Tō mātou kapa
Our Team

Select team member

• Waiwhakaata Morehu Teohaere
  Kaiako Matua
• Keisha Matete
  Kaiwhakarite / Kaiāwhina
• Hiria Mohi
  Kaiako / Kaiāwhina
• Fruen Katene-Samoa
  Kaiako / Kaiāwhina
• Marria Collins
  Kaiāwhina
• Melissa Hina
  Kaiāwhina
• Te Hina Nelson
  Kaiāwhina
• Kelly Reihana French
  Kaiāwhina
• Leiana Hagley
  Kaiāwhina

I tipu ake ahau i tōku haukainga o Te
Pakipakitanga ā Hinetemoa. Nōku te
maringanui ki te noho ki ngā rekereke o
ōku kuia, kaumātua ako ai. Tika ana te
kōrero “tamaiti ako ana i te kainga, tū ana ki te Marae tau ana!”

He mokopuna tēnei o te kaupapa, o Te
Kōhanga Reo o Te Kūpenga a Te Huki, ā, he raukura hoki ahau o Te Aho Matua, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga.

He raukura ahau o te Kōhanga Reo. I tipu au i roto i te Reo me ōna Tikanga.
I tīmata ahau i aku mahi Kōhanga Reo 18 aku tau.
Inaianei e 26 aku tau, e toru aku tamariki i roto i te kaupapa o te Kōhanga Reo e ako ana i te Reo me ōna Tikanga. Nōku te whiwhi!

I whānau mai ahau i te 29 o pepuere, mā reira kua rua aku ra whakanuia - tihei ktk.

He mokopuna tēnei o te Kōhanga reo o
Te Āwhina, ā, he raukura hoki tēnei nō Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Manawatu. Ko Te Aho Matua te tahūhu o tōku whare.

Me kī a nanea ana a tia ki tā ngā tini kai.

Tena koutoa katoa ko Fruen Katene Samoa ahau, he mokopuna nā Hinekura, he tamaiti o ngā mahi a te Kōhanga reo. Tipu au ki Te whanga nui a Tara, toko ono o aku tuakana, kotahi taku teina. Tipu ai mātou i raro i ngā akoranga o tō mātou kuia. Ko ngā taonga puoro tērā, taki waiata/pepeha erangi ko te mea nui ko te aroha tētahi ki tētahi.

I was born in Palmerston North but moved around a bit when I was younger. My 3 children were also born in Palmy. We took our kids to the beautiful Gold Coast of Australia where we lived for 13 years before returning home to Palmy. I now have 3 step grandkids and 2 gorgeous grandbabies.

I love to socialise but also enjoy time to myself.

I enjoy all types of music but my favourite genre is rock.

I have a huge interest in ancient history especially Ancient Egypt.

Nō Te Papaioea ahau, ā, e 22 ōku tau.
E ngākaunui ana ahau ki te āwhina, ki te tiaki hoki i ā tātou tamariki mokopuna, ko rātou ngā Rangatira mō apōpō.
Paku noa taku Reo Māori i tēnei wā engari e pai taku māramatanga nā reira ko taku hiahia ki te ako tonu i tōku Reo Rangatira.

I enjoy hanging out with friends as I am a social butterfly. I am the youngest of 5 siblings and love being an Aunty to all 5 of my nieces and nephews. I have a huge passion for educating and uplifting our tamariki in their Reo and Te Ao Māori as well as learning for myself along the way.

Kāore i te paku rata ki au te kaimoana ēngari ko tāku ngākau nui ko te haere ki te ruku kai, te noho māngere atu ki te moana kia pāinaina ai te kiri ki raro ia Tamanui-te-rā. ngākau nui ana hoki ahau ki te whakapau pūtea, ēngari tōku koretake hoki ki te tiaki ktk

I tipu ake au ki Rangitane, me nga wahi maha o te puku o te ika, ko Turangi toku hau kainga. He mokopuna tēnei o Mangawhero Te Kōhanga Reo, he raukura o ngā kura kaupapa māori o Manawatu, me Whakarewa i te reo ki Tūwharetoa.

