Tūtaki mai ki te tīma
Meet the team
Ko tā te rōpū o Ngā Pou, he tautoko i ngā whānau, i ngā kaimahi me te kaupapa o Te Kōhanga Reo mā te ārahi me te whakahaere i ngā āhuatanga katoa o ngā whakahaerenga o Te Tari Matua o Te Kōhanga Reo.
The Executive Leadership Team supports whānau, kaimahi, and the Kōhanga Reo movement through leadership and oversight of all aspects of Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust operations.
Angus Hartley
Tumu Whakarae | Chief Executive Officer
He uri ahau nō Te Atihaunui a Pāpārangi; Ngāti Apa, Ngā Rauru, Ngāti Tūwharetoa me Tainui hoki.
I tipu ahau ki Whanganui.
Hai Tumu Whakarae, ko ngā haepapa nui he ārahi, he whakahaere i ngā wāhanga katoa o te kaupapa, me te tuku kupu āwhina ki te Poari. Ko tētahi o ngā āhuatanga matua o tana tūranga, he whakarongo ki ngā whānau o Te Kōhanga, kia mārama ki ō rātau wawata, ki ō rātau hiahia.
I tau mai a Angus ki tēnei tūranga i te Kohi-tātea, 2019, whai muri i tana mahi i roto i Te Kōhanga Reo mō te rua tekau tau i roto i ngā mahi ahumoni, ā, nō muri iho ka noho ia hai Poumatua Ahumoni. Kua mahi ia ki ngā Ratonga Tūmatawhāiti, Tūmatanui anō hoki ki Aotearoa, ki Ahitereiria, ki Peretānia.
E whakahīhī ana a Angus i te ahu whakamua o te tipu pūtea mō ngā whānau o Te Kōhanga Reo, me te whakaaetanga o te Tohu Whakapakari hai hōtaka tohu paetahi, te ahu whakamua o ngā utu mō ngā kaimahi, e whakapai ana i ngā rawa o Te Kōhanga Reo, me te whakaniko i ngā whakahaerenga o Te Kōhanga Reo.
Mā te ngākaunui ia e ārahi ki te tautoko i ngā whānau kia kite i ō rātau wawata mō te ānamata, kia mahi tahi ki ngā whānau me ngā hapori kia ahu whakamua ai ngā whāinga me ngā wawata o Te Ara Tūāpae (tā mātau rautaki) kia whakapūmautia hoki te manawa piharau me te hūrokuroku o te kaupapa. Anā, ko Te Kōhanga Reo te kōwhiringa tuatahi mā te mokopuna.
Ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au. Tihei mauri ora!
He uri ahau o Te Atihaunui a Paparangi; Ngāti Apa, Ngā Rauru, Ngāti Tūwharetoa me Tainui hoki.
I tipu ahau i Whānganui.
As Tumu Whakarae, Angus is responsible for providing direction, overseeing all facets of the organisation, and providing advice to the Board. One of the most important aspects of his role is listening to Kōhanga Reo whānau to understand their aspirations and needs and putting this into a wider framework to support the Kaupapa.
Angus came into the role in January 2019 following involvement in Kōhanga Reo over two decades in finance roles and latterly as Chief Financial Officer. He has worked in the public and private sectors in Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
Angus is proud of the progress that has been made in growing funding for Kōhanga Reo whānau, achieving recognition of te Tohu Whakapakari as a degree programme, progressing pay parity for kaimahi, improving Kōhanga Reo property, and enhancing Kōhanga Reo operations.
He is driven by a passion to support whānau to realise their aspirations for the future, to work collectively alongside whānau and communities to progress the aims and aspirations of Te Ara Tūāpae (our Strategic Plan), and to ensure longevity and sustainability of the movement, where Kōhanga Reo becomes the first choice for mokopuna.
Ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au. Tihei Mauri Ora!
Steve Allan
Pou Pakihi Matua | General Manager Corporate Services | CFO
Ka rere tōku manu ki te tihi o ngā pae maunga, ko Taumata-o-Pātuki.
Ka kai ki te awa o Waitaki, e rere ana ki te moana o Te Tai-o-Arai te Uru.
