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Maria Tuiā – Pemerika

ELC Team Leader/Professional Leader

From Maria:

Talofa Lava! I am a New Zealand-born Samoan, born and raised in Glen Innes, East Auckland. My husband PJ and I have 5 children and bought our house in Papakura in 2018. Papakura is now our home and we love it here.

I come from a family of Early Childhood Educators, so my passion for working alongside children started at a very young age. I have over 18 years' experience working in the Early Childhood Sector. I have been in leadership and management roles in a variety of Early Childhood settings. From Kindergartens, Community-based centres, privately owned centres and Early Learning Centres under a large organisation. I am a fully registered and qualified Educator, and an Associate Teacher for teachers in training.

I believe in respective practice and that my role as a Kaiako is to support and foster children’s learning, engagement and wellbeing in order for them to flourish.

 

Lalupe Lolesi

ELC Teacher

From Lalupe:

TALOFA!

My name is Lupe and I have been working in Early Childhood for 10 years and am currently in my last year of study, towards a Bachelor of Education with Open Polytechnic.

My teaching practice and philosophy is culturally influenced in where I value respectful relationships that are guided with LOVE and RESPECT. I love that each child comes with their own kete of knowledge and the unique way in which they see and interpret their world. It is my hope that I am able to walk alongside children and their families, as we support them to blossom into confident, secure, life-long learners. I look forward to meeting you all!  Alofa atu.

   

  

   Zeenat Mohammed

     ELC Teacher

     From Zeenat: 

    As-Salāmu ʿAlaykum and Kia Ora my name is Zeenat Mohammed.

    I graduated in 2019 with a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education at Unitec Institute of Technology. I am a fully registered and qualified educator. I have five years of experience in early childhood teaching. I have worked with all age groups of children, and I believe they are all unique in their own way. 

I was born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand. I have lived in New Zealand for more than 15 Years. Family, Food, Love and Respect is big for me. I love to travel and learn about different food, culture and language. I am a married mum of a cat named Bella and a Dog named Jimmy.

I like to learn new recipes from different cultures and try to make it at home. I love to spend time with my family and play outdoor sports. I am also into cars and fitness. I look forward to meeting you all!