About us

Our team - Tō matou tīma

We have a team that covers the Mātonga and Māraki areas of Te Taiuru (Taranaki/Whanganui/Manawatū Region). The teams are spread out over the three regions to provide localised reo and also in-person lessons as an option during the programme.  

Ati Māraki - Is our Northern Cohort

This covers from the Northern Taranaki tribal areas to Patea.

Ati Mātonga - Is our Southern Cohort

This covers from Patea to Whanganui and Manawatū areas.

TAIOPE - The Taiope (To gather together as one) are the team leaders of our teaching team that will prepare the curriculum and learning experiences for the akonga

TAITŪARA - The Taitūara (Standing as support) are the team of teachers that will deliver the Ataarangi learning workshops throughout the course.

We also have an awesome team in the background that organise noho, kura pō and rauemi (resources) for the students who attend Ata Rawea.

Mātanga Reo

Dr Ruakere Hond

Ingoa: Dr Ruakere Hond

Role: Mātanga Reo

Iwi: Taranaki, Ngāti Ruanui

Qualifications:

2014 – PhD in Public Health (Massey)

2001 – Masters in Māori Studies (Awanuiārangi)

1993 – Kura Pouako o Te Ataarangi (Hamilton Polytechnic)

1986 – Teaching Dip Secondary (A.C.E.)

1985 – B.Sc. (Waikato)

For over 30 years Ruakere has worked and taught in Māori language immersion programmes for adult education and in community-based reo development projects working to re-create Māori speaker communities. Much of his activity has been to enhance the use of immersion learning with Te Ataarangi and in revitalising regional language with Te Reo o Taranaki and Kura Whakarauora. His views have helped influence New Zealand’s language revitalisation strategy as a past member of Te Taura Whiri and Te Mātāwai. Currently Ruakere has multiple roles in the community and with research and health organisations while also a sitting member of the Waitangi Tribunal. Within ‘Te Ahu o Te Reo Māori’ he has the position of Mātanga Reo, giving specialist support in content development, programme strategy and in the relationship with Ministry.

Ngā Taiope

TAIOPE

Sandra Whaanga

Ingoa: Sandra Whaanga

Tūranga: Taiope

Ngā Taituara Mātonga

TAITUARA - The Taituara (Standing as support) are the team of teachers that will deliver the Ataarangi learning workshops throughout the course.

Āria Broughton

Ingoa: Āria Broughton

Role: Taituara Mātonga

Iwi: Taranaki Iwi, Whanganui

Experience: 

I have been learning te reo Māori for 10years while home-schooling my tamariki who have grown up as fluent speakers of the language. This journey has taken me through Te Kōhanga Reo, T e Wānanga o Aotearoa and has bought me back to work among my hapū and iwi Ngā Rauru where I have been attending rūmaki reo, whānau wānanga and organising youth wānanga at my marae.

I am passionate about different kaupapa I am involved with that are all centered around revitalisation of te reo Māori in the community. This is my second year of teaching te reo Māori and Kaupapa Māori at Coastal Taranaki School where I work with tamariki and taiohi from years 0 – 13.

Leaara Kauika-Stevens

Ingoa: Leaara Kauika-Stevens

Role: Taituara Hāpai Tū

Iwi: Taranaki Iwi, Whanganui

Qualifications:

·      Diploma in Mātauranga Māori

Experience:
I started teaching te reo Māori in 2014.

I taught beginner level Te Reo Māori to adults and children particularly in mainstream schools

I have been teaching Te Ataarangi workshops and courses including classes and total immersion Māori language seminars in Whanganui and Taranaki.

