Board of Trustees

As the lead educational learner at Te Rae o Kawharu | Grey Lynn School, I value working alongside our Grey Lynn community and committed staff; to serve our students. The Board of Trustees role is to design the future of our school through developing, monitoring and reviewing our plans and developing our policies which guide our school. As the Principal, I am responsible for the management of our school which is essentially the design of the key strategies and the 'how' we get to our future plans. I am fortunate to work alongside talented and diverse Board members with a variety of skill sets and perspectives. The one focus which remains central to all we do; is our students and our vision that together we are all 'Learning today to shape tomorrow'.

I was born in Belfast and moved to Canada when I was 2 and emigrated to New Zealand in 1997 and have been here ever since.

My heart has 4 homes, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand and Grey Lynn. I chose to work at Grey Lynn School as it was my own children's primary school, as well as it having significance in our longer Fale family history. I love the diversity of learners our community offers and champion students in creating a safe place to be themselves, share their culture and learn collaboratively.

I look forward to working with the Board and sharing staff perspective to board discussion and learn more about school governance. 

My husband Ashley and I have had three boys and our family business is just down the road. We absolutely love the area, people and community this suburb has to offer. I have an arts background and I remain an advocate for the importance of rich arts programs in all schools at all ages. I firmly believe that these programs help cultivate the type of leaders and thinkers our world needs. I’m passionate about public schools; the sense of belonging they cultivate in a community and the role they have in supporting our young people. I’m excited to be part of the board this year and look forward to contributing to the Grey Lynn School.

Kia ora. My name is Helen. Nō Rereahu au. I’m a co-parenting mum of three. My youngest attends Grey Lynn. I have experience as a youthworker from Youthtown in Nelson St, and as a basketball referee. My family are long-time Grey Lynn residents. I currently work as a Captions Producer making closed captions for the hard of hearing. I have a background in performance and TV Production processes. I spent my pre-children life as a TV Presenter and Vocalist. I have a Diploma in Te Reo Māori and a Certificate in Iwi Environmental Management. As a Board member, I would bring my range of experience with urban Māori and Pasifika children, I will bring my love of community life in Grey Lynn, and my perspective as a parent of one child who excels in learning, and another who has a disability, and their varying education needs. Ngā mihi nui.