Kei reira te waka o Helenslee e tau ana, te waka i kawea mai ai ōku tūpuna i Kōtirana.
Ka rere rawa tōku manu ki te rohe o Ngāi Tahu, ki tōku kāinga o Ōamaru, te wāhi i noho ai ōku tūpuna.
Ka huri tōku manu, rere atu ai i tōku whare tūpuna o Ōamaru ki Tāmaki Makaurau, te wāhi e noho nei au ināianei.
Kua whai tūranga matua a Steve i ngā mahi pūtea, rautaki, whakahaere hoki puta noa i Aotearoa, i Hingapoa, i Peretānia me Amerika ki te Raki. I mua i tana urunga ki te Tarahiti, i mahi ia me ngā pakihi hangarau taumata tīmatanga, ā, i āwhina ia i a rātou ki te rapu rongoā mō ngā wero pakihi, me te tuku hua hangarau ki te mākete.
Mā ngā pūkenga me te mātauranga o Steve e whakakaha, e whakatipu hoki i tō tātou kaupapa, kia taea tonutia e tātou te tuku tautoko pai rawa atu ki ngā Kōhanga Reo puta noa i Aotearoa.
He mema āheinga a Steve nō te Kāhui Kaitiaki Pūtea Whai Pūkenga, ā, he mema whakaruruhau hoki nō te Institute of Directors. Kei te whai ia i tōna haerenga ako i te reo Māori i Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
Nā te ngākau nui ki te āwhina i ērā atu, me te tautoko i ngā whakahaere whai kaupapa, e mahi ana hoki a Steve hei kaitiaki, kaitiaki pūtea hoki mō te Little Miracles Trust. He rōpu atawhai tēnei e tautoko ana i ngā mātua me ngā whānau o ngā pēpi whānau moata, pēpi mate hoki i te wā whānau, mā te manaaki i te wā kei te taiwhanga atawhai, i te hokinga ki te kāinga, ā, tae noa ki tua atu.
Ka rere tōku manu ki te tihi o ngā pae maunga, ko Taumata-o-Pātuki.
Ka kai ki te awa o Waitaki, e rere ana ki te moana o Te Tai-o-Arai te Uru.
Kei reira te waka o Helenslee e tau ana, te waka i kawea mai ai ōku tūpuna i Kōtirana.
Ka rere rawa tōku manu ki te rohe o Ngāi Tahu, ki tōku kāinga o Ōamaru, te wāhi i noho ai ōku tūpuna.
Ka huri tōku manu, rere atu ai i tōku whare tūpuna o Ōamaru ki Tāmaki Makaurau, te wāhi e noho nei au ināianei.
Steve has held senior financial, strategic and operational roles across Aotearoa New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and North America. Before joining the Trust, he worked with early-stage technology companies, helping them solve business challenges and bring tech-enabled products to market.
Steve’s skills and expertise will help grow and strengthen our kaupapa, ensuring we can keep providing the very best support to all our Kōhanga Reo across Aotearoa.
Steve holds professional designations as a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors, and is on a Te Reo Māori learning journey, studying at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
Driven by a passion for helping others and contributing to purpose-led organisations, Steve also serves as Trustee and Treasurer of The Little Miracles Trust. This charitable organisation supports parents and whānau of premature and sick full-term babies through neonatal intensive care, the transition home, and beyond.
Titia Graham
Pou Whakangungu ā-Motu | General Manager, Training & Development
I whānau mai, i tipu mai i te whārua o Ruātoki e hokia tonu nei ki te karanga a taku maunga a Taiarahia, kia ūhia e taku tīpuna kuia e Hinepūkohurangi, kia purea e ngā hau miri o Te Urewera, kia kau i taku awa i a Ōhinemataroa e rongo anō ai au i te hā o matemateāone ki tōku ūkaipō, ki tōku iwi a Ngāi Tūhoe.
Ko te mātauranga Māori me te whakangungu te tino o ngā mahi a Titia. I mahi hai Kaiwhakaako mō te Social Services Trust, ā, e whā tau te roa ki a Rapuara. I tū hai Kaitohu o Te Kaiāwhina Ahumai ITO, ā, i konei hoki e whakakaupapatia ana e ia tētahi o ana mahi matua, arā, te whakatū tīrewa Mātau Kaupapa Māori mō ngā kaimahi tauwhiro hapori.
