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Meet the kaiako - Totara Room

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Amanda (Head Teacher)

Ko Amanda Patu toku ingoa 
He kaiako ahau i BestStart Riverbend

Kia Ora, My name is Amanda Patu and I am a Kaiako at BestStart Riverbend. I am the Head Teacher in the Tōtara working alongside tamariki ranging from 3.5yrs to 6yrs. 

I began my journey in Early Childhood Education in 2006, where I decided to study towards my Diploma in Education (ECE) in 2007, and graduating beginning of 2010. In 2021 I decided it was time to head back to study where I completed my upgrade to a Bachelor of Education (ECE). 

I have an amazing husband and combined we have 5 tamariki, who all supported me when I went back to study, whilst working full time as a Head Teacher of a Nursery my youngest being 6 months old at the time. 

I am passionate about cultural inclusivity within the early childhood curriculum which leads to positive outcomes for all tamariki. 

 I believe that a center's success comes from mutual respect and collaboration with tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. Whanaungatanga is the core aspect of my personal philosophy and exists alongside Manaakitanga, Ukaipotanga, and Aroha.  

'Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi Engari, he toa takitini - My successes are not mine alone, they are ours; the greatest successes we will have are from working together.'      

This whaaktuaki holds a special place in my heart, as traveling through a child’s learning journey alongside their whānau and other kaiako, we can all come together to ignite passion and wonder whilst encouraging their child’s passion to learn and grow therefore enabling them to blossom into the leaders of our future. 


Mariana (Kaiako)

Fakaalofa (Greetings).

My name is Mariana Thomas I'm from Niue Island. I was born in Auckland and we have lived in sunny Hawkes Bay for over twenty years. 

I did my training at Auckland College of Education in 1991 now known as the University of Auckland. I have been in Early Childhood Education for over twenty-five years and my passion is quality education for our tamariki. 

I have been married to Keith for over thirty years and we have one son. We have two grandchildren Isla is three years old and Samson is eight months old.

Our leisure time is traveling with our dogs around New Zealand in our retro camper. We love seeing the different parts of NZ and meeting other people.

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