Staff

Ki te taha o tōku matua - Ko Kauwhehei tōku maunga. Ko Tukituki me Papanui ōku waiu. Ko nga uri o Kurahaupo ōku waka. Ko Ngai Te Whatuiapiti tōku hapu. Ko Ngati Kahungunu te iwi. Ko Otane tōku hau kainga. Ki te taha o tōku whaea - Ko Upolu tōku motu. Ko Falealili tōku rohe. Ko Saleilua tōku papa kainga. Ko Nu’usafe’e tōku motu tapu. Ko Fanene te tangata Ko Hamoa tōku hau kainga. One of the things I am most proud of in life is being the principal of Papakura Intermediate, the best little intermediate whanau in Papakura where every learner can believe, strive and achieve success as themselves: tu rangatira! I have been immersed in a range of Auckland and Samoa schools - teaching, leading and providing core curriculum professional learning, as both a lead facilitator for Alison Davis’ literacy-based company and co-director of LEIS - Leading Educators Inspiring Samoa. I have a deep-driven desire to be my best self and awhi others to be their best selves in and for the world. My whanau lives in Mangere. We love people and places, culture and kai, learning and leadership.

Kia ora, my name is Amber King - Savage (Tupaea). I have been here at Papakura Intermediate since 2016. I have been teaching for 11 years and I still think it is the best job in the world. I love and appreciate the Arts: fashion, music, theatre all types of art. My favourite thing to do is to travel with my family; making memories, holidaying at beautiful beaches and soaking up the sun.

My name is Oriana Hansell-Pune. This is my 4th year at Papakura Intermediate #TeamPI! I am German Samoan, was born in Auckland and have lived in Mangere Bridge, South Korea, China and Japan. My whānau and I love to travel and explore new places, take amazing photos and have fun adventures by saying ‘yes’ to things that are new to us.

Kia Ora! My name is Denise Welsh, this is my second year at P.I. I am excited to be in the role of Assistant Principal this year and looking for to all the new learning opportunities ahead in 2022. I am Cook Island Maori, I grew up in Otara, Manurewa and on the GC in Australia. I do Crossfit for a bit of me time and enjoy making memories with my whānau, my partner George and our four beautiful children.

Tēnā koutou katoa. Ko Matua Wiremu ahau, Kaino whānau leader. Excited and keen to be here. My whānau are affiliated with Waikato-Tainui, and Mana whēnua in and around the Tāmaki area. My family and I live locally so I expect to see P.I tamariki here and there. My two grandsons are looking forward to starting school here in Papakura soon, alongside their whānau too. My wife and I, and our adult children grew up and were schooled in Papakura and now is an exciting time for change. Looking forward to meeting all students and making 2022 a year for you and your whānau to remember. Nau mai, haere mai, whakatau mai. Mauri Tau, Mauri Ora.

Kia ora Papakura Intermediate Whānau, My name is Imogen Kennedy and I am originally from Dunedin in the South Island. I moved to Auckland 8 years ago and haven’t left. I love living in Papakura and exploring the areas around us. My parents and older brother still live in Dunedin and my two sisters now live in Wellington. My family and I are very close and we love spending time together. My partner and I have a wee girl named Ada and a dog named Fred. We enjoy walking the dog, swimming at the beach and going on adventures as a whānau.

My name is Lisapeta Wilson, I have the privilege of being a part your child’s learning journey, here at Papakura Intermediate. I am excited to learn from our staff, our community and our students.
Born and raised in Mangere, it has always been my dream to be a teacher. My grandparents migrated from the beautiful islands of Niue and the Cook Islands, I am very proud of my heritage.
I am married and have 3 children, two girls and a boy. My family, my faith, and the relationships I build around me are what is most important to me. I enjoy travelling, reading, spending time with my whanau and dancing!
I have a passion to see my students achieve all goals and challenges set before them, and I believe that no dream is too big.

My name is Rebecca Thomas. I have taught in a number of schools across Auckland prior to joining the P.I. team. I have also been fortunate to teach in the United Kingdom and experience school life there. Some of my other passions include music, quilting, gardening and tennis. This year I am looking forward to teaching soft materials for the first time.

Kia Ora, my name is River Nario and I am a teacher in Team 1 at Papakura Intermediate. This is my first ever year of teaching as I have just finished my studies at university. I came here to New Zealand from The Philippines at the age of 11. Some of my passions include music, sports (basketball, rugby, touch, volleyball, and American football to be exact), going to the gym, road tripping, and spending time with my friends and family. I am excited to kick start my teaching career here at Papakura intermediate as I know that I will learn a lot from the wonderful staff and students here at Papakura Intermediate.