I pau hoki i a ia te rima tau ki te Mana Tohu Mātauranga o Aotearoa (NZQA). I konei ka mahi ngātahi me ‘ngā toki o te ao Māori’ i whakawhāiti mai hai whakaruruhau i te whakakaupapatanga o te wāhanga Māori o te tīrewa mātauranga a NZQA.
Kua tekau mā tahi tau a Titia e mahi ana i Te Tari Matua o Te Kōhanga Reo, ā, e rua tau ki tēnei e kawe ana i te tūranga o Te Pou Whakangungu ā-Motu – e ārahi ana anō hoki i te Whare Ako – te wāhanga ka taka nei ki a rātau ngā āhuatanga o ngā mahi whakawhanake, ngā mahi whakaako me ngā mahi whakahaere i ngā kaupapa whakangungu a te Tari Matua – koia ko ngā whakaritenga whakahaere mātauranga matua. Me te aha, tū whakahī ana a ia ki Te Tari Matua o Te Kōhanga Reo i ū nei kia eke panuku te tono i te whakaaetanga a NZQA kia āhei Te Tari Matua ki te whakahaere i Te Tohu Whakapakari hai akoranga tohu Paetahi.
Ko te korou a Titia, haere ngātahi ake nei me ngā kaimahi o Te Whare Ako, he ngana kia ukiuki tonu te whakatinana i ngā whāinga, ngā rautaki o Te Ara Tūāpae, arā; ‘te whakapakari pūkenga’, te whakamana, te whakakaha i te mokopuna me te whānau’.
I whānau mai, i tipu mai i te whārua o Ruātoki e hokia tonu nei ki te karanga a taku maunga a Taiarahia, kia ūhia e taku tīpuna kuia e Hinepūkohurangi, kia purea e ngā hau miri o Te Urewera, kia kau i taku awa i a Ōhinemataroa e rongo anō ai au i te hā o matemateāone ki tōku ūkaipō, ki tōku iwi a Ngāi Tūhoe.
Titia’s career has predominantly revolved around Māori education and training. She has worked as a Kaiako for a Social Services Trust, spent four years in the Career Service Rapuara and served as Director of Te Kaiāwhina Ahumai Industry Training Organisation (ITO), where one of her key accomplishments was establishing a Kaupapa Māori Competency framework for social workers.
She also spent five years with New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) working with ‘giants of te ao Māori’ who were involved, as whakaruruhau, in the establishment of the field Māori of the NZQA qualifications framework.
Titia has been employed with Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust for the past 11 years, with the last two years as Te Pou Whakangungu ā-Motu leading Te Whare Ako - the team responsible for the development, delivery and management of the Trust’s training programmes as a tertiary education organisation.
Titia is proud of Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust gaining NZQA approval to deliver the Trust’s Kaiako qualification, Te Tohu Whakapakari, as an approved bachelor’s degree programme.
Together with the Te Whare Ako team, Titia looks forward to continuing to contribute effectively to realising the strategic objectives of Te Ara Tūāpae, to ‘grow the skills’, and ‘empower and strengthen the mokopuna and the whānau’.
Heke Huata
Pou Whakahaere ā-motu | General Manager Operations
Mai Paritū ki ngā Remutaka
Mai i Rongomaiwahine te Tauihu
Mai i Kahungunu te Waenga
Mai i Rangitāne te Taurapa
Ko Kahungunu te tangata
Ko Takitimu te waka
Ko Hikurangi te maunga
Ko Waiapu te awa
Ko Porourangi te tangata
Ko Ngāti Porou te iwi
Ko Horouta te waka
Ko Ngāti Pahauwera, ko Ngāi Tama Te Rangi, ko Ngāti Hori, ko Ngāti Hawea, Ko Te Whānau a Ruataupare, ko Te Aitanga a Hauiti ōku hapū.
