacifica Beats, Voices of Canterbury, Hagley on Show, JazzQuest, RockQuest, Song Writers competition...and the list goes on. Nanako is a gem that we value and polish every day because without her our range of musically talented ākonga would not shine so strongly.