How long have you been working in this sector?
Here in New Zealand, I have been in the ECE sector for a decade, but overall, I have been providing education and care to tamariki for more than twenty years. Before I became an early childhood teacher, I was a babysitter/nanny, an academic tutor, and a play coordinator at Starship Children’s Hospital.
What do you love most about what you do?
I love how I am able to make a child feel loved every day. I love how I am entrusted by parents with their most precious taonga. I love how I am able to inspire my colleagues to be the best version of themselves in order to be the best resource available to our tamariki.
What is your favourite time of the year at the centre, and why?
Auckland Anniversary Day – we celebrate being Aucklanders
Waitangi Day, Matariki – we celebrate being bicultural
Maori Language Week, Pasifika Language Week, Sign Language Week – we celebrate being multilingual
Aroha Day (Valentine’s Day), Kindness Day (Anti-Bullying Day), Red Nose Day – we celebrate kindness and charity
Chinese and Vietnamese New Year, Japan Day, Saint Patrick’s Day, Junina Festival, Diwali, United Nations Week – we acknowledge and celebrate diversity
Mothers’ and Grandmothers’ Day, Fathers’ and Grandfathers’ Day – we celebrate the most important people in our lives
Christmas Celebration – we wrap up the year and celebrate generosity and gratefulness
The days that we celebrate events that are meaningful to me, my team, our tamariki and their whanau are my most favourite days of the year. These days are when we get together, get to know each other and strengthen our bond.
What do you like to do when you are not working?
I never work, I do what I love every day, and happen to get paid for it!
Bachelor of Education – Secondary, NZ Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care, Graduate Diploma in Teaching – ECE, Certificate in Mauri Ora.
