Tēnā koutou – Greetings to you all. My name is Kelly Ngaru, and I am proud to call Hukerenui home, where I live with my family and work as a teacher. My daughter Morgan is currently a Year 9 student at Te Kamo High School.
With three decades of teaching experience, I bring a thorough understanding of the education sector, alongside a deep appreciation for the tikanga and cultural values that define Te Kamo High School. My previous roles include serving as a staff representative on the Board of Trustees at Hora Hora School, as well as tutoring within the C.E.W. programme.
My dedication to providing quality education for every student drives my commitment to Te Kamo High School and its vibrant community. I believe my skills and expertise are well-matched to the requirements of the Board, and I am ready to invest my time and energy toward continued school success. I value sound governance and uphold the highest standards of integrity and accountability. Familiar with the legal and ethical responsibilities of trustees, I am prepared to meet these obligations with diligence. Collaboration is at the heart of my approach; I enjoy working with people from all backgrounds toward shared objectives.
Kelly Ngaru
Presiding Member
Listening attentively, valuing diverse perspectives, and engaging in constructive dialogue ensures that every decision supports the best interests of Te Kamo High School. Committed to ongoing professional growth, I am eager to further understand the specific requirements of this role and willing to undertake any relevant training to enhance my knowledge and capabilities. I look forward to serving Te Kamo High School and working with the Board of Trustees to help shape the future of our school and community.
Samara Nicholas
Kia ora koutou
I am thrilled to be contributing as a board member over the next three years. I am a former student, head prefect, and long-time advocate of Te Kamo High School (TKHS). My late husband was a principal and educator, and our son is a current Year 12 student at TKHS. We reside in Whananaki. My time as a student at TKHS was formative for my career in marine education. Through my involvement in the Whangarei Harbour Marine Reserve application process—led by students and teachers at TKHS—I discovered my calling. I have the privilege of continuing this legacy, providing snorkel experiences to hundreds of students through the reserve each year, with the Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust's, Experiencing Marine Reserves programme. I am a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to marine education and conservation.
I consider myself to be a community-oriented person, and I have experience in community governance and not-for-profit management. I look forward to supporting taitamariki/rangatahi accessability to education outside the classroom and the hands-on opportunities TKHS provides through initiatives such as trades programmes. I look forward to supporting the established leadership at TKHS and contributing to a strong governance board to serve our young people long into the future.
Ngā mihi nui
Samara Nicholas
Tēnā koutou katoa,
I am a proud member of the Te Kamo community and a passionate Northlander. I am married to Kelly, a former student and teacher at Te Kamo High School, and have three children, the younger two of whom currently attend Te Kamo High in years 13 and 11. I have worked at Sport Northland for the last 23 years in a range of roles including event management, sport development, and currently hold the position of Spaces and Places Manager and am a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
My current role involves working with a diverse range of people and organisations across the rohe, such as district and regional councils, sporting organisations, funders, contractors and community groups. I have been heavily involved in the upgrade of current facilities across Northland and the development of new community facilities from ground zero through to operation.
Stu Middleton
I have worked on the Bowls New Zealand Advisory Committee, and as a board member on the Northland Suns Basketball Development Trust, Bike Northland Inc and Northland Athletics and Gymnasium Stadium Trust, providing me with a sound understanding of governance, and the ability to think strategically and work collaboratively to make effective decisions. I strongly believe in Te Kamo High School as a place to nourish the potential of all our
young people and value the opportunity to support management, staff and students to further bolster the educational, cultural and sporting outcomes of our community.
Ngā mihi nui
Jessica Kaimarama
Tēnā koutou.
Ko Jessica Kaimarama tōku ingoa.
I whānau, i tipu, e noho ana ahau hoki ki Whangarei.
He tamāhine o Whāngarei Te Rerenga Parāoa ahau.
Ko Jak Jak Hauraki rāua ko Isabella Hauraki āku tamariki.
Since completing my schooling and starting a family, it has been my great privilege to serve the communities of Whangarei and Te Tai Tokerau.
My journey has included roles in Maori Media & Iwi Radio as a Programme Director, Broadcaster, and Community Engager, followed by my work as a Department Manager for People Potential and Youth Service.
Currently I serve as a Senior Advisor with Te Puni Kōkiri - Ministry of Māori Development. My passion is empowering whānau to thrive. I believe it's essential for our community's voice to be heard and valued, ensuring that future outcomes are shaped with the active consideration and participation of all involved.
My dream for Te Kamo High School is for it to remain a place where our rangatahi feel a strong sense of pride. All rangatahi have the potential to turn their dreams into reality, and with the unwavering support of their kura, they can flourish into future leaders and valuable contributors to society. I am a proud alumna and former prefect of Te Kamo High School (2007), my younger brother Charlie Cassidy served as Head Boy (2021), and my daughter Jak Jak Hauraki is currently a senior student. Whakapapa and a deep connection to this kura run through our whānau. It is an honour to support Te Kamo High School and its community as a Trustee on the Board this term. I leave you with this whakataukī, "Mā te huruhuru, ka rere te manu" - "Adorn the bird with feathers so it may fly". A reminder that with the right support and resources, our rangatahi and our kura can soar. Nā reira tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.
Tēna koutou katoa, My name is Charlotte Selby and I have the privilege of serving Te Kamo High School as the staff representative to the Board of Trustees.
I live in the Avenues with my husband Ian. I have called Whangārei home for 3 years now, and enjoy living in such a beautiful part of Aotearoa. It is my job to ensure that the staff voice is heard at the Board level, and I plan to do this with the school’s best interests at the centre of every decision made.
We are here to teach, inspire, support and grow our ākonga to be the best they can be, and this starts with having the best staff to facilitate this.
I come into teaching from a customer service background and I believe education is all about relationships. We can lead and grow the kura into delivering world-class teaching by nurturing and strengthening relationships within our community. Ngā mihi nui
Charlotte Selby
Staff Representative
Tui Levita
Warm Pacific Greetings,
My name is Vae’tuikoloa Levita, commonly known as Tui, and I am thrilled to introduce myself as a Board of Trustee member for Te Kamo High for the upcoming three years. It is truly an honor to have the opportunity to contribute to the school community in this capacity. I am also a proud parent of a senior student at Te Kamo High, which gives me a personal connection to the school. As someone who deeply values our Pacific culture, I understand the importance of service to the people, and I am committed to serving the school with dignity and dedication. Although I am new to governance, I am eager to learn and develop new skills. I believe that there is always room for growth, and I am ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities that come with this role.
What I bring to the table is a strong sense of commitment and a desire to set a positive example for our Pacific community. I am passionate about demonstrating that our service to communities is invaluable. I have noticed the growing number of Pacific students at Te Kamo High, and I am dedicated to providing them with hope and encouragement to strive for excellence and secure a brighter future. Thank you for welcoming me, and I look forward to working collaboratively with all of you to make Te Kamo High an even better place for our students. Fa'afetai, fa'afetai, fa'afetai tele lava!
Tui Levita
Dak Snowden
Student Representative
Email: board@kamohigh.school.nz