Kia ora, Butter here. This month I decided I better start introducing my whanau to you. They are the kaiako (teachers) here at Pipiwai Kindy. 

Helen: Manager at Beststart Pipiwai Kindy. “I have been a teacher for 20 years now and in that time, I have been a Special Education Support Worker and a teacher/manager in Early Childhood. The best part of my day is seeing our tamariki exploring their natural environment and discovering new things about what part they play in the care of it. I love to get high-fives and cuddles when someone needs one. I love our beautiful natural centre, and love to continually find ways to bless others through the work we do. Some of my time has to be spent in the office but the children know that they can come and talk to me any time and often want to show me their awesome artwork. Butter is a big part of our community, along with Shelly and the chickens who provide us eggs that we can give away, and giving things away fills my personal bucket.” 

Andrea: Head Teacher at Beststart Pipiwai Kindy. “I was born in Auckland where I lived with my parents and older sister in the deep west of West Auckland, Glen Eden. I went to Aranga Primary School north of Dargaville when my parents and I moved when we left Auckland. We lived on a small holding of 100 acres and farmed dry stock. After primary school, we then moved to Rangiora in the South Island where I completed my high schooling at Rangiora High. After living with my sister in Hastings for a couple of years, I then left and went to Palmerston North to complete my teacher training. Moving to Auckland after training, I have now been teaching for 18.5 years. Seven of those years have been with BestStart. I have lived in India for a year teaching at a primary school providing free education for children from the slums, which I loved. During this time, I met my now husband who has lived and worked in NZ but is now in Uganda extending and building the school we are developing that is providing free education for the local children who cannot pay for it. My mum is from a farming family here in Whangarei and my dad left England in the 70s and met my mum in Auckland and the rest they say, is history.” 

Monique: Qualified Teacher at Beststart Pipiwai Kindy. “Kia ora, I'm Monique. Born and bred here in Whangarei and privileged to live in the beautiful coastal valley of Whananaki South with my tribe of dogs, cats, and horses. I'm a primary trained teacher, who due to sustaining a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) during study started out as a primary relief teacher due to more flexible days that I could balance with my recovery. I then got offered a job with flexible hours in ECE 4 years ago, have worked my way through recovery to being able to work full time, and made my way to Pipiwai Kindy early this year. I love my job, forming positive relationships with tamariki and their whanau and watching the tamariki faces light up as they learn or understand something new. Outside of teaching, I am a very passionate about horses and enjoy running treks, coaching riders, starting my home-bred fur-kids under saddle and getting out and about competing when I can. I am a passionate rescue helicopter ambassador and you could also find me out in the garden or behind my sewing machine.” 

Brooke: Qualified teacher at Beststart Pipiwai Kindy. "Kia ora, I’m Brooke. I was born in Dargaville but lived in Auckland until I was 6. We then moved to Australia and I spent 20 years on the Gold Coast before relocating back to NZ in 2016 with my 3 wonderful children. My partner and I now live in Horahora with 4 of our 5 children and enjoy spending our weekends relaxing on the beach or going for long drives/adventures. Although I gained my degree in primary education, I have always worked in early childhood. I absolutely love working with this age group and I am particularly passionate about implementing before-school-ready programmes and strategies into an ECE setting."

Beral: Teacher at Beststart Pipiwai Kindy. "Kia Ora everyone my name is Beral. I was born in Papua New Guinea and moved here in 2015. I started working for BestStart at the start of 2021 as a reliever, then I joined the Pipiwai Kindy whanau full-time. Living in New Zealand is a cultural shock for me because it’s so different from where I come from and it’s very cold here compared to my home country. I am currently studying to become a qualified teacher so I can travel around Asia and African countries to gain experience, knowledge, and skills. I want to travel to those places because I know that education for tamariki between the ages of 2-5 is limited and I want to discover the centres that are currently operating and learn more about the ECE culture over there. I enjoy working with tamariki because they bring so much joy and excitement with them, not only that but they like to learn new things every day through play which is fantastic to see. Every now and then I enjoy playing sports with my friends and I love going on spontaneous trips. I’m not a planner, I’m more of a going with the wind kinda girl that loves a good sunset."