Kua mahi a Heke ki roto i Mātauranga Māori me Te Whare Karioi hai Kaiwhakaako, hai Kaiwhakahaere, hai Kaitiaki mai anō i te tau 1983. I runga i ngā kupu āwhina me te tautoko a ōna mātua, a Te Kēnana Wī Te Tau Huata rāua ko Ringahora Hēni Ngākai Ybelle Tomoana, i whakatūria e rāua ko tana hoa tētahi Kōhanga Reo i te tau 1991, whai muri iho ko tētahi Kura Kaupapa i te tau 1995, i whakahoungia rā hai Wharekura i te tau 2016. Ko ia tētahi o ngā tarahitī tuatahi o Te Waka Tapu o Takitimu i te tau 1983. Otirā, he mema o nāianei nō Te Wānanga Whare Tapere o Takitimu.
Mai anō i te Whiringa-ā-Nuku, 2023 kua noho a Heke ki tana tūranga o Te Pouwhakahaere ā-Motu tae ana ki te whakahaerenga o ngā rohe tekau, arā, ko Te Tai Tokerau, ko Tāmaki Makaurau, ko Tainui, ko Mātaatua-Tauranga Moana, ko Waiariki-Tūwharetoa, ko Te Tai Rāwhiti, ko Kahungunu, ko Aotea, ko Ikaroa, ko Te Wai Pounamu–Wharekauri.
E mea ana a Heke, ko tana tūranga he ihiihi, he werowero nōna te haepapa kia kounga ngā mahi tuku i roto, ki ngā wāhanga katoa o Te Kōhanga Reo e tautokotia ana e Ngā Pou (ko ngā mātāpono tūāpapa o Te Kōhanga Reo), Te Korowai (ko ngā whāinga e hiahiatia ana me ngā mahi), Te Whāriki a Te Kōhanga Reo (te marautanga), me Te Ara Tūāpae (te mahere rautaki 2008-2033).
Ko ngā wheako mahi o Heke hai kaiwhakaako, hai Kaiwhakahaere, hai Kaitiaki ka whakaahuatia ia e ia hai ‘Pracademic’, e whakaoti ana i ana tohu ōkawa i muri iho i tana mahi mō tana iwi, mō Ngāti Kahungunu.
E ārahina ana ia e tana ngākaunui me tana whakapono ko Te Kōhanga Reo te tūturutanga mahi pono o te kaupapa Māori. Ko Te Kōhanga Reo e whakamana ai te rangatiratanga me te tautīnei i ngā rangatira o āpōpō, me ngā mokopuna o te rā nei.
Tihei Kōhanga Reo
Heke has worked for, and in, Māori education and Māori performing arts as a Kaiako, Kaiwhakahaere and Kaitiaki since 1983. With the advice and support of her parents, late Canon Wi Te Tau Huata and Ringahora Heni Ngakai Ybelle Tomoana, she and her partner established a Kōhanga Reo in 1991 followed by a Kura Kaupapa in 1995, which was redesignated to Whare Kura in 2016. She was an inaugural Trustee of Te Waka Tapu o Takitimu in 1983 and is a current member of Te Wānanga Whare Tapere o Takitimu – Takitimu Performing Arts School.
Heke has held the role of Pouwhakahaere a-Motu since October 2023, which includes oversight of ten rohe / districts: Te Tai Tokerau, Tāmaki Makaurau, Tainui, Mātaatua-Tauranga Moana, Waiariki-Tūwharetoa, Te Tai Rāwhiti, Kahungunu, Aotea, Ikaroa, Te Wai Pounamu–Wharekauri. The ten Kaitohu ā-Rohe / District Managers are part of the Strategic Leadership Team.
Heke says her role is both exciting and challenging as she has responsibility for driving quality service delivery within and across Kōhanga Reo underpinned by Ngā Pou e Wha (the cornerstone principles of Kōhanga Reo), Te Korowai (the desired objectives and practices), Te Whāriki a Te Kōhanga Reo (the curriculum) and Te Ara Tūāpae (the Strategic Plan 2008-2033).
Heke’s practical experience as a Kaiako, Kaiwhakahaere and Kaitiaki means she describes herself as a ‘Pracademic’ having completed formal qualifications after working primarily with and for her Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi.
She is driven by her passion and belief that Kōhanga Reo is Kaupapa Māori in action. Kōhanga Reo are best placed to enact self-determination and to sustain our future leaders, ngā mokopuna of today.
