Courtney Shipp, Parent Trustee and Board Chair
Kia ora, I am a parent of a year 2 student at Ao Tawhiti. We chose Ao Tawhiti for our son as we strongly believe in the special charter, philosophy, and values which are the core of our kura. We truly value the unique and supportive environment Ao Tawhiti provides for our children. I am a family law practitioner who predominantly provides legal aid. Through my work I encounter a wide range of people and cultures, often in the most stressful time in their lives. A significant part of my job is working with families to find solutions which promote the welfare and best interests of children. Regardless of which parent or family member I act for, my focus is always what is best for the child or children at the centre of the dispute. I am objective, honest, reliable, a problem solver, child focused, and an effective communicator, qualities which I believe will enable me to be an effective and valuable Board member.
Andrew Dean, Parent Trustee
Howdy, I’m Andrew Dean.
It is without hyperbole that I can say that Ao Tawhiti has changed my life. The most important way has been giving my son an environment that has sparked him to love learning and feel comfortable being as weird as he needs. I joined the board not to change things, but to help nurture and protect the unique character of a school that my son wakes up every morning genuinely excited to attend.
The second way Ao Tawhiti has changed my life has been somewhat surreal. Working in the tv/film industry I had lots of spare time and chose to put it into the school supporting whatever the LA’s needed. I wasn’t at all comfortable around kids or teaching, but attempted to embrace the “everybody is a teacher/everybody is a learner” mantra by taking risks and running workshops on subjects I knew nothing about. One of kids asked me to run a workshop on microcontrollers, and despite knowing nothing at all about circuitry or programming, the LA bought some resources and said “all you need is to be willing to learn with the kids”. She was right. I was usually only a few steps/hours ahead of the kids, but I was enjoying learning as much as they were. So many kids asked to join the workshop that it went on to become loads of full day PINs across a year or two. Its a blur exactly how it happened, but over that time I got so deep in microcontroller projects with the kids that I ended up quitting my 29 year career and instead I now work at Codebreakers designing and building escape room puzzles for a living. I love what I do and its all because some kids asked for help, the school provided the resources and the LA said “have a go!”
I deeply want all Ao Tawhiti kids to feel the same control and opportunity to define their future as I have had. There is nothing more liberating than the opportunity to “do” something you genuinely enjoy, and everything I do on the board is intended to support that ideal. I want us to help kids find a passion, use it to learn how to learn, then fuel that learning to push the passion as far as it can go.
Greg O’Neil, Staff Trustee
Kia ora whanau,
I joined Ao Tawhiti as an LA in the middle of 2018, and have grown to love all that our special character offers. As our kura continues to grow it’s important that we maintain the diverse range of opportunities available to our learners.
My whole family is at Ao Tawhiti – my wife Louise working as a teacher aide with years 1 – 6 and my daughter Courtney in year 5. This has cemented relationships throughout the school community which is what drives my passion for its effective governance and communication of our aims and priorities.
Hannah Martin, Student Representative
‘Hi, my name is Hannah, and I am the Student Rep for 2025! This year, I am really looking forward to running more events to foster our sense of community throughout the school and support students’ passions through my access to the student initiative fund.
I am always keen for a chat about your ideas on ways to improve the school and would love your input on what you want to see more of throughout our Kura.’
Thanks,
Mark Walters, Whānau Trustee
Tena Koutou katoa e te hapori o Ao Tawhiti.
Tomo mai, piki mai ki a koutou.
Ko Te Maaka (Mark) Walters taku ingoa.
Ko te Mangai O Te Iwi Maori ki tena poari o kaitiaki
Ko Ngai Tahu, Kati Mamoe me Waitaha taku iwi
Ko Kuri, Tuhaitara, Irakehu, Uri a Paatu Ariki oku hapu
Ko Wairewa, Onuku me Hokonui aku Marae
No Otautahi au.
Tena Koutou katoa e te hapori o Ao Tawhiti.
Tomo mai, piki mai ki a koutou.
Tena Koutou katoa e te hapori o Ao Tawhiti.
Tomo mai, piki mai ki a koutou.
Ko Te Maaka (Mark) Walters taku ingoa.
Ko te Mangai O Te Iwi Maori ki tena poari o kaitiaki
Ko Ngai Tahu, Kati Mamoe me Waitaha taku iwi
Ko Kuri, Tuhaitara, Irakehu, Uri a Paatu Ariki oku hapu
Ko Wairewa, Onuku me Hokonui aku Marae
No Otautahi au.
Ko Bradshaw me Weir ki Murihiku oku whanau
Ko Walters ki Kawatiri oku whangai whanau
Ko Donna Bailey aku Wahine
Ko Mahala aku whangai matamua kotiro
Ko Flynn aku tama
Ko Pippa aku kotiro potiki
Ko Arlo, Daisy me Delilah aku mokopuna
No reira,
Tena Koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa.
Tihei Mauri Ora!
Greetings to the community of Ao Tawhiti.
Welcome to you all.
