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Our People

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Caitlin Goodall, Centre Manager

Kia ora, ko Caitlin toku ingoa. I am a qualified and fully certificated Early Childhood Educator. I am a born and bred West Coaster and I have been teaching for 6 years now. This incredible journey as a teacher has lead me teach in communities across the South Island as well as some time in Australia.

I believe that early childhood education is a place for every child to have opportunities to dream, create, flourish and grow. I love being part of the Active Explorers Hokitika team, sharing knowledge, having fun, learning alongside others and sharing in the joy of seeing our most precious taonga, our tamariki learn and grow.

 

The relationships and connections teachers make and grow with children and their whanau provide a collaborative approach to a child’s learning journey and these connections can create a lasting impact on children and how they learn and grow into the future.

Inā kei te mohio koe ko wai koe, I anga mai koe i hea, kei te mohio koe. Kei te anga atu ki hea.
If you know who you are and where you are from, then you will know where you are going.

Bachelor of Teaching and Learning (Early Childhood Education), Fully Certificated teacher – Registration # 376038; First Aid Trained

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Caitlin Wilson, Administrator

Kia ora my names Caitlin.  A bit about me, I have lived in Hokitika most of my life, I spent some time exploring the big city in Christchurch but I missed the beautiful West Coast rain too much and found myself back in Hokitika. My son, who is now 5, went to Active Explorers before moving on to St Marys School. I missed the lovely staff at the kindergarten so much I decided to come and be part of the team!

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Barbara Turner, Kaiako Rūma Rimu, Fully Certificated

Kia ora I’m Barb, I currently live in Mawhera (Greymouth). I enjoy living on the West Coast and walking our rugged West Coast beaches and tracks with our two dogs, I enjoy photography, the arts, music, gardening and enjoy the company of friends and family. I am a mother of 3 beautiful adult children and a nan to my first grandson. My partner is a local Jade Carver and jack of all trades.

 

Why do I have such a passion for early childhood? These early years are the foundations for life, children are confident and competent if we allow them to be and this is nurtured through play and quality time together. This is where our children’s journey as social beings begin and through my practice I like to nurture kindness and a love of learning through exploration, self-expression and discovery. I love not knowing what the day may bring. It is a real privilege to support our community whanau and I love meeting all the locals and learning about our place.

Bachelor of Teaching Early Childhood Education; Fully Certificated Teacher - Registration # 318463; First Aid Trained

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Hera (Poppy) Parker, Teacher (uncertificated)

Kia Ora whānau.
My name is Poppy and I am one of the Kaiako here at Active Explorers. I have three tamariki, Lincoln, Presley and Ripley. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my whanau and friends, reading and taking my tamariki out exploring. Our favourite places to explore is anywhere with water and of course they love the park!

I enjoy being apart of the team here at Active Explorers as I love working in an environment where the tamariki are encouraged to explore freely and it’s a privilege to help support their journey of learning and discovery.

First Aid Trained

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Nadia Davidson, Teacher (uncertificated)

Kia ora, I’m Nadia. I have four beautiful children and we have made Hokitika our home as a family over the past few years. I love going being surrounded by nature as we are here in Hokitika and in my spare time I enjoy being at the beach, lake or adventuring on bush walks. I love Active Explorers Hokitika because I enjoy working in a great team and being part of every child’s individual learning journey.