Tihei Kōhanga Reo
Mihi Taskhoff
Pou Whakarehu | General Manager Strategy and Relationships
E huri taku aroaro ki uta rā, ngā takahanga waewae o āku mātua tīpuna. E kī ana ko taku whenua taurikura ki Pararaki. E whakatauwehea taku whenua taurikura ki taku whenua houkura e kīa ana ko Hikuwai. Kua whakatipuria nā uri tēnei nā Te Rangipureora, nā Ruataupare. Kua tātaia e āwau āku kōrero whenua tūpuna. nā reira ka huri āku kōrero ki ōku ake mātua, me ngā mātua whāngai, e kīa ai ko o ō rātau whakatipuranga.
Ki te taha o tōku matua
Ko Marotiri te maunga. Ko Mangahauini, ko Hikuwai ngā awa. Ko te whānau a Rua te hapū.
Ko Wi Matahiki, rāua ko Kiri Pewhairangi ōku tīpuna.
Ki te taha o āku matua whāngai
Ko Marotiri te maunga. Ko Mangahauini, ko Hikuwai ngā awa. Ko te whānau a Rua te hapū.
Ko Te Aorere Matahiki, rāua ko Henerietta Gerrard āku mātua whāngai.
Ko Joey Te Aorere Matahiki tōku matua papa.
i whakatipuria e ia āwau ki taku whenua taurikura ki Pararaki ki te kāenga o āku tīpuna. Heoi anō nō te tau 1963 i mate atu āku tīpuna. Kātahi ka whakahokia āwau ki Ūawa noho ai.
Ki te taha o tōku kōkā
Ko Titirangi te maunga. Ko Uawa-nui-a-Ruamatua te awa. Ko te whānau a Te Rangipureora te hapū.
Ko Robert Walker rāua ko Harata Gilman ōku tīpuna.
Ki te taha āku mātua whāngai
Ko Marotiri te maunga. Ko Mangahauini e awa. Ko te whānau a Rua te hapū.
Ko Te Aomihia Lottie Ngawai rāua ko Haami Williams, aku matua whangai.
Ko Roohi Te Aomihia Williams tōku ake whāea.
E arohatia ana e taku ngākau i ngā ōhākī a Kahurangi Iritana Tawhiwhirangi. Kua tātaia e ia ngā herenga o ngā tahataha katoa mō te kaupapa nei o Te Kōhanga Reo. Ko taku whanau hoki tērā ka tae atu ki āku tamariki, me āku mokopuna. Engari anō ko te pākaha o taku manawā e whakatairanga i ēnei mātāpono whai ake nei.
Ka ūhia a tātau mahi ki raro i te korowai.
Ka rārangahia e tātau a tatau mahi ki te Whāriki.
Ka whakatakotoria te rehu ki tua o te ara pae hei tūtuki kia tata, kia whāia kia tāwhiti.
Māku e kī atu, e kore rawa e whakaurua ēnei o ngā mātāpono e toru hei whakaineine, hei aromātai i te painga ake a ngā mahi kei roto i te kaupapa. Ā tēnā ka makaia ki a taiho ake nei. E kore rawa e whakamahia.
Te tau 1987,i tīmatahia e āwau āku mahi rangahau ki te ao mātauranga ki te Whare Wānanga o Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa. I tua atu i te waru tau te roa i āwau i whakatipuria āku pūkenga rangahau ki te wahanga pūtaiao. I te tau whakamutunga o 1991 i whakaotia taku tohu paerewa. Nō taua tau tonu i whakaurua taku potiki ki Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Awhina ki roto ia Te Papaiōea. Koia te tīmatatanga ki te ao ō a tātau mokopuna.
Te tau 1997. I tīmatahia āku mahi whakaemi pūtea i a tātau mahi maramataka mō a tātau mokopuna e whakauru ana ki Te Kōhanga Reo. I whakatūria te tūnga tiaki pūtea. Nāku te maringa nui i taua wā, i te mea i tohua ko āwau te kaiarahi o te taha pūtea a ngā mokopuna. Nō roto i te whā tau mai I te tau 1997 tae noa ki te 2001 i reira i kake ki te taumata o te Pou whakahaere i te kaupapa pūtea. Nā reira nō te tau 2008 i whakahokia ki taku whenua taurikura ki te tiaki i tōku kōkā. Nō taua wā i te tau 2008 tae noa ki te tau 2013 he kaitohu a rohe ki Te Tairawhiti. He mahi takirua. Nō te mutunga o taua tau 2013 i nekehia i riro āwau he tūnga mahi ki wāhi kē atu.
