Amy Nafo’i-Lauaki
Amy holds a Bachelor’s degree in ECE teaching and is fully registered. She has been part of Piwaka for 11 years and is an expert teacher for two-year-olds, having gained extensive experience working with them. She is passionate about celebrating the uniqueness and identity of each child and learning alongside them about the richness and beauty of different cultures. Amy knows how important exploration is for our tamariki, sensory play and music is a must as a two-year-old. She loves hearing the tamariki engage with each other and seeing their big smiles as they share their taste of music from their whare/homes. She quotes “I love hearing the tamariki’s playlist from home it makes them so happy know they can share this with their friends”
Amy's interests include playing piano for her church choir, spending quality time with Aiga/family, relaxing and having a good dessert. Amy is a New Zealand born Samoan and is very proud of her culture & heritage.
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Leetal Mills
Leetal is the Team Leader of the Huia room. She is a qualified and registered teacher. Leetal is one of our longest standing Pīwaka teachers, having taught in our babies’ room for 8 years. Leetal is passionate about teaching with Aroha and does her best to ensure that your young ones develop Trust and a sense of Belonging in their new home. Leetal has two young children of her own, and is such a wealth of knowledge for all you new mothers.
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Selena Newman
Selena holds a Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Early Childhood) and is a fully registered teacher with extensive experience in the early childhood sector since 2000. She took a brief hiatus to raise her two boys, but her passion for early childhood education has always been at the core of her career. Selena is dedicated to fostering developmental growth and providing quality learning experiences for young children. Outside of work, she enjoys spending quality time with her family, including her husband, two boys, and twin sister.
Selena oversees the curriculum at Pīwaka supporting the Team Leaders and spends 3 days a week in Kakamatua room.
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Simon Baker
Simon holds a B Ed Early Childhood and is a fully registered teacher. Simon grew up in Whāngarei. He enjoys spending his weekends going to the beach or spending time with family and friends. Having fun is a priority in ECE and Simon makes sure that the children always have a smile on their face and have something new to share with their whānau after a day full of learning and playing.
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Rinosa Saleem
Rinosa moved to New Zealand from Sri Lanka around a year ago. Rinosa lives with her teenage children and husband. In her spare time she enjoy watching movies, cooking and spending time with her family. Rinosa was a teacher aid back home in Sri Lanka helping 4-5 year old children.
Rinosa is excited to be part of the Kakamatua teaching team and the Piwaka whanau. She is hoping to help your tamariki developing their language skills and being able to work with one another.
This is the first time she has worked with this age group and is willing to build on her confidence skills, being able to communicate and getting to know your children.
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Aina Talavou
Aina joins Te Henga as a permanent teacher, having relieved at Pīwaka for over 3 years mainly in the younger room. Aina has 6 siblings and is the middle child. She is also an aunty to three cheeky and enthusiastic nephews and one beautiful niece. In her free time she plays with her nephews and niece and cares for them while their parents would have a day to themselves, or you would find her hiking with her best friends at a random place or reading.
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Pam Suliafu
Pam holds Bachelor of Teaching ECE and is a fully registered teacher with over 9 years of experience. As a kaiako Pam values working in partnership with whānau to support and nurture the uniqueness of all children.
In her free time Pam collaborates with Oranga Tamariki as a respite caregiver, focusing on assisting children in foster care with additional needs.
Pam is currently on a journey to learn NZSL and absolutely loves it.
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Maddy Kaushal
Maddy joined us in April 2024 and holds a Bachelor of Education Degree (Early Childhood) from India. Maddy has a bubbly personality who is passionate about early childhood education. She enjoys children's company and always strive to create an environment where children's learning and development are ensured. Children are unique and have their own way of learning and growing.
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Tethika Gamage
Tethika joins the Kakamatua team having just graduated from high school and is quickly learning the ropes of Early Childhood teaching. Tethika’s mum also teaches in Muriwai Room Originally from Sri Lanka, from a family of 4; my mum, dad and younger sister. Learning how tamariki express, and process emotion is my interest, which is why I am hoping to complete a BSc in Psychology by next year and hopefully specialise in child psychology further on.