Kia Ora, my name is Eiren Healey and I am one of the core teachers in Team 2 here at Papakura Intermediate. I was born in Opotiki and raised in Pukekohe. My interests lie within the arts, especially the performing arts. I have a background in productions and have even worked at Disney World. I also enjoy being outdoors exploring, being at the beach and travelling. I have always had a passion to become a teacher since I was young, growing up as the oldest to two younger brothers and many cousins started the spark. There are many things that I look forward to this year, including getting to know my students, teaching, supporting and instilling the belief within them that they can achieve anything that they set their mind to.

Ko Hikurangi te Maunga, Ko Waiapu te awa, Ko Horouta te waka, Ko Rahui te marae, Ko te Whanau a Rerewa, te Whanau a Karuwai nga hapu, Ko Ngati Porou te Iwi, No te Tairawhiti ahau. Ko Berdine Rickard toku ingoa. Teaching has always been a passion of mine ever since I was little. This year I am so excited to be back for my second year at Papakura Intermediate. Some of my absolute favourite things are Kapa Haka, singing, swimming, and the beach. But the things most important to me are my family, my friends, my students and my faith.

Hi my name is Crystal Wolfgramm, this is my first year of teaching and I am excited to join Papakura Intermediate as a core teacher. I was born and raised in Auckland and I am of Tongan and German descent. Outside of school, my time is centred around family, church and outdoor activities. I enjoy music, art, baking and anything that allows me to be artistically creative! I'm excited to learn more and to make a positive impact in the lives of our tamariki.

Kia ora, My name is Kaelim Donnelly (Matua Kaelim). I grew up in Otara/ Flatbush but was educated in East Auckland and completed my bachelor at education at the University of Auckland. I am the oldest of 5 children so being a positive male role model has always been a big motivation for me and has had a major influence on my passion for educating the younger generation with lifelong skills. I am a proud Maori and Pakeha teacher whose ancestry line originates from Ngati Porou. I am privileged to be starting my teaching career here at Papakura Intermediate!

Kia Ora, Malo e lelei My name is Chelsea Crompton and I am one of the core teachers here at Papakura Intermediate. I am in my third year of teaching, originally residing from Papatoetoe Intermediate. Growing up and attending schools in South Auckland, I’m excited to continue my teaching journey in my own community of Papakura. I believe that my students will gain not only academic learning but skills that will produce lifelong learners and leaders. The aim is to create a comfortable and open whanau environment. That will lead students to be expressive and challenge themselves in various experiences. I look forward to meeting and connecting with the tamariki and whanau of Team 5 this year.

My name is Wesley Tugia, and I am one of the core teaching staff at Papakura Intermediate School. I have taught for six years previously and stopped for six years working for Careers NZ/Tertiary Education Commission and Massey University. I took the opportunity to return to teaching and started here at Term 2, 2021. It has been a humbling, challenging and culturally rich experience working alongside the tamariki and whānau.

Kia ora, my name is Lillani Hopkins and this is my second year teaching at Papakura Intermediate. I was born in Palmerston North, however I was raised and completed all of my schooling in the UK. My passion has always been geography and geology, I love exploring Aotearoa's geothermal landscapes and a specific interest in New Zealand's igneous rocks. Ever since I was a child I dreamt of becoming a teacher, I am ecstatic that I have been able to achieve my dream at P.I. This year I am going to help students realise their potential, achieve goals and dream big.

Kia ora, Bula Vinaka and Hello. I am Mr Prasad. I was born and raised in Fiji. I have been a teacher for 15 years in fiji and moved to New Zealand. I have always enjoyed being a teacher. I like playing soccer and volleyball and watching sports like rugby ( I am from Fiji). I also like the outdoors such as hiking and farming.

This is my second year at Papakura Intermediate and I am super excited to be with the P.I. whanau. I am trying to learn to play a guitar and the Maori language.

Goeiedag julle. I am Whaea Yovandi and proud to be the Food Technology teacher here at P.I. for my second year. I am South African and came over to your beautiful New Zealand with my husband and two boys in December 2019. I love reading, going on new and exciting adventures and spending time with my family and friends. I am also very proud of my culture and language, Afrikaans.

My name is Matt Brachi. I was born in England but grew up in West Auckland before moving to Papakura with my wife seven years ago. My curriculum passions are Science, Technology, Maths and Drama/Filmmaking. Over the summer break I was lucky to take part in a teacher program run by the Royal New Zealand Air Force and I look forward to incorporating some of these ideas into learning this year.