Kelly Nuku

Ingoa: Kelly Nuku

Sonny Rewha

Henry Rewha

Tauranga te Rā Southorn

Ingoa: Tauranga te Rā Southorn

Role: Taitūara Kura Pō

Iwi: Taranaki Tūturu, Te Atiawa

Qualifications:

Accounts payable administrator ki WITT 

Ngā Kaiwhirinaki

He ringa manaaki i ngā tauira i ngā akoranga 

Te Mahoe Baker

Ingoa: Te Mahoe Baker

Tūranga: Kaiwhirinaki

Te Rapa Broughton

Ingoa: Te Rapa Broughton

Iwi: Taranaki Iwi, Whanganui

Role: Taitūara Mātonga

Qualifications:

Qualifications

·      Kaiako o Te Ataarangi

·      Certificate in Adult Teaching

·      Bachelor of Teaching

·      Diploma of Mātauranga Māori

Experience: Kia ora, I am a native speaker of Te Reo Māori and have been teaching Te Ataarangi for the last 16 years. I attended the Kura Kaiako programme at The Waikato Institute of Technology. I have been involved with teaching at various courses and seminars (wānanga) in Taranaki, Whanganui and various other locations over a span of 20 years

Lewis Domb

Ingoa: Lewis Domb

Role: Taitūara Māraki

Iwi: Ngāti Porou me Ngā Puhi

Qualifacations: 

2019 - Graduate Te Ahu o Te Reo Māori ki te Taiuru

2012 - Teaching Dip (M.P.A)

2009 - Carpentry level 4

Experience:

2018 - Present:  Taahakahaka Partnership Māori Performing Arts/Mentoring ~ Kaiwhakahaere/Pouako

2018 - Present: Mentoa - Mentor

Mentoring young Māori men by providing mentoring programmes grounded in Tikanga Māori

2016 - Present: Manaia Primary School -

Kaiawhina~Mentor~Kapa Haka tutor~Music tutor

2012 - Ramanui school:Music tutor/Kaitiaki

Barbara Graham

Ingoa: Barb Graham

Tūranga: Kaiwhirinaki

Margarit Gut

Ingoa: Margarit Gut

Tūranga: Kaiwhirinaki

Tim Poi

Ingoa: Tim Poi

Tūranga: Kaiwhirinaki

Wendy Hing-Mather

Ingoa: Wendy Hing-Mather

Tūranga: Kaiwhirinaki

Vikki Tāwhai

Vix Tāwhai

Rana Tamaka

Rana Tamaka

Kaiwhirinaki

Hine Toopi

Ingoa: Hine Toopi

Tūranga: Kaiwhirinaki

Tracy Wipiti

Role: Taitūara Kura Pō

Iwi: Te Ati Awa

Qualifications: 

Diploma in Teaching and Learning in Early Childhood Education.

Te Tohu Mōhiotanga-Diploma in Maaori Language and Tikanga

Experience: 

Kapahaka-Whānau Te Reo: Waitara High School.

Puketapu-Hapu Involvements.

Tāwhirikura-Trustee.      

Ngā Pekanga Te Kohanga Reo.

He Kākano Rīriki: Early Childhood Centre, Waitara

Ngā Kaimahi Tari

Administration Team

Piripi Blake

Ingoa: Piripi Blake

Tūranga: Poutakiwā ki Manawatū

Megan Careswell-King

Ingoa: Megan Careswell-King

Tūranga: Poutakiwā ki Taranaki

Parengaio Huhu

Ingoa: Parengaio Huhu

Role: Pouwhakarite hōtaka

Iwi:  Ngāti Porou, (Te Whanau-a-Ruataupare), Te Aitanga a Hauiti, Rongowhakaata

Qualifications:  Certificate in Business Administration Level 4 & 5

Certificate in Māori Office Administration (Te Whakahaerenga Tari)

Certificate in Māori Performing Arts,  Assessing in the Workplace - Unit 4098

Experience:  My tertiary studies focused on the world of Media, there I studied Film & Television, Journalism, Radio and Photography.  I received a work placement award to work at Te Korimako o Taranaki, I was able to experience all facets of radio.  While I hated the sound of my "on-air" voice, I decided to change my focus and look further into the Office Administration area.

I completed my studies of Business Administration and have been working in Māori Administration/Support type roles for close to twenty years now.  

I consider an Administrator to be like the foundations of a house, where without the foundations to the house, the house cannot stand without the support of the walls and roof.  I support this with a saying I use in my everyday practise at work.

“Kia pai nga mahi o muri, kia pai nga mahi o mua”

The success at the front being dependent on the work done out the back.

