Our Staff
Ngā Teina o Hikurangi Syndicate
Ngā Teina Syndicate are a team of 3 classrooms for Years 0-2.
Stacey Richards
Deputy Principal/SENCORoom 12 (Te Kakano)
Year 0
Kia ora whanau. I have been teaching at Hikurangi School since 2010 and love being part of our school whanau. I find it extremely rewarding supporting our tamariki develop throughout their learning journey and becoming the wonderful tamariki that they are. I have developed a real passion for supporting our tamariki on their journey to beginning school using play based learning. I believe that play is the way in which our tamariki learn to; overcome their fears, develop relationships, solve challenges and generally become self-managing learners. It is the way in which our tamariki develop and master the skills that are essential for progress in their own learning journey. I look forward to connecting and learning with you all.
srichards@hikurangi.school.nz
James Duke
Ngā Teina Syndicate Leader Room 10 (Kawakawa)
Years 0-2
E nga mana, e nga reo, e nga tini karangatanga maha, tena ra koutou katoa. I am a local boy of Ngati Wai descent, I whakapapa to the coastal villages of Takahiwai and Whananaki, lucky me!
This year I am teaching in a year 1&2 class and am loving it. I love the challenge and enjoyment of my mahi. I love the tamariki and their unique charateristics that they bring to kura. I am very lucky to have something that I love to do as my job.
In my spare time I like to be with my whanau. We get up to all sorts of stuff from gardening to getting out in the water doing some fishing and water sport. I feel at ease when on, in, or near the sea. I put it down to my Ngati Wai whakapapa and I am ever thankful to my tupuna for giving this to me.
jduke@hikurangi.school.nz
Whitney Toapuho-kemp
Room 11 (Manuka)
Years 0-2
Kia ora my name is Whitney Kemp and I teach in Room 11 .
I am so excited to be in Room 11 this year, with a lovely bunch of Years 1&2 students.
My main priority is to build positive relationships with children and creating a fun, safe, and caring "class community’. I have a passion for reading, dance, and technology. I also thoroughly enjoy teaching the Junior Pacific Island Dance Group.
wkemp@hikurangi.school.nz
Ngā Takawaenga o Hikurangi Syndicate
Ngā Takawaenga Syndicate are a team of 4 classrooms for Years 3-6.
hELEN MOORE
Nga Takawaenga Syndicate Leader Room 4
Years 4-6
Kia ora whanau, I love learning new things and try to inspire that in my students. Arousing curiosity in the world around us and then teaching the skills to satisfy that curiosity is pretty much my teaching philosophy. I have a particular passion for Science and was lucky enough to spend some of 2018 on the Science Teaching Leadership Programme where I worked with the Northland Regional Council for six months as well as regular workshops in Wellington with NZ Royal Society Te Apārangi. It was a fantastic experience and I am even more excited about sharing what I have learned with our staff and tamariki.
hmoore@hikurangi.school.nz
simone bLAKE
Room 5 (Karaka)
Years 4-6
Kia ora e te whānau. I am beyond excited to begin my teaching journey with Hikurangi School in 2023. I am passionate about our tamariki and their learning in an all inclusive classroom and school environment. I love to focus on manaakitanga and whanaungatanga in our learning space with strong reciprocal relationships between kaiako, ākonga, whānau and our wider school community. I enjoy teaching Literacy and the Arts and integrating all curriculum areas in a thematic approach. I look forward to building on a fantastic year with our school community. Ngā mihi. sblake@hikurangi.school.nz
TYME RATA
Room 6 (Kowhai)
Year 3
Ko Wairahi te awa
Ko Te Mahuhu ki te Rangi te waka
Ko Whananaki te marae
Ko Ngati Rehua, Te Whanau Whero me Te Aki Tai nga hapu
Ko Ngati Wai te iwi
Kia ora, my name is Tyme and I am a mother of two crazy but beautiful children Koha-Ngaronui and Waimirirangi. My whanau recently moved home to Whananaki and this is my first year here at Hikurangi Primary years 5 and 6. Previously I worked in Kaikohe with years 3-6 in a bilingual class.
In my classroom I encourage positive and respectful relationships with and between my students, their whanau and the community. I like to set learning that will challenge my students and strengthen their ideas, strategies and interests.
I enjoy being by the moana, camping, helping my partner on the farm and spending time with my whanau.
chantelle higgins
Room 7 (Nga Whetu Kohikohiko)
Years 0-8
He maramara tūturu tēnei nā Rāhiri. He herenga nui ōku ki roto o Ngāti Manu, Ngāti Hau, Te Mahurehure, otirā Te Whakatohea. Ko taku tino kōingo ko te reo māori me ōna tikanga. I tupu ake au i roto i te ao o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori tae atu ki Te Whare Wānanga Takiura o ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori. I reira i tino pūrangiaho taku hiakai ki te noho hei kura māhita mō o tatou tamariki mokopuna. He kura māhita tēnei e whakaako ana i te Rūmaki Reo Tau 0 - 8.
Tēnā, nau mai, piki mai ki roto i a mātou.
“Te piko o te Māhuri, tērā te tipu o te rākau”
chiggins@hikurangi.school.nz
Ngā Tuakana o Hikurangi Syndicate
Ngā Tuakana Syndicate are a team of 2 classrooms for Years 6 - 8.
Shontelle wihongi
Room 8 (Puriri)
Years 6-8 Girls
My name is Shontelle Wihongi and I teach in Room 12 . I've been a teacher at Hikurangi School for 8 years.
Outside of the classroom, I love spending time with my family, going on road trips and eating my mum's home baking.
I am very proud to be part of the Hikurangi School staff and feel privileged to have the opportunity to work in a community of diverse, happy, hardworking and talented tamariki.
swihongi@hikurangi.school.nz
Kyle ward
Room 9 (Kauri)
Years 7-8 Boys
Kia ora, my name is Kyle Ward and I am currently teaching in a year 5, 6 and 7 class. This will be my 8th year teaching at Hikurangi Primary and my 1st in the senior school. I have absolutely loved my time in the juniors and enjoy the challenges that it brings. My passions within the school are sports and reading.
I am a Hikurangi local and enjoy spending the school breaks at the family bach just down the road at Whananaki South, fishing and diving. My partner and I have also just bought our first home so now all our free time outside of work is currently being used on renovations. I also play rugby for the local club when not sidelined with an ever mounting list of injuries.
kward@hikurangi.school.nz
Marjorie Macnay
RELEASE TEACHER
I have been working at our kura for quite awhile now. I enjoy making a difference in children's lives by working together to find keys to their own unique learning pathway. I find a certain sense of belonging now that I am teaching the sons, daughters, nieces and nephews of children I taught last century! The children make me laugh and help keep me young as we learn from each other and together every day.
mmacnay@hikurangi.school.nz
Teacher Aides
dianne hardie
latoya ruawhare
Shar Duke
Administration Staff
shona keatley
Finance/ Library/ First Aid
Ani hemara
Taonga in School/ Kuia
Phil lawrie
School Caretaker
HI my name is Phil Lawrie I have been associated with the school as a parent for the past 15 years and now have the great pleasure of being the school's grounds keeper.