Ko Manaia te maunga
Ko Whangārei Te renga Paraoa te moana
Ko Takahiwai te whenua
Ko Rangiora te whare tūpuna
Ko Patuharakeke te hapū
Ko Ngāti Wai me Ngāpuhi ngā iwi

My whānau are from Takahiwai and I have lived in Takahiwai for over 30 years. I enjoy my mahi in education and have been very lucky to teach in kura in my rohe supporting the educational aspirations of my whānau and the wider community. I enjoy being a member of the Board of Trustees for the Bream Bay Community support Trust as I like to support positive initiatives in our community for good health and wellbeing. A whakataukī that speaks to my heart about our community is this,

He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata! He tangata! He tangata! What is the most important thing in the world? It is people! It is people! It is people! This whakatauki talks to the importance of human connection and relationships. This is what creates community and enables people to flourish. It values the human being in all of us and reminds us of what is most important – it is people.