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Sarah Olifers, Kaiako Rūma Kōwhai, Provisionally Certificated
Kia ora I'm Sarah, I live on a farm with my partner Matt and our son Lucas in Moana. We spend our time enjoying the amazing environment around our home with the river and lake just a short walk away we visit them almost every day.
 I am a primary trained teacher but I moved into early childhood teaching 2 years ago and I fell in love with the way early childhood views learning. I believe that every child has an innate desire to learn and as a teacher it is my job to support them to recognise this within themselves.  I follow a play-based approach and guide my teaching around what interests the children have, making an authentic and exciting experience for everyone. 
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Mandy Hoskin, 2IC, Head Teacher Rūma Kōwhai, Fully Certificated
Kia Ora my name is Mandy;  I have moved to the beautiful west coast from the hustle and bustle of Auckland.  I have been teaching since I was 18 years old, 29 years currently in the industry.
I graduated with a diploma of Early childhood education at New Zealand Tertiary College. Growing up in New Zealand I respect our diverse cultures and appreciate the wide variety of cultures that we have in our country. I believe that every child is unique and individual, growing and learning at their own pace. I believe that every child should be treated with respect, given love, and encouragement to feel supported on their ongoing journey through life. I will provide children with a fun and exciting environment where they are free to explore and challenge themselves.
I believe that having an open-door policy with parents and whanau builds a greater foundation, as I truly believe it takes a village to raise a child, and it is vital for our families and pepi to know that this is a safe space for them. 
 
I look forward to creating wonderful memories and experiences with everyone here at Active Explorers.
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Trina Murray, Head Teacher Rūma Rimu and Rātā, Fully Certificated
Ko Taranaki te maunga
Ko ngati pākehā te iwi
No Ngāmotu ahau,
engari kei Kumara Junction ahau e noho ana inaianei
Ko Trina Murray taku ingoa.
Kia Ora I am Trina Murray.
My husband Wayne and I moved to the West Coast from New Plymouth just over a year ago to be closer to our moko Tate, who is now two.  It has been an honour to be included in his formative years and we are loving being on the coast, which is not a lot different from Taranaki, although we still have family there and pop up regularly to visit.
 
I bring over twenty years of experience with me in the early childhood sector, with a passion for being part of supporting and growing the best tamariki I can.  My focus on sustainability comes from a background of nature and a love for our beautiful environment, and ensuring that our future rangatahi are able and have the knowledge to look after and cherish it for future generations.  My love language is kindness and I get the most satisfaction from seeing our tamariki develop their own sense of rangatiratanga, enabling them to have the knowledge that they are able to make a difference in this world.
Mā te wā!
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Jade Foord, Teacher in Training
Kia ora, my name is Jade.
I have lived in Hokitika all of my life and I love being home on the West Coast and raising my own children here in Hokitika. Most of my spare time is kept busy spending time with my two children. As a family we love to go camping and exploring our backyard. I also enjoy playing netball in the winter months.
I am about to start my studies through Te Rito Maioha to gain my Bachelor of Teaching in Early Childhood Education.
I have always had a passion for working with children. I am excited to be on this journey with the Tamariki and whānau at Active Explorers where I can watch and support the tamariki strive to be their best!
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Charlotte Davey, Kaiako Rūma Rātā, Fully Certificated
Kia Ora, my name is Charlotte Davey,
I am a qualified and fully certificated Early Childhood teacher. I was born in Christchurch but was raised in Hokitika since I was 5 years old. I moved back to Christchurch for a few years, where I gained my degree and met my partner, but decided 2 years ago that I missed the West Coast and moved back. I have now been teaching preschool Tamariki for a little over 7 years. I have had a passion and interest in teaching since I was younger, and believe that preschool is where Tamariki gain amazing experiences, relationships and knowledge and are able to explore new and different things each day through the activities and experiences provided.
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Laura Heward, Kaiako Rūma Rātā, Provisionally Certificated
Kia ora, my name is Laura.
I was born in Christchurch but raised in Hokitika. I started Teaching Early Childhood in October 2017 as a reliever and then started studying part time towards my Batchelor of Teaching Early Childhood Education through the Open Polytechnic in 2019. I finished my studies in 2023 and graduated in 2024. I am a fully qualified early childhood teacher and currently hold my provisional teaching registration. I am Education focused with a passion for Early Childhood. I have a strong passion in providing high-quality education that is fun, positive and educational while providing learning experiences that fosters equality, fairness and allowing children to learn at their own pace. In my spare time I enjoy cooking, baking, crafts, road trips and spending quality and precious time with friends and family.