Kia ora, my name is Erica Jones (Mrs. Jones). This year I am going to be working with the Technology team doing Visual Arts and STEAM, as well as doing Specialist Visual Arts with Papakura Intermediate students! I live on the beautiful Pohutukawa Coast with my husband, our children, and my two dogs. We love living at the beach and spend any spare time swimming, kayaking, fishing and anything else on or around the water!

Hi, my name is Christopher Marrett and I am in my 30th year of teaching. I started my career in Wellington and slowly made my way up the North Island. I began my Teaching as a primary teacher then I moved into Materials Technology as that is where my true passion is. When I’m not teaching I am often fishing and sailing. I am looking forward to meeting the PI community and having loads of fun.

Ko Hikurangi te maunga, ko Waiapu te awa, ko Ngāti Porou te iwi. Ko Karleena Karaitiana Tangaere-Vui tōku ingoa. Nō te Tairāwhiti awau. Kia ora! My name is Karleena. My dad is Māori from the East Coast and my mum is Pākehā from Taranaki. I was born under the bridge right here at Papakura birthing unit. I have 6 sisters, my husband is from Samoa and together we have a beautiful daughter. I am passionate about learning, animals and taking care of Papatūānuku. I started my teaching journey 8 years ago and am excited to start this new adventure here at Papakura Intermediate as the Learner Support Coordinator. Ngā mihi

I have lived in Papakura most of my life. I was born in Whakatane and moved to a farm in Mangere where I attended Mangere Central School. When we moved to Papakura I went to Edmund Hillary School for six months while Kelvin Road School was being built and I was then a foundation pupil at the new KRS. I attended Papakura Intermediate and Papakura High Schools. Before having my children I travelled and worked overseas. I have been working at PI for 20 years and was very pleased to meet up and work with my old teacher Mr Hogan! It is really great to be working here and meeting the children of the students who were here when I first started in my role as School Secretary.

Kia ora my name is Jocelyn Coppins and I joined the team at PI in September 2020. Born in Wairoa, raised in South Waikato, my parents moved to Auckland when I started intermediate school which I loved. I believe the most constant thing in life is change and learning can be a lifelong tool and passion that helps us to navigate those changes. I look forward to meeting you at the front office as the school secretary.

Ko Taupiri me Pirongia nga maunga, Ko Waikato te awa, Ko Tainui te waka, Ko Mokoroa me Rakaunui nga marae, Ko Tainui te waka, Ko Ngati Maniapoto te hapu, Ko tainui te Iwi, No kawhia ahau. Kia ora my name is Whaea Te Amoroa. I am a learning assistant here at Papakura intermediate and have been a part of the team here at P.I since may 2021. I was born in Mangere and lived in Waiuku, my whanau come from Kawhia and Oamaru. I have previously worked in a diverse range of jobs such as Skids, in early childhood and a Horse Stud to name a few. I love Spending time with whanau, fishing, road trips, reading and makeup.. I am passionate about encouraging our tamariki, educating, learning alongside and creating safe welcoming spaces and environments for them to thrive in. I look forward to working with and alongside you all this year!!

Hi my name is Whaea Jane. I hail from Gisborne and have lived most of my life in Auckland. After many years my family and I settled in Papakura. Being here at Papakura Intermediate as a Learning Assistant for 2 years has been and still is an absolute joy. From doing the Fast Forward Reading Programme with students to a variety of other skills I’ve learned and shared along the way, like making fried bread for our events.

Kia ora, my name is Nadia. My Nan had the privilege of naming me and decided to name me after Nadia Comaneci who was the first gymnast to be awarded a perfect 10.0 at the Olympic games. I am of Maori, Pakeha and Scottish descent. I am an only child between my Mum & Dad but I am also very fortunate to be the oldest of 9 other siblings; 8 brothers and 1 sister. I absolutely love kids and spending time with them and I think that comes from growing up surrounded by kids and babies. Growing up I was always surrounded by boys therefore can come across as having a hard strong exterior but I am super soft and mushy inside. I am a super chill, go with the flow, fun, loving person to be around who is on a massive self-love journey through 2021 and I’m so excited. Sport has always been a massive part of my life and something my family and I will always be super passionate about. 2 of my brothers have represented NZ in Football (Soccer). I played professional Netball for 5 years for the Waikato Magic, Northern Mystics and Northern Stars. In 2013 I was part of the NZ U21’s team and the on court Captain that won the World Youth Cup in Scotland. So I guess you could say I’m a World Champion!