Robin Mcloughlin

Ingoa: Robin Mcloughlin

Tūranga: Kaiwhakarite Tari

Deleraine Puhara

Role: Pou Tātaki | Operations Manager

Iwi: Ngāti Kahungungu ki Wairarapa | Ngāti Pōrou | Ngāti Awa

Qualifications:

BTchg (Māori Medium) | BA (Te Reo Māori) - Conjoint

Experience:

-Te Pi’ipi’inga Kākano Mai i Rangiātea Kura Kaupapa Māori - Kaiwhakaako Taumata 3-4

-Te Kura Rāwhiti o Waitara | Waitara East School - Kaiwhakaako Taumata 2-3 | Te Mātā Kōhungahunga

-ACE Aotearoa, Te Komiti Whaiti Whakangungu Pakeke, Te Whanga-nui-a-tara - Steering Group Advisory Member

-Te Kupenga Mātauranga o Taranaki Tōpū, Ngāmotu, Taranaki - Pou Tātaki

-Te Amorangi Mātauranga Matua, ACE PD Facilitation Project, Te Whanga-nui-a-tara - Development Facilitator

-Te Reo o Taranaki, Ngāmotu, Taranaki - Programme Administrator – Pōkaitahi Kāpunipuni Reo

-New Zealand Māori Wardens Association, Tāmaki-makau-rau - Contractor Service Provider | Office Admin | Managerial Advice and Support

-Te Kura Matatini o Taranaki/WITT, Ngāmotu, Taranaki - Administration Support Officer – Te Wānanga Māori

Ngā Kaimahi Hangarau

IT Team

Maikara Gaastra

Ingoa: Maikara Gaastra

Tūranga: Pou Aurona

Rāwiri Rātahi

Ingoa: Rāwiri Rātahi

Tūranga: Kaiwhakarite Atarawea

Iwi: Te Ati Awa, Ngāti Maru

Kiki Ruakere

Ingoa: Kiki Ruakere

Role: IT Specialist

Iwi: Taranaki, Ngāti Ruanui

Qualifications:

Experience:

Hawaiki Tamati

Ingoa: Hawaiki Tamati

Role: Pouatarawea

Iwi: I te taha o tōku Whaene

Ko Taranaki ko Kirieke ngā mounga

Ko Matanehunehu, ko Waitotoroa, ko Wairūrū, ko Raukōkori ngā awa

Ko Taranaki, Ko Ngāti Ruanui me Te Whānau-ā-Apanui ngā iwi

Ko Ngā Māhanga ā Tairi, ko Ngāti Moeahu, ko Te Whānau a Maruhaeremuri ngā Hapū 

Ko Puniho, ko te Paepae o te Raukura ngā Marae

Ko Tarawainuku, ko Takitutu, ko Hinemahuru nga whare

Moungāroa te tupuna

Kurahaupō te Waka 

I te taha o tōku Matua

Ko Taranaki, ko Pukekura, ko Te Atua o Taiehu ngā Mounga

Ko Waitara, ko Urenui nga awa

Ko Otakou te moana

Te Ati Awa, ko Ngati Mutunga, ko Ngai Tahu ngā iwi

Ko Puketapu, Ko Kaitangata, ko Te Ruahikihiki ngā hapu 

Ko Kaipakopako, Ko Otakou, ko Urenui ngā Marae.

Ko Muru Rau Patu, ko Tamatea ngā whare

Ko Tama Aariki te tupuna

Ko Tokomaru, ko Uruao ngā Waka

Qualifications:

 BoT (ECE) -  New Zealand Tertiary College, (Bachelor of Teaching)

Dip Film and Television - South Seas Film and Television school (Diploma in Film and Television - Major in documentary directing)

Experience:

2019 -2020       Hapu Wānanga ki Taranaki (Administrator)

2019-2020        Te Hāpai i te Reo (Facilitator\Teaching)

2019                  Te Ara Ki Te Reo Ki Kuirau Rotorua (Teaching)

2018-2019        Te Kōhao Puna Reo Hamilton (Teaching)

2014-2017        Te Kopae Piripono Early Childhood centre New Plymouth (Teaching)

2018:                       Te Reo Kaapiua TAINUI - Reo Wananga attendee

2016/2020:         Pūtake Reo Wānanga (Te Reo O Taranaki) - attendee

2015                  Aspiring leaders forum - Leadership Forum attendee

2014                    Tuia te Here Tangata - Maori Leadership group