Our staff

We have more than 400 teaching and specialist staff based in Wellington and in offices around the country.

In 2008, we introduced a regional learning delivery and support model aimed at strengthening connections with students, their whanau, and community. One of the ways we are doing this is by increasing the number of staff working in local communities.

Another is by grouping our learning advisors and teachers into four regional teams that are aligned with the Ministry of Education’s regional offices – Northern, Central North, Central South, and Southern. Teachers from different subject areas and disciplines work together to increase their understanding and engagement with students and their families.

Our regional staff also include Kaiarahi (guides) who work with schools, alternative education providers, community and government agencies, to co-ordinate regional initiatives to boost student engagement and achievement. Our liaison teachers work directly with students and families to provide extra support if you need it.

Our staff are led by a senior leadership team made up of the Chief Executive Mike Hollings,  Chief Operating Officer Viv Rogers (acting),  Chief Advisor Margaret Gamlin and the chair of our Learner Services runanga. We are organised into three wahanga (areas):

• Learner Services – which includes the four regional teaching teams, early childhood, curriculum development and e-learning. The managers of these areas form our Learner Services runanga.
• Operations and Performance – which includes enrolment services; human resources; finance; our information resources group; facilities and procurement; media services and distribution; assessment, evaluation and qualifications; and organisational performance, planning and reporting.
• Advisory wahanga/Chief Executive’s office - which includes communications, authentic learning and support for the Board of Trustees.

Board of Trustees

Like face-to-face schools we have a Board of Trustees responsible for ensuring the school is governed and managed according to the relevant legislation and the National Education Guidelines. Our Board members are:

• Trish McKelvey (Chair)
• Roger Taylor (Deputy Chair)
• Wayne Bainbridge
• Don Blakeney (appointed May 2009)
• Roger Drummond
• John Nisbet (Te Kura staff member, elected June 2009)
• Nori Parata
• Jacky Stafford (appointed May 2009).

Trish McKelvey CNZM MBE (Chair) is an experienced board chair, including as former chair of Career Services, the board of the Local Government Industry Training Organisation and the Wellington Regional Sports Trust. Other past positions also include Hillary Commission Commissioner and Governor of the New Zealand Sports Foundation. Trish was the principal of Wellington High School for seven years, and is regarded for having exceptional skills in negotiation and communication.

Roger Taylor (Deputy Chair) is a chartered accountant with 30 years’ consulting and auditing experience, primarily involving financial and corporate advice, including matters of governance to a wide range of organisations. Government appointments have included the former University Grants Committee, QEII Arts Council, The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand, the Commerce Commission, New Zealand Steel Development Limited and the Wellington College of Education.

Wayne Bainbridge is the Principal of Matipo Primary School, Te Atatu, Auckland. Wayne was a Fulbright Scholar in 1987, a University of Auckland Research Affiliate Scholar in 1992, and the holder of West Auckland Principals’ Association Study Awards in 1995, 1996 and in 2001. He received a Rotary Vocation Award in 1996 for services to primary education. Wayne has been active in professional associations and New Zealand Educational Institute matters. Wayne’s community involvement includes being Chairperson of the Kotuku Trust, and trustee for the Western Districts Community Trust and for the Te Atatu Youth Network Trust.

Don Blakeney is a highly experienced leader with extensive governance and community experience, including serving as the founding Chief Executive of the New Zealand Film Commission and a member of the Tairawhiti District Health Board. He has also served as CEO and Trustee of Anaura Associates, a charitable trust providing community assistance in the East Coast area. Don has a personal connection to Te Kura - his two daughters enrolled as early childhood students and have continued their education with us since.

Roger Drummond is a consultant in the commercial division of law firm Gibson Sheat. Roger is past president of The Banking and Financial Services Law Association Limited, and is on the editorial board of the Journal of Banking and Finance Law and Practice.

John Nisbet is the elected Te Kura staff representative. He is also the Regional Manager for the Central South region. Previously, John served as head of department for science at Te Kura, and was a senior teacher in agriculture. In 2009, John received a Master's degree in Educational Leadership from the Australian Catholic University.

Nori Parata is the Prinipal of Tolaga Bay Area School and is Ngati Porou, Ngai Tahu. Nori is actively involved in education management. Her school is part of the Stepping Stones Cluster for the Ministry’s Extending High Standards Across Schools project. Nori is a member of the Maori Principals’ Group Developing Leadership Potential in Maori Secondary Students pilot study. She was a member of NZQA’s Maori Reference Group for Te Rautaki Maori a te Mana Tohu Matauranga – the Maori Strategic Plan.

Jacky Stafford began her long association with Te Kura when her twin sons were enrolled as early childhood students. She will be known to many of our staff and some of our students and their families through her involvement with Rural Women New Zealand, where she has been the Education Convenor, and the Rural Education Reference Group, which she chairs. Jacky has experience as a school board trustee (both primary and secondary, including as chair) and brings a wealth of skills and expertise to her role with Te Kura.