Our Tūāpapa
Max Matenga
Max is an educator and passionate advocate for lifelong learning and growing the potential in others. As a native speaker of te reo Māori, he is committed to strengthening te reo Māori, mātauranga Māori, and culturally responsive practice.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Te Reo Māori), Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching, and MBA from the University of Waikato, as well as Te Panekiretanga o Te Reo Māori.
Max’s experience spans education, leadership, governance, and community, including trustee roles with Te Whānau a Kai Charitable Trust, Pakowhai Marae, Tairāwhiti Voyaging Trust, Eastwoodhill Arboretum, and the Patutahi School Board of Trustees. His passion is growing people, strengthening capability, and creating opportunities for others to learn and thrive
Sandy Matenga
Sandy is an educator and kaiako passionate about growing the potential in others. She has taught at Kaiti School in Gisborne for 10 years, including five years as a
member of the senior leadership team and periods serving as Acting Assistant Principal.
Sandy leads the bilingual unit, supporting kaiako to build confidence in te reo Māori and developing rauemi to support its integration across the kura. She is also a Kapa Haka tutor for Te Kapa Haka o Puhi Kaiti, supporting ākonga to represent the region at the Mana Kura Tahi Primary School Nationals on four occasions.
Her mahi also includes contributing to the development of the Puhi Kairangi learner profile, localised curriculum, kura values, and an indigenous approach to behaviour management grounded in local pūrākau.