Heoi anō, nō te roanga o te ono tau i āwau e mahi ana ki roto ia kaupapa kē. I tirohia e āwau mai i waho ki roto i Te Kōhanga Reo. Ko ētahi mahi ke atu, he tātari i ngā pūkenga a ngā kaimahi. Anō nei, i whakatauirahia ngā kaupapa whakaako i whakamaheretia ai e ngā taumata whakahirahira o Te Whāriki. Ā, ka tae atu ki ētahi o ngā mahi i tautokotia ngā kaiwhakahaere ā-tari i a rātau mahi whakahaere i Te Kōhanga Reo. Ko āwau tērā, ko te kirimana o SELO tērā i hāpai, i kōkiri i ngā kaupapa mana whakahaere a te whānau.
Ā, ka mutu ērā mahi, kātahi rā ka nekehia atu ki Te Hauora o Aitanga-a-Hauiti. Ko te mana whakahaere i te wahanga whakangungu i a tātau taiohi i ngā mahi whakaora ia tamariki ora. Kīhai e roa te wā i tūtuki ki taua whare hauora, ka māminga atu āwau ki te Centre of Excellence a Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti. He aromātai i ngā ture here te mahi. Nōku te maringa nui ki te mahi tahi ki taha o tō rātau pou whakahaere i ngā kaupapa. I te mea whakawātea mai ai e ia tōnā tūnga i te tau 2016. Heoi anō he toki te āhua i whāia mai i ērā taupānga ā-rorohiko pēna ia XERO, Net pay, tae atu ki ngā herenga, kua hangaia e te ture mō te hunga kua whāi kirimana ki tōna tūnga mahi. Ā, kāti rā. He ngāwari noa iho ki āwau kia whakatairanga ia Te Kōhanga Reo ki mua i te whakaminenga. Mehe hinatore e rapirapi ana i te mārama tūāiti. Ka hihiko ai āku whakatau, ā, ka wahaina atu ki ngā whatu a te whanau kia minamina mai I te waha ki ngā korakora o te rena. Kātahi nei ka kā te ahi ki roto i ō rātau kura roa. I reira ka puta ko te ahi komau. Ko te reo huahuatau o ēnei o āku kōrero e kī ana ahakoa he aha te taumata o te mahi, māku e kī atu he ngāwari noa iho i ētahi wā, he uaua ētahi wā. Engari anō, kei reira ngā piki, ngā heke i ngā mahi a te ūpoko pakaru, a te hunga i tūtuki i ngā waewae i te poronga o ngā mahi. Tē taea te whakangaueue i ngā rohenga katoa, i te mea he rerekē ki ngā mahi a te tari matua. Koia te rongomaiwhiti o te kaupapa ki tōna ake ake.
“In my early days my thinking was so insular with that “fix it mentality” but now my thinking and way of looking at things has indeed evolved, that “fix-it” approach still remains but it’s about the journey that you travel with the whānau, the value of the whānau and wanting to help people to be better using all the support networks available both at the Trust and in our communities.
I consider myself to be pretty strong minded, I’ve honed my skills to sit at the table with the “opposition” I have always strived to improve environments, improve situations, and to be the best that I can be.
This kaupapa is tenacious and will hold on to things it deems important, I feel the movement called me back in 2019 to follow through and put my energies to use again. There’s so much good stuff happening in the kohanga space right now, of course we have our fair share of the not so good, we just find the rongoa to stop the good from being affected.
Is anything that I bring going to be good enough to move this kaupapa into the next decade, of course yes, I don’t have all the answers, but i know that what I contribute will strengthen the movement. Moving forward is where it’s at, we all have to be prepared for hard work everyday and forever.
There is still much work to do, so are we ready for change because its already here.”