About Us - Te Wānanga Ihorangi

About Us

Ko Wai Mātou?

Te Wānanga Ihorangi – formerly known as Oati, began in 2018 and is a registered charitable trust. As a kaupapa, we are committed to the reclamation, preservation, and revitalisation of te reo Māori in Aotearoa. We see the flourishing of te reo and tikanga Māori as inherently tied to the spiritual, physical, and social well-being of our communities. Our programmes, curriculum resources, and media content are all aimed at supporting this mission.

A unique aspect of Te Wānanga Ihorangi is our commitment to seeing te reo Māori as the primary medium in which our hapori whakapono (e.g. Hāhi) express their faith and beliefs. This vision and mission are captured in our organisation whakatauākī:

Ko te reo te kauwaka o taku whakapono

(Te reo Māori is the sacred vessel of my faith)

Made up of whānau who come from Ringatū, Mihinare, Te Hāhi Iriiri, and Te Hāhi Pakipaki whakapapa; this whakapono-based language school will be the only one of its kind in Aotearoa.

Ngā Mātāpono

WHAKAPAPA

All things are woven together and interdependent. We know who we are and where we belong when we understand our place within these relationships.

TE AO MĀRAMA

The journey of learning is a process that everyone can participate in. It doesn’t matter what your starting point is, we are all capable of growing, achieving, and contributing.

MĀHAKI

Humility, service, and kindness should define our interactions with one another.

WHAKAPONO

Te Wānanga Ihorangi is inspired by the story of Te Rongopai and our Christian faith is the foundation of our motivation and work.

WHĀNAUNGATANGA

We understand ourselves as a collective and are committed to developing and maintaining strong relationships with each other. We also recognise that when you come through the door, so does your whānau. We aspire to create a learning context that values and actively engages with those you hold most dear.

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Ngā Kaimahi

Anameka Paenga

Tumuaki | Co-Principal

(Te Whānau-a-Apanui, Te Whakatōhea, Ngāi Tai)

Language exponent, academic, education specialist, and renowned kapa haka composer and performer, Anameka is a recognised leader within all of her chosen fields of work. As a longtime performer and leader within Ōpōtiki-mai-Tawhiti and Te Kapa Haka o Te Whānau-a-Apanui, her passion for teaching led her to develop and lead undergraduate and postgraduate performing arts programmes at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiarangi. A graduate of Te Panekiretanga o Te Reo, she continues to teach and advocate for Te Reo Māori at the highest levels. In more recent years she has transitioned into educational leadership roles with NZQA and Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, ensuring the educational outcomes for Māori students and programmes are of the highest quality. A proponent of Māori philosophy and teaching pedagogy, she received First Class Honours for her Master of Arts thesis titled ‘Karangaranga te muri.’

Rev’d Te Karere Scarborough

Tumuaki | Co-Principal

(Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hauā)

Poet, community educator, and whānau advocate, Te Karere Scarborough has spent the last 15 years working in the community-wellbeing and arts sector. During this time, he was largely based at Parenting Place. He held a variety of roles there that included leading the Attitude Programme for Schools, National Young Leaders’ Day, Toolbox, Building Awesome Whānau and Space programmes. An appointed trustee of his hapū board, Whatitiri Māori Reserves Trust, he has also held governance positions at Maxim Institute, the Mihinare social service provider Te Whare Ruruhau o Meri, and the youth development organisation Zeal. Te Karere holds qualifications from Te Wānanga Takiura, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, Unitec, and is concurrently completing his Masters in Chaplaincy through the University of Otago. He was the founding CEO of Te Wānanga Ihorangi and feels privileged to lead alongside Anameka.

Hamuera Tamihana

Kaiwhakahaere Marau | Curriculum Lead

(Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Mutunga, Kai Tangata)

Hamuera has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Canterbury and a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching from the University of Waikato. Straight out of tertiary education, he became an Assistant Housemaster and teacher at St Paul’s Collegiate School. He then shifted to Tauranga and became the HOD of Māori Studies at Bethlehem College. With over a decade of experience teaching and developing curricula