Hona Black

Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Whānau a Apanui, Ngāti Tūwharetoa.

Mema/ Ohu Reo Māori me ōna tikanga

Hona will be a great candidate for the school board of Te Kura Māori o Porirua thanks to his deep commitment to Māori education, his academic leadership, and his practical experience in Māori-medium schooling. Hona was raised in a reo Māori environment and is a graduate of Kōhanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa Māori – giving him personal insight into the transformative power of total immersion education and the kaupapa at the heart of Te Kura Māori o Porirua.

Hona’s academic achievements are significant: he is a Senior Lecturer in Māori knowledge at Te Pūtahi a Toi, Massey University, where he specialises in teaching for Māori-medium schools. His scholarly work, including a completed PhD and authoring bilingual books such as "He Iti te Kupu: Māori Metaphors and Similes" and "Te Reo Kapekape," demonstrates his deep understanding of te reo Māori, its nuances, and its living cultural context. His research extends to strengthening the domains of te reo Māori, exploring ways in which language revitalisation can be grounded in humour, emotion, and everyday life—qualities that resonate with the kaupapa of kura such as Te Kura Māori o Porirua.

What makes Hona especially suitable is not only his expertise but his proven commitment to community and whānau development. He lives his values—raising his own son in a reo Māori environment and creating a reo Māori speaking home for his whānau. Hona’s leadership is infused with warmth and a clear advocacy for uplifting Māoridom through education, ensuring environments are inclusive, culturally grounded, and future-focused.

Hona’s background aligns strongly with the aspirations for school board members at Te Kura Māori o Porirua: to uphold immersion standards, support collective whānau engagement, and steward a thriving reo Māori community. His lived experience as both a teacher and a leader—having taught and served as Head of te reo Māori at Hato Pāora College before moving into academic lecturing—means he brings first-hand knowledge of what success looks like for students, teachers, and whānau within Māori-medium settings.

With his expertise, passion, and lived experience, Hona Black has the vision and practical skills to support and enhance the unique kaupapa of Te Kura Māori o Porirua. He will be an invaluable asset in leading the kura forward, ensuring every tamaiti and their whānau are supported to achieve and thrive in a caring, culturally rich environment.

Dr Acushla Dee Sciascia

Ngāruahine Rangi, Ngāti Ruanui, Te Ati Awa

Mema/ Ohu Reo Māori me ōna tikanga

Tēnā koutou katoa. He uri ahau nō Taranaki mounga nō ngā kāwai whakapapa o Ngāruahine Rangi, Ngāti Ruanui me Te Ati Awa. I am a māmā and whāene of 7 Sciascia tamariki who currently attend TKMP and have served as a board member for the past 3 years. In this time, I have been an active member of the board and voice advocating for whānau of our kura and have led the establishment of the Ohu Reo (ā whānau) who recently delivered a successful kura whakarauora reo for the first time for whānau. My board experience is extensive, but more than that, I am committed to ensuring the future of our kura is thriving through good decision-making that supports kaiako and puts the needs of our tamariki first in all that we do. Their needs and aspirations drive me to serve our kura and our whānau and I will do so, alongside my whānau, with respect, humility, and excellence.

Nāku, nā Acushla Dee Sciascia  

Glenys Hauiti-Parapara

Ngāi Tai

Ohu Marau

Tēnā koutou e te whānau,

Kei aku kura kua kōtuia ki te korowai atawhai, e tāwharau ana i a tātou tamariki ki te aroha, tēnei iti kōpara tāheke nō te puhi o Tainui, nō Tōrerenui-ā-Rua e oha nei, e mihi nei. Prior to the establishment of Te Kura Māori o Porirua, my children attended Te Awhinanui, at Maraeroa School. We were members of the whānau that joined with Ngā Kōhanga Reo o Porirua to lobby for a kura in our region. Once Te Kura Māori o Porirua was established, I was appointed as a kaiako and deputy principal where I remained in the role until mid-2008. Since leaving the kura, I have held senior roles in the Education Review Office and The Ministry of Education. I am currently a consultant with Te Amokura Consultants Ltd. My specialist areas are education and evaluation in Māori contexts. Three of my children attended the kura, during which time my husband was also a member of the board. I currently have two mokopuna at the kura and I am commited to ensuring our kura is a high quality environment for our tamariki, our kaiako and our whānau. We are commited to promoting te reo Māori and mātauranga Māori as a whānau, and want to ensure all of our tamariki have access to their own language and whakapapa, and the skills and knowledge they need to be successful in the world.

Jasmine Arthur

Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāi Tahu, Aitutaki

Mema/ Ohu Pūtea

Tēnā tātou,

He uri ahau nō ngā iwi o te heke mai raro me Aitutaki enua. Ka tipu au ki Takapūwāhia pā i reira tonu ahau me taku whānau e muramura tonu ana i ngā ahikā mō te matemate ā one. Ko Jasmine tōku ingoa.

I am a proud māmā of three tamariki who are all apart of Te Kura Māori o Porirua and our pā harakeke continues to grow. I also taught at our Kura for six years, giving me an in-depth understanding of how the kura works, its strengths, and the challenges it faces. I am currently a kaiarahi ahurea for Te Runanga o Toa Rangatira supporting the iwi in our whare taonga, whare toi, whakapapa and digital archiving spaces. 

I would love the opportunity to be apart of our Kura board so that I can serve and support our whānau and kaimahi. While I am firmly grounded in my Ngāti Toa Rangatiratanga, I am committed to ensuring every whānau has a strong voice in the decisions that impact our tamariki. My experience as both a kaiako and a parent gives me a balanced perspective and the ability to work collaboratively with whānau, kaimahi, and the board.

I am not afraid to ask the hard questions or to stand firm for what is tika. I understand the importance of kaupapa Māori theory and the role it plays in nurturing our tamariki to succeed as Māori.

I will bring integrity, commitment, and determination to this role. Guided by our whakataukī He Kura te Tangata I will work hard to ensure that our kura remains a place where tamariki, kaiako, and whānau can flourish.