About Us
Mō Mātou
Meet the team
Natalia Wi
Kaitohu | Director
BA/BTeach
Nei rā te uri o Te Aupōuri, Ngāti Kurī, Ngāti Pōrou e mihi ana!
My name is Natalia Wi. I am a descendant of the Ngāti Pōrou, Te Aupouri, and Ngāti Kuri iwi (tribes).
I have a background in education specialising in curriculum development and strategy design. I have worked with learners of all ages and have experience in both mainstream and Kura Kaupapa Māori (total immersion) environments.
I’m extremely passionate about helping more people learn about Te Ao Māori and take great joy in supporting individuals and organisation grow cultural confidence and capability.
Jasmine Jones
Kaiako | Teacher
BEd
Ko Jasmine Jones tōku ingoa. He uri ahau nō Tainui, Ngāruahinerangi, Ngāti Ruanui, Tongareva, Ingarangi ngā iwi.
My name is Jasmine Jones and I whakapapa back to Tainui and Aotea waka, England and to the beautiful shores of the Cook Islands. I currently reside under the protection of Maunga Taranaki here in Pātea. It's beautiful to be reconnecting back to my Whakapapa here and to also live on my whenua.
I am a passionate educator, community activator, writer, creative, professional supervisor and mum. As a second language learner of the reo, I understand how it feels to be disconnected to your culture; I also know how important it is to be able to have access to it. I look forward to supporting people from all walks of life to develop their understandings of te reo Māori me ona Tikanga.
Kelly Te Paa
Kaiako | Teacher
MA Education
Ki te taha o tōku Pāpā, he uri tēnei nō Ngāpuhi, Te Roroa me Ngāti Whātua ki Kaipara. Ki te taha o tōku Māmā, he Pākehā ahau. Nō Kōtirana ōku tupuna.
My name is Kelly Te Paa and I am from Ngāpuhi, Te Roroa and Ngāti Whātua ki Kaipara with Scottish ancestry.
I am currently a lecturer for the Faculty of Education at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington. I teach te reo Māori across the undergraduate and postgraduate initial teacher education programmes.
I am a second language learner and have had the privilege of being taught by many amazing kaiako across the country. I am passionate about education and how education can enhance our lived experiences and create connections between all of us as New Zealanders.
Tina Mihaere-rees
Kaiako | Teacher
BA | Dip Teach
Mauri tū, mauri ora, tātou ki a tātou katoa! Ko Tina Mihaere-Rees tōku ingoa, he mokopuna nō Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa, nō Tūhoe hoki.
Tina is a qualified kaiako reo Māori with eight years' experience teaching in secondary schools. Tina also has a professional research, facilitation and advisory background, with knowledge and expertise of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and te ao tōrangapū Māori.
As an educator, Tina is passionate about te reo Māori and tikanga Māori as a vehicle to indigenize the education system and to guarantee educational success for rangatahi Māori.
Te Raunatanga Whakaara
Kaiako | Teacher
He uri whakaheke a Te Raunatanga nā Te Kāhui Mounga, Te Kāhui Kararehe tātu atu ki Ngāti Maniapoto, ki Te Ara Waka, ki Tauranga Moana, ki Ngai Tahu me Hāmoa.
Raised in Parirua and beneath the mounga of Taranaki - reo Māori is an essential part of her identity! Her wish is that te reo Māori will be heard and spoken throughout Aotearoa!
Poipoia te reo Māori kia puawai. Karawhiua!
Aria Ngarimu
Kaiako | Teacher
Ko Hikurangi te maunga, ko Waiapu te awa, ko Ngāti Porou te iwi. Ko Aria Ngarimu tōku ingoa.
After finishing my undergraduate studies in Wellington, I am now completing a Master of Laws at Waipapa Taumata Rau - University of Auckland. As a second-language learner, I am passionate about safe learning environments where ākonga can connect or reconnect with te reo Māori with space for all the complexities that come along the way.
Te Amareretai Rangihuna
Kaiwhakamāori | Translator
Ko tēnei te uri o Ngāti Kuhungunu me Ngāti Pōrou e mihi atu ana!
Raised in Kura Kaupapa, Te Amareretai had the privilege of growing up all over the country being nurtured and fostered by many different iwi. She now resides in Te Matau a Māui working as a qualified translator and language planner. Te Amareretai is passionate about providing accessible, high quality reo Māori resources.
Loz Wootton
Kaihanga Akoranga Matihiko | Digital Learning Designer
Loz is dedicated to building innovative and human centric learning solutions to uplift learners of te ao Māori.
Loz is a Tangata Tiriti Pākehā who was raised in Te Waipounamu. She is raising her Māori son and honouring te ao Māori in all areas of their lives.
Ready to start your journey with Ako? Let's kōrero