Tiamana (Chair)
Te Kōhanga Reo o Ngaio

Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngā Rauru Kītahi

As the Chair of Te Kōhanga Reo o Ngaio, I’ve had the privilege of leading and supporting the growth and development of early childhood education (ECE) for whānau and mokopuna Māori.
With a deep commitment to the kōhanga reo philosophy, I have worked to foster an environment that nurtures our youngest learners in line with tikanga Māori and whānau aspirations.

I bring a wealth of experience in governance, strategic leadership, and community engagement to the Toitū Te Waiora National Industry Advisory Group (NIAG).
My background in regulatory equity and inclusion, machinery of government coupled with my active role in Māori education, positions me to advocate for meaningful change within the ECE sector.

I am keen to contribute to the NIAG’s work by advocating for a workforce that is better supported, valued, and equipped to provide quality education to all tamariki, with a particular focus on strengthening culturally responsive practices within ECE settings. As demand for kōhanga reo grows, particularly in the centres like Wellington, we need to better understand workforce demands.