In her free time Tethika loves to read fiction or compose poetry, She thinks it’s important to stay imaginative and curious.
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Liz Schmidt
Liz holds a B Ed Early Education and is a fully registered kaiako with over 7 years experience in ECE. Liz is passionate about fostering a learning environment where each child is seen as a unique driver of their own learning. Liz believes that all tamariki are born with a natural curiosity and fascination with the world around them. As a kaiako, my role is to support and guide them, ensuring they learn at their own pace within a warm, secure, and welcoming environment that encourages exploration and growth. Liz strives to create opportunities that help our tamariki to thrive and engage with the world in ways that are meaningful to them. In her downtime, Liz loves spending time with her aiga and friends, going for walks, hikes, brunching, and simply relaxing.
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Alice Chu
Alice holds a Graduate Diploma Teaching ECE and is a fully registered teacher, graduating in 2022
Originally from Taiwan, Alice has lived in NZ since 2011 and has developed a deep passion for supporting tamariki’s early learning and development. Alice is excited to explore the unique nature and potential of tamariki in Muriwai Room and to grow and learn alongside them!
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Francis Loto-Nafo’i
Francis holds a B ED Early Education and has been with us at Pīwaka in the Te Henga room since 2016. She is currently provisionally registered. Francis enjoys spending quality time with her family especially her nieces and nephews and going to CrossFit. Francis is very proud of her Samoan heritage and believes that 3 values of being Samoan which is fa’aaloalo (respect) tautua (service) and alofa (love) have moulded her into the teacher she is today.
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Esther Cama
Esther is a gentle compassionate teacher with over 5 years working with children. Esther loves playing instruments, helping her family whenever she can and spending time with her nieces and nephews.
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Eva He
Eva is originally from China, where her family and husband currently reside. She has been in NZ for 5 years. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering, and a Master of Arts, and graduated with a Diploma of Teaching in Early Childhood in 2021. Eva believes each child is unique and she wishes them to experience joy and fulfilment. In her spare time, Eva enjoys watching movies, travelling, and eating!
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Kilisi Palu
Kilisi holds a B Ed Early Childhood and loves working with this age group. She is an active member of her church and the Tongan community.
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Marnie Hughes
Marnie completed her Bachelor of Education specialising in ECE and is provisionally certificated. Marnie has a teenage daughter and has a keen interest in sport, especially hockey. She enjoys the outdoors and looks to transfer these interests in her everyday teaching practice.
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Janelle Laidlaw
Janelle holds a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education. Janelle grew up in Tāmaki Makaurau. She enjoys traveling, exploring the Waitakere ranges, and walking along the beach. Janelle looks forward to supporting the Piha children to learn and grow as capable and competent learners.
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Fazina Asad
Fazina gained her Bachelors of Teaching in 2023, where she was awarded ‘Senior Scholar’ by Unitec University. She lives locally in New Lynn with her daughter Maryam and her mum. In her spare time Fazina loves travelling with her daughter and reading books. Fazina is from Fiji. She is currently studying towards her Masters in Education.
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Ebony Sheppard
Ebony is studying towards her Bachelor’s degree through NZTC. She has lived in mostly Auckland, but also Melbourne. Ebony has an older brother and a younger sister. She is Samoan. Ebony loves dancing and spending time with friends and family. In the Piha room, she enjoys seeing the children challenge themselves and achieve things, whether big or small.
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Amber Le-Pine Williams
Amber has a Bachelor of Education from Auckland University. Amber is born and raised in Waitakere and loves her community. Amber has been working with children for over 8 year and in ECE for 5 years. Amber loves listening to children speak and values their opinion, she believes children are some of the best teachers and remind us to enjoy the little things. Amber enjoys teaching gardening and science and has a passion for sustainability. Amber is a proud mum of 3 and feels privileged to be caring for your tamariki.
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