About Us
Mō Mātou
We are a proudly wāhine Māori owned and operated social enterprise with a team of qualified and experienced educators and learning designers who are dedicated to providing fun, safe, and mana enhancing learning environments that build competency and confidence with te ao Māori, the Māori world.
With 14 years of experience in the Māori education space, our team are knowledgeable in Te Reo Māori, tikanga and kaupapa Māori, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, New Zealand history, culturally safe classrooms, cultural and language strategy development, and E-Learning design.
At Ako Academy, we're all about the journey of teaching and learning — after all, the Māori word 'Ako' means to learn and to teach. Capturing the essence of knowledge exchange.
Meet the team
Meet our Ako team: a powerhouse of talented, qualified, and experienced wāhine Māori! They bring their passion for Te Ao Māori to life through engaging and transformative cultural experiences.
Natalia Wi
Kaitohu | Director
Kaiako | Teacher
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
Supervisor
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.
Abby Hauraki
Kaiako | Teacher
LLB
Abby Hauraki is of Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Porou descent.
She is an Associate at Kāhui Legal and specialises in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Māori land law, Trust law and governance and mātauranga Māori protection and recognition.
Abby is also a consultant who teaches te reo Māori and tikanga Māori. She is raising her 3 year-old son Te Hono ki Īhipa with te reo Māori as his first language.
Christie Wallace
Kaiako | Teacher
Tēnei te ia o mihi e rere atu ana ki a koutou e pīkoko ana ki te reo Māori. He uri tēnei nō Te Ātihaunui-ā-Pāpārangi me Ngāti Apa. Ko Christie Wallace tōku ingoa.
I am currently pursuing a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) alongside a Bachelor of Arts in te reo Māori at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington. Growing up deeply immersed in te ao Māori and attending kura kaupapa, I am firmly grounded in my taha Māori. I am passionate about empowering others to learn te reo and uphold the mana of our language.
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.
Greyci Allen
Kaiwhakahaere Whakapā | Communications Manager
Ko tēnei te mokopuna o Te Aupōuri, Ngāti Kurī, Ngāti Pōrou, me Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti.
Greyci’s professional background is in management, pivoting to more creative roles pursuing writing and content creation in most recent years.
Alongside managing communications at Ako, she is studying te reo Māori at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
Waimahana Te Wai Aahuru
Kaiāwhina Matua | EA
Mauri ora ki a koutou katoa! He uri ahau nō ngā hau e whā - Te Aupōuri, Ngāti Kurī, Ngāti Kahungunu, Tūhoe, Ngāti Raukawa ki te tonga, Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Toa, me Taranaki whānui. Ko Waimahana Aahuru tōku ingoa.
I have been fortunate enough to have been raised immersed in Te Reo Māori from birth. My role at Ako is to provide support to the kaiako (teachers) and in the operations of the business. I am very passionate about working for a Māori led organisation and supporting our team to do the amazing work that they do!
Ready to start your journey with Ako? Let's kōrero