My name is Mark Walters.
I am currently the Iwi Maori representative for our Board of Trustees.
I am humbled to have been asked to be our community representative.
I intend to serve our community with wisdom and compassion.
Iwi Maori whanau & iwi Moana Nui a Kiwa whanau.
I am your voice on the BoT.
Nau mai, korero mai koutou ki ahau.
Please communicate your specific needs, wants & aspirations with me.
I can advise or action as required.
My iwi affiliations are Ngai Tahu, Ngati Mamoe & Waitaha.
My hapu & whanau affiliations connect my family over all the ancestral lands of Ngai Tahu.
My family connects to, and is involved with the Marae at Wairewa (Little River), Onuku (Akaroa) and Hokonui (Gore).
Fun fact – I have over 85,000 cousins in my iwi!
I am a husband for Donna, and father for Mahala, Flynn &Pippa.
I am a Poua (Grandfather) for Arlo, Daisy & Delilah.
I am also a Son, Uncle, Brother, Cousin and Friend.
Our eldest Mahala, is an alumni of the original Discovery School.
She is now a busy Mum of 3; married to Matt and a business owner & apparel designer.
Our twins Flynn & Pippa are in the senior school.
They are involved in Ao Tawhiti Kapa Haka and many other passions & interests amongst their academic studies.
Ao Tawhiti is our High School of choice for our twins.
This is due to our previous experiences with Mahala & Discovery during 2008 & 2009
The holistic learnings & growth she had then, were the “right fit” for her.
So we again considered Ao Tawhiti the “right fit” for Flynn & Pippa, who were infants when Mahala attended.
I have been diagnosed as an adult, with ADHD and Autism. I see it both as a gift and at times, a challenge that I need to resolve. Resultantly, I have a personal interest, a constantly developing understanding and curiosity about neurodivergence. The diagnosis for me after so long has been both enlightening and empowering.
Professionally, I’ve been in the Architecture & Construction sector for 30 years.
I have qualifications in Architecture and Quantity Surveying.
I am a Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP) for building design.
I work in building design & management roles, on industrial, commercial & residential developments.
Culturally, I am involved with our Irakehu hapu on Development Committees, Paepae Team, Kapa Haka and various other activities as they arise, which I am able to commit to.
I also involve myself in other Maori kaupapa within the community when I am available.
Hobbies & Interests, I have many. Woodwork/ Wood Carving, Music (Brass/ Guitar/ Kapa Haka), Mahika kai (Food & Natural Resource Gathering) are dominant examples.
I welcome and invite any suggestions or questions from our community.
Please reach out to me if you wish to discuss anything.
Ka mihi ana ki a koutou.
Anita Yarwood, Director
I started at this kura in 2021 and feel privileged to work with the students, staff and whānau within this community. I am committed to upholding the special character of Ao Tawhiti to ensure that all students are able to be central in directing their own learning.
I have worked in education for twenty one years teaching at a range of schools in New Zealand and in the United Kingdom. My experience has taught me that education is most effective when learners and whānau work together with schools to develop programmes that are personalised so children and young adults are achieving success that is relevant and important to their lives. I believe that Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery is a school that creates exciting opportunities for learners and I am honoured to be a part of this community.
Vaughan Luckman, Parent Trustee
Having been involved with Ao Tawhiti since 2019 I am a true believer in the special character of the
school. I am constantly amazed to see what my kids get up to each day – and by the core values that I see exhibited by them and their peers each day. To see a kid standing up and confidently running a workshop, or to see the care with which they look after each other is truly unique – and is a credit to the school’s approach to learning.
In standing for the Board of Trustees, I am passionate about making sure that the Junior School has a strong voice at the board table. With two kids in the Junior School now – Milo (Yr 3) and Fox (Yr 1) – I have a keen interest to see that the needs of our younger learners are well heard and considered in the school’s decision making.
My original background was in Education – studying to teach maths and physics before joining the Navy as an Education Officer. I have since then spent the last 10+ years working with businesses to improve the way they do things. In this role, I help companies to set strategy, analyse their current position, design a plan to deliver to their strategy, and then execute against that plan.
I have strong Governance experience having been on the Board for Canterbury Tech for the last 5+ years – currently holding the Chair role, with previous terms as Treasurer. I believe that the school has a great Senior Leadership Team who are up for the challenge of pushing the boundaries to keep Ao Tawhiti’s special character alive and growing.
Danella Stewart, Parent Trustee
Kia Ora,
My family and I joined the Ao Tawhiti community in 2018 whilst on the Halswell site. I have four children, three of which attend Ao Tawhiti, with the fourth to start in 2023. I enjoy being able to be involved and supporting my children’s learning on a day-to-day basis. I feel very blessed to see our school’s special character in action. Children are excited to learn, are autonomous in their decisions and happy to go to school! As an active member of our community and a member of the board of trustees, I am committed to openness, and upholding the schools guiding principles and core values – whanaungatanga, Whakatane, Kaha, Tiakitanga and Aroha.