The Tikipunga Team
This is our team of teachers and staff at Educare Tikipunga. Scroll through to find out more about our teaching team.
Haley Chapman
Centre Manager, Registered Teacher
Ko Ngatokimatawhaorua toku waka
Ko Pouerua toku maunga
Ko Waitangi toku awa
Ko Te Tiriti o Waitangi toku marae
No Waitangi ahau
Ko Haley Chapman ahau
Ko Jamie taku tane
Ko Jorgiah, ko Locklynd, ko Kelly, ratou ko Toby aku tamariki
I am Haley Chapman and I live in Kamo with my partner Jamie and our four children. We enjoy getting out and going for random road trips and seeing where we end up. I have been in Early Childhood Education since 2012. I am passionate about working with young tamariki! I love to see tamariki achieve milestones and goals they have set for themselves.
Kathleen Janes
Assistant Manager, Registered Teacher
Hi, I’m Kat. In 2012 I completed my Bachelor of Education (Primary) and worked relieving within Whangarei. During this time, I found a love for the younger tamariki and relieved in some Childcare Centres. Here I found my place and passion for these tamariki and have now been working within Early Childhood since 2015. I have gained my Post Graduate in Early Childhood and teacher registration. During the early half of 2021, my husband and I welcomed our first child amidst the pandemic, it was a challenging time but taught me so much about myself. This year I have decided to further extend myself and support my fellow Kaiako with my new role. Observing and teaching children has always excited me, seeing what they are capable of and extending them to reach their full potential.
Chanel Scott
Registered Teacher
Kia ora Whānau, my name is Chanel and I am a provisional registered teacher here at Educare Tikipunga. I completed my Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education through Unitec at the end of 2019.
I have a special interest in the outdoors, teaching tamariki how to grow plants and looking after the environment. I also like to weave with harakeke and teach the tamariki the tikanga around using it.
I enjoy craft work, gardening, taking the dog for a walk, fishing and going out on the jetski.
I’m really enjoying working here at the centre and working with the tamariki and their whānau.
Chanel is currently on maternity leave.
Carmelia Tangariki
Registered Teacher
Ko Carmelia ahau
E noho ana ahau ki Whangarei
Ko James taku hoa tane
Tekau nga tamariki
Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi
engari he toa takitini
Ones success comes from the contributions of many.
I have gained a Bachelor of Teaching, Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership and Masters of Education while getting my full registration. I have been so fortunate to have amazing wahine toa awhi me as I strive to be the best I can be. What drives my practice is the aroha and whakaaro of making a difference for our tamariki and their whānau.
Thinley Choezom
Provisionally Registered Teacher
Kia ora my name is Thinley Choezom and am originally from Tibet, and I have two young daughters. I completed my Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood) in 2021. I look forward to building relationships with all of the tamariki, and supporting their learning journey by engaging and interacting with them. I love to see the tamariki learn and develop, and I respect and value each child as an individual. I believe love and compassion is the foundation of happiness so I would love to see our tamariki develop being kind and caring toward each other for their well-being. I am excited to learn and gain experience from experienced kaiako and to get to know all your little ones and whānau.
Ocean Morrison
Teacher
Kia Ora! My name is Ocean Morrison and I am an unregistered teacher in the Teina space. I was born in West Auckland, spent my teenage years in Matakana and decided to make Whangarei my home in April 2021. I’ve recently returned from overseas and made a home and life here in Whangarei, and am excited to join the Educare Tikipunga team where I can learn, navigate and experience all that there is to, before I go off to study ECE. I have always loved children and admired their spirits and imaginations.
Outside of work I am very family oriented, energetic and love to cook and create. These are all things that I hope to bring into my work, making this centre and everyone in it my whānau and passing on skills through creative play.
Brooke Hayes
Teacher
Kia ora koutou, I was born and bred in Whangarei on the farm, spending lots of time with my whānau at our bach in Helena Bay. I live and breathe hockey since I was three years old and continue to have a passion for playing and hanging out with my whānau and friends on the weekends.
I am really excited to be working alongside your tamariki, helping them to grow and learn new things, while building up my own knowledge and practice alongside the rest of the Educare Tikipunga whānau.
Kate Buchanan
Teacher
Kia Ora. My name is Kate and I was born and raised in Whangarei. I recently left school to pursue my love of teaching and am now continuing my studies in early childhood education. Other than teaching I enjoy painting, woodworking, going to the gym and spending time with my whānau. I am excited to continue my journey into early childhood education with the supportive kaiako and gorgeous tamariki at Educare Tikipunga.
Emma Bennetto
Nutritionist
Kia ora, I am Emma. Since moving to Whangarei in 2014, I have become a qualified chef and have worked in a couple different restaurants around Whangarei.
I plan on finding the foods that tarmariki enjoy and adding a new twist to old and new recipes making them full of nutritional benefits as well as delicious for the tarmariki to enjoy.
Since the birth of my 2 daughters I have enjoyed watching them grow and develop into their own personality which has led me into developing a passion in early childhood, which I hope to move forward into studying in the near future.