Nui ana ngāwahi i hūnuku ai mātou i taku tipuranga. I pera hoki toku haerenga i taku pakeketanga, ara, he tane tipi haere ahau.

Leiana Hagley

I have 3 beautiful children, that have been raised in Te Ao Māori. I started learning Reo maori when my boy was 6months and I have loved every journey of it. I come from a big whānau we have all been raised here in palmerston north.

I am very passionate about growing, learning and making a positive contribution in my everyday life.

Ko Tainui te waka
Ko Waikato te lwi
Ko Taupiri rāua ko Onepoto ngā maunga
Ko waikato te Awa
Ko ngāti Aamaru te hapu
Ko Te Awamaarahi te Marae
Ko Josephine Tuhura tōku māmā Ko Henry Hagley tōku Pāpā

Waiwhakaata Morehu Teohaere

Kaiako Matua

Keisha Matete

Kaiāwhina

Hiria Mohi

Kaiāwhina

Fruen Katene-Samoa

Kaiako / Kaiāwhina

Marria Collins

Kaiako / Kaiāwhina

Melissa Hina

Kaiāwhina

Te Hina Nelson

Kaiāwhina

Kelly Reihana French

Kaiāwhina

Leiana Hagley

Kaiako / Kaiāwhina

Reveal Ōku Wawata  

Reveal Ōku Wawata  

Reveal Ōku Wawata  

Reveal Ōku Wawata  

Reveal Ōku Wawata  

Reveal Ōku Wawata  

Reveal Ōku Wawata  

Reveal Ōku Wawata  

Reveal Ōku Wawata  

Ngā kōrero āwhina mō ngā whānau
Helpful Info for Families

• What does your tamaiti/tamariki need to bring each day?
  Please pack:
  A change of clothes
  A jumper or jacket
  A sunhat (weather-dependent)
  
• How do we keep in touch with whānau?
  We use three main methods of communication:
  Our private Facebook page
  Our whānau group chat
  Our website
  
• What is the kaiako to tamaiti ratio?
  This depends on the age of the child:
  Under 2 years: 1:4
  Over 2 years: 1:6
  
• What are our fees and are there any subsidies available?
  Our current weekly fees are $60.00 for both full-time and part-time tamariki.
  There are subsidies available depending on eligibility.
  
• Do we offer 20 free hours?
  Yes, we do.
• Do we provide kai?
  Yes— kai is provided Tuesday to Friday.
  For Monday, please send a lunchbox with lunches and snacks.
  If your tamaiti is bottle-feeding, please provide your own formula. We recommend leaving a tin at the whare.
  
• Do we provide nappies and wipes?
  No, these need to be provided by whānau.
• How do we manage allergies, medication, and first aid in the whare?
  We have a clear allergy policy in place, and all kaimahi are first-aid trained annually to ensure we can safely manage minor medical emergencies.
• Do you have a School Readiness Programme?
  Yes, we do.
• Can I visit the kōhanga before enrolling my child?
  Absolutely! Contact our kaiako matua and they’ll organise a visit for you.
• How can I enrol my tamaiti?
  We operate a waitlist, similar to most ECE services.
  You’re welcome to send us a message or visit our “Contact Us” page.
  
• Is Te Āwhina open to all families, regardless of reo Māori fluency?
  Āe! Te Āwhina Kōhanga Reo and the Kōhanga Reo Trust are here to revitalise our reo. Whether you’re well on your te reo journey or just beginning, everyone is welcome.
• What support is available for new whānau learning te reo Māori?
  We encourage exploring online or distance learning options (many are free), and our whānau and kaiako are always happy to share tips and help you get started—just ask!
  Yes, Te Āwhina Kōhanga Reo and The Kōhanga Reo Trust is about revitalising our reo. Regardless of whether you’ve already started your Te reo journey or this is the first stepping stone, everyone is welcome!