Poutakitini

I te taha o toku Pāpā

Ko Te Ramaroa te maunga 

Ko Tūwhātero te wairere Ko Whirinaki te awa me te whenua 

Ko Hokianga nui ā Kupe te moana 

Ko Moria te marae 

Ko Te Hikutū te hapū

Ko Ngāpuhi te iwi 

I te taha o toku Māmā 

Ko Huruiki te maunga 

Ko Whakapara te awa me te whenua 

Ko Ngātokimatawhāorua te waka 

Ko Te Ihi o Nehua te marae 

Ko Ngāti Hau te hapū

Ko Ngāpuhi te iwi 

Ko Deb Thompson Hack ahau 

E noho ana au me toku whanau ki Hokianga

Tēnā koutou,

My journey with the Far North RTLB service began in 2018, excited to join Te rōpū Pou Takitini, supporting our Kura Kaupapa Māori & Kura-iwi in Te Taitokerau.

I am privileged to be part of Ngā Pouwhirinaki o Aotearoa, the national body representing Māori RTLB and supporting culturally responsive practice across Aotearoa. 

In 2021, I had the opportunity to become part of the NZ RTLB Professional Learning Network,  the purpose of the rōpū is to connect people and share knowledge.  A group of dedicated individuals committed to working together on this kaupapa.  Mīharo!

No reira, kia kaha tātou i roto i ngā mahi kei mua i a tātou.  Kia piki te kaha, piki te ora, piki māramatanga.

Kia ora koutou katoa.

Nō Manurewa, Tāmaki Makaurau ahau. He tangata tiriti ahau. 

Kei Cable Bay ahau e noho ana ināinanei.

Ko Liz Ross-Collier tōku ingoa

I te mahi ahau i te mahi RTLB mai i te tau 2020. 

Mai i te tau 1993, kua mahi ahau i te ao mātauranga, i te tuatahi i te heke whakaakoranga kōhungahunga, Early Childhood sector, hei kaiāwhina, ā, i muri i tēnā i te kura tuatahi me te kura tuarua hei kaiako. I taua wā, ko au te tumuaki tuarua o tētahi o ngā kura.

I have been working in education since 1993 in a number of roles, including teacher-aide, teacher and senior leadership and a number of contexts including early childhood, primary and secondary schools. I have been an RTLB since 2020, starting in Cluster 12, Manurewa and moving to Cluster 1 in 2023.

Fakaalofa lahi atu, tēnā koutou katoa, 

Ko aku tātai whakapapa nō Te Tai Tokerau, te moana o Tīkapa tae atu ki te motu o Niue Fekai. Ko au he maaga ko Liku ko Lakepa. Ko Ngāti Whātua, ko Ngāpuhi, Ko Ngāti Wai, Ko Ngāti Manuhiri ōku iwi. Ko Blanche Saua ahau. 

I joined the RTLB team in 2025 with a passion for collaborative strengths-based practice. I am committed to working alongside our whānau and kaiako to create inclusive, culturally responsive outcomes for every mokopuna.

He uri ahau nō Ngāti Hine me Kōhatutaka.

After eight years as a kaiako in Māori medium education, I began my RTLB role with the Poutakitini team in 2023. I am passionate about supporting mokopuna, whānau, and kaiako across Te Tai Tokerau, with strengths in Māori literacy, Reading Recovery, and culturally responsive practice.

I grew up in Orauta with my grandmother, Kene Martin, the former tumuaki of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Maara o Hineamaru. Her leadership and commitment to Māori education have greatly influenced my journey. 

I completed a Bachelor of Education (Huarahi Māori specialisation) at the University of Auckland in 2015 and a Postgraduate Diploma in Māori Education at Massey University in 2022. I am currently completing my Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Teaching (Learning & Behaviour).

Ko Te Reinga te maunga

Ko Waihou te awa

Ko Hokianga te moana

Ko Waihou-Nui-a-Rua te marae

Ko Waimirirangi te whare tupuna

Ko Pare-puna-o-te-ora te whare kai

Ko Ngatokimatawhaorua, ko Mamari, ngā waka

Ko Ngāti Te Reinga, ko Te Kaitutae ngā hapū

Ko Te Rarawa Kaiwhare te iwi

Ko Noel Te Tai ahau. I started my classroom teacher journey in 1990, accumulating valuable teaching, leadership, management, and governance experience  working in primary, secondary and tertiary settings. For the past 25 years, I have worked predominantly in Māori medium education, teaching and supporting the growth and development of kaupapa Māori learning environments.

Since 2018, these experiences have contributed significantly to my effectiveness as a Resource Teacher: Learning and Behaviour (RTLB), equipping me with the knowledge, skills, and cultural understanding required to provide responsive and meaningful support to Māori medium kura, kaiako, tamariki, and whānau.