Alicia
Ngaropo-tuia
Kairangi Ngaio Māori | Manager

Qualifications
Diploma in Te Pīnakitanga ki te Reo Kairangi – Te Whare Wananga o Aotearoa
Post Graduate Certificate in Applied Practice Digital & Collaborative Learning – MindLab
Diploma in Teaching – Auckland College of Education
Bachelor of Education – University of Auckland
Professional profile
Alicia trained as a mainstream school teacher but began her teaching career in Kura Kaupapa Māori in Auckland, and later in rumaki reo spaces as well as mainstream schools. Through mahi across these different contexts she has gained invaluable experience and knowledge about the importance of Kaupapa Māori as a driver of success for ākonga Māori and their whānau. Alicia has also worked with kura around learning and assessment using Te Marautanga o Aotearoa with a focus on Te Reo Matatini. More recently she has supported kura with their Marau ā-kura design and the implementation of the new Hangarau Matihiko curriculum.
As a mainstream teacher in Auckland, Alicia taught numeracy and literacy. She has also worked as an elearning facilitator to lead the implementation of school-wide digital technology plans. Her most recent work as a facilitator in both primary and secondary schools is centered around building cultural capabilities. Te Tiriti o Waitangi and critical conversations around equity are fundamental to this work.
Alicia spent 12 years with her family working in international schools in Asia. The first four years were in South Korea, followed by eight years in Shenzhen, China. She was an elementary school teacher teaching core subjects, and took on team leader roles for grades 3–5 teachers. Alicia also collaborated on a number of school improvement teams around Literacy curriculum development, Social Studies curriculum development, and Assessment and Reporting. She later transitioned into a role as the library media specialist which involved supporting teachers of kindergarten to grade 5 with the teaching and assessment of the American Library Association and International Society for Technology in Education Information Literacy Standards.
Expertise
- Māori education – both Māori-medium and Māori in English-medium
- Marau ā-Kura design, implementation and review
- Supporting Hangarau Matihiko / Digital Technology implementation in teaching and learning practices
- Building school-wide, authentic cultural capabilities that support kaupapa Māori and inclusive teaching pedagogies
Personal statement
“Te kūkū o te manawa ko te hau kāinga e..”
He uri tēnei nō Te Tai Tokerau. I tōku pāpā taha no Te Rarawa ki Hokianga, ara, ko Panguru te hau kāinga. Nō Ngāti Manu ki Kāretu, no Mangataipa anō hoki tōku māmā.
Changing the story about education in Aotearoa is a massive feat. I feel it is a privilege to work alongside kura, ākonga and their whānau to learn, understand and fully commit to achieving successful outcomes through challenging perspectives that support inequities and giving voice and value to the articles of te Tiriti o Waitangi.