He Waka Unua - Coaching and Mentoring for organisations

Amira brings many years of experience with coaching and mentoring both in schools and as a kaiārahi for He Waka Unua. Amira specialised in coaching and mentoring as a part of her M.Ed. She often works with leaders and aspiring leaders as they navigate advancing their career. Clients will bring ‘conundrums of practice’ to Amira as she works with Kāhui Ako lead principals, Across School Leads, Senior, Middle and aspiring Leaders. Amira also works with kaiako who want to make a change in their context. She enjoys working alongside someone and supporting them in what they are focusing on. She supports leaders to set clear goals and work towards them or listen through what's on top now.

Amy-Lee’s experience in coaching and mentoring sits mainly in the secondary schooling sector. She spent several years as specialist classroom teacher, mentoring beginning teachers and coaching teachers through ICT implementation projects.

She believes that coaching and mentoring is an essential element to supporting wellbeing and mental health in every sector. Amy-Lee likes a strengths-based approach to coaching and mentoring, supporting her kaiwhakauru to explore the strengths they bring to any situation and unpack opportunities for growth.

Angela is an experienced facilitator who is committed to cultural capability. She has extensive specialist expertise in leading change in Kāhui Ako and schools; leadership, team development, and culture change; learning community engagement; and Spirals of Inquiry. She has considerable experience in supporting Kāhui Ako and schools to re-vision and develop collaborative teaching and learning pedagogies and practices.

Angela is an accredited facilitator with the New Zealand Institute of Wellbeing and Resilience which has partnered with Tātai Aho Rau Core Education to deliver Wellbeing in Schools. She has worked in Kāhui Ako to support wellbeing literacies and develop strategies to embed whole-school wellbeing and resilience.

Gae has been an early years educator for over 30 years , she brings extensive experience to her role as kaiārahi for He Waka Unua. She has worked extensively with early years leaders, emerging leaders and kaiako . Gae’s approach is based in cultural responsiveness, diversity, social justice and inclusion for learners and educators. She has a very relational approach based in whanaungatanga and manaakitanga: getting to know you where you are at. Once a positive professional relationship is established, she will support her kaiwhakauru by prompting with reflective questions to encourage along each individual journey. Gae is known for the warmth and care she brings to all her work, her ability to connect with her clients and being a catalyst for change.

Hoana brings 20 years of teaching experience in Rumaki within Waikato and Te Tai Tokerau to her role at Tātai Aho Rau Core Education. Over the last six years Hoana was actively involved in establishing a Charter school which later transitioned to become a Special Character School.

Hoana developed a Kura Rumaki co-constructing special character curriculum and implemented a learning culture within the community. A passionate driver of systemic change to ensure equitable outcomes for all, Hoana is driven by a desire to see and achieve success as a learner. Hoana has facilitated and worked collaboratively with staff and whānau to create a culture and wānanga space that is inclusive and allows Māori to be successful as Māori

Kathe’s career has been focused on improving learning outcomes for all students and empowering, strengthening and building the capacity of all teachers. Kathe develops and models collaborative and inclusive protocols while being cognisant of supporting culturally responsive practice.

Prior to working for Tātai Aho Rau, Kathe was one of two deputy principals at Te Ara Whānui Kura Kaupapa Māori o ngā Kohanga Reo o Te Awakairangi, in Lower Hutt – a newly built kura. Her portfolios were performance management, curriculum design, sport and physical education, and e-learning.

Suzi has been coaching and mentoring for many years in many different contexts. She quickly establishes mentees values and the strengths base that they are working from. Suzi loves to work with her kaiwhakauru to work out what resources and nurturing support they need to shine as leaders. Her approach in He Waka Unua is to connect, be curious and listen. Suzi’s clients describe her as being authentic, growth focused and charismatic in her role as kaiārahi.

Te Mako Orzecki – of Ngāti Wehi Wehi, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, and Polish descent – is a content editor and developer of Māori medium resources. He works as an online/offline facilitator in the areas of te reo Māori, Aotearoa New Zealand's histories, cultural capability, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi and brings all of these areas of expertise to his coaching and mentoring.