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. 
My name is Nicky.  I love teaching and working with tamariki of all ages. No two days are ever the same.  I love teaching at Kaikōura Primary School, it feels like home and is my turangawaewae.  When I’m not teaching, you will find me at the farm, playing sport or training for another adventure race.

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.