About Us

Tena koutou katoa
I have the great privilege of leading learning here at Kaikōura Primary School. I am passionate about ensuring high expectations for all our learners and maintaining our caring and inclusive school culture, where everyone belongs. On a personal note, I live on a dairy farm with my husband and our five children and I really enjoy helping out on the farm in my spare time.

My family and I moved to beautiful Kaikōura 18 years ago.  I have worked for Kaikōura Primary School for nearly 14 years.  Our family has a strong association with KPS – both our children attended and my husband was board chair for 5 years.  I feel very privileged to work at KPS, where everyone is valued and included. When I’m not at school I like reading, gardening, the outdoors, and spending time with our adult children and new grandbaby.

Kia ora koutou!
My name is Kelly and I have the pleasure of working with all the fantastic tamariki in Pohutukawa. I am a newly qualified teacher and have a background in Speech and Language Therapy so I am passionate about oral language, reading and early literacy. 
My family roots lie here in Kaikoura and after living and studying in different parts of the world my husband and I now have the privilege of raising our own children in this beautiful part of Aotearoa. 
Ngā mihi nui

I believe teaching and learning are things we all do every day of our lives.  As a teacher, it is my privilege to find teachable moments where I can use the children’s passion to build their knowledge and confidence. 
We have a busy family, our children are almost all grown up and we have 2 precious granddaughters.  I love animals and have horses and dogs with who I share a very outdoors life.

Kia ora koutou
Ko Willie Manuel toku ingoa
No Kaikōura ahau
I enjoy fishing, surfing and rugby. I am a father of two and grandfather of 3.  I have been teaching for over 20 years. Before that, I worked at Whale Watch Kaikōura and was a fisherman employed by Virgo Fisheries in Kaikōura. My favourite subjects to teach are Mathematics, Kapahaka, and The Arts.
Naku noa

I am originally from Cornwall in the UK and have been teaching for almost 10 years. Since becoming a teacher, I have worked with a range of ages and in a range of settings across the world, including a jungle school in Costa Rica! I am passionate about teaching music and working with my Year 6’s to help them learn how to make music together. I love the outdoors and keeping healthy in body and mind. I encourage a positive attitude towards everything that we do and hold creativity in the highest regard.

I am also a teacher in Pohutukawa class and I love to see all the smiling faces when I come into school.

I have had a VERY long association with KPS. I started school on the same site as a five year old, attending through to age 17.  My three children attended KPS and I taught in the Year 5/6 area for several years. Now, as Resource Teacher of Literacy, I enjoy working in all local schools. However, I am so lucky to be based at our awesome Kaikōura Primary. Home and family are most important to me. I have four grandchildren in Christchurch and Melbourne to keep me busy as well. 

Kia Ora I’m Gwen
I moved to Kaikōura almost 32 years ago. I have been at Kaikōura Primary for 27 years as a Teacher’s Aide and I still love everything about my job! I work with individuals and groups and I have good rapport with all the children.  I believe that school should feel like a fun, safe place to be.

I have been the caretaker for going on 5 years in November 2022 and both my children attended KPS. I have a long history with the school from my time working as a local builder and being on the BOT during the rebuild of our school. I enjoy my work here because it is so varied and on a fine day you couldn’t ask for a better office because of our location.