Our People | kaokaoroa

Meet the Heads of our Kura

Fresia Koia

Head Girl

Caleb Marsh-Wilkinson

Head Boy

Ka mātai taku titiro ki ngā wai tukukiri o Oraka, whakawhiti atu ki te maunga
whakahī e tū mai ana, ko Hautere. Huri atu ki te whare whakaruruhau o
Ngāti Mahana, o Ngāti Āhuru, ko Whakaaratamaiti. Hoea rā te waka mai
Hawaiki ki Kāwhia, ko Tainui e tau nei. Ka tū au ko Fresia e kō Koia e ara e!

To me, the most special and meaningful thing about being at Te Wharekura
o Te Kaokaoroa o Pātetere is that we are unapologetically Māori in every
sense. Our culture, values, and identity are not just acknowledged but
celebrated and woven into every aspect of our learning, environment, and
way of being. Here, we are empowered to stand tall in our Māoritanga, to
embrace who we are without hesitation or compromise.

This kura provides a space where being Māori is not only normal but also a
source of immense pride, strength, and unity. It’s a place where our reo,
tikanga, and whakapapa are nurtured and upheld, allowing us to thrive as
confident Māori in a modern world.

For me, this unapologetic embrace of our identity is what makes our
wharekura truly unique and invaluable

Mānawatia te tau hou pākehā rua ngahuru mā whā Mānawatia ngā hua nui o te wā

Ko Caleb Marsh Wilkinson toku ingoa. I am the eldest in my whanau, and my parents are Caleb Peke and Moira-ann Marsh-Peke.

He uri ahau no Raukawa, Te Aupouri, Ngati Tamatera me Ngati Paoa, Ko taku whainga matua i tenei tau kia whakatauira tika i nga uara o toku kura, o toku whānau hoki.

My journey began at Te Wharekura o te Kaokaoroa o Pātetere in 2019, when I started in Kura Waenga, in Year 6. What I love most about our kura is that it's like a whānau. Every single kaiako here has had a significant impact on who I am today. They have shown me love, dedication, and care, going above and beyond to ensure I succeed
in everything I do. Because of them, I’ve been able to envision the future I want for myself.

I also appreciated how my tuakana looked after us and inspired me in my love for kapa haka. I'm extremely grateful to my kura for introducing me to the world of kapa haka, a world I now love. From my time in Kura Waenga to now, my kapa haka journey has helped me grow into
the person I am today. I wouldn’t be where I am without my kura. This year, just like my tuakana did for me, I aim to care for and show love to every whānau member at our kura. I want to give back everything that I can to our kaiako, kura, and whānau.

While I’m not looking forward to leaving kura at the end of the year, I carry with me the words of Matua Keith: "KAOKAOROA FOR LIFE".
Nga mihi aroha e te whānau.

MEET OUR PEOPLE

Meet our Board of Trustees

Our Board of Trustees is dedicated to removing barriers to education and to provide all students with a safe environment to learn, grow and embrace our character school through Te Reo Māori.

Arama Ngapo
Parent Representative

Tina Johnson

Parent Representative

Keith Silveira

Principal

Kyle Amopiu
Board Chairman

Greg Brown

Elected Member

April Silveira

Staff Representative

Management

Meet our Senior Management team

Our senior management team work closely together to ensure our kura runs safely and smoothly whilst striving to provide the best education possible for all tamariki that attend our kura.

Keith Silveira
Principal

Veronica Tiatoa

Assistant Principal
HOD - Kura Teina

Aaron Koopu

Assistant Principal
HOD - Wharekura

April Silveira
Deputy Principal

Samantha Waitai-Terekia

Assistant Principal
HOD - Kura Waenga

Teachers

Meet our Teaching team

Here are our knowledgable and friendly teaching staff who are the core of our kura. We are very fortunate to have an array of teachers dedicated to nurturing all tamariki with specific learning programmes to help progress all of their learning needs.