The Arahoe School Board

Our family have had a relationship with Arahoe since 2013 when our eldest child started in as a new entrant in Ara Teina,. She thrived at Arahoe and is now at Green Bay High School. My youngest finished Year 6 in 2023 and loved being at Arahoe.  I have previously been involved with the ACG and am now fortunate to be able to continue my involvement with Arahoe and its community in my second term as a Boared member. I am a Chartered Accountant with a Masters in Taxation Studies, and work as a Tax Associate Director in a large accounting firm, with a focus on the technical training and development of staff (that is when I am not an unpaid Uber driver ferrying my kids around to various activities). I look forward to being able to utilise my financial and policy skills to help Arahoe, its staff and students continue to grow and thrive.  

My relationship with Arahoe School began almost 11 years ago when our eldest child began her schooling journey. My husband, Richard, and I have since had two children complete their primary school years at Arahoe.
Our youngest child, Riley, is currently in Year 4.

Education runs in my blood having grown up with a father who was a teacher and then going on to train as a Secondary School Maths teacher myself. I have a passion for seeing students succeed, including those with complex learning needs.

In the past I have been involved with the Arahoe Community Group (PTA) and I am looking forward to now being involved at a School Board level.

My husband Preston and I have two children – Theo, the youngest, is in Year 2 (2024) and Charlie is in Year 6. You will typically find me outside the Lalaga Pod classrooms or somewhere in between Lalaga and Te Ara Nui (senior school). As a Board member I want to help our school to become the best school for our tamariki/children. I am passionate about supporting our kids to reach their full potential whether in academia, sports, art, culture or whatever they are into. I want our kids to love coming to school to be the best version of themselves that they can be. And give them a safe environment to grow through practice, trial and error.

I am the Music Specialist Teacher here at Arahoe kura. I am of Māori and NZ European descent and whakapapa to Te Rarawa in the Hokianga. I have been teaching at Arahoe School for 27 years and both my children plus two of my moko were students here. I am also a member of Te Rōpu Awhina whose kaupapa (purpose) is to work together with our whānau Māori to create a positive learning environment for their tamariki where their language and culture is respected and their values reflected throughout our school. My purpose for being on the Board as a staff representative is to learn from and support our Tumuaki (Principal) and bring a teacher’s perspective in discussions where needed. I have lived in New Lynn for 41 years and am very proud of our school and the tamariki I have had the pleasure of teaching – I am excited to see it thrive under our new tumuaki and our Arahoe School Board. 

As Tumuaki / Principal of the school it is my privilege to work with this group of dedicated parents who give their time and expertise to ensure our school is governed well and managed responsibly. I am passionate about implementing the school's strategic direction and hold the needs of learners front and centre in the decisions I make – this position is summed up well by the whakatauki "Ko te Tamaiti te Pūtake o te Kaupapa – The child: the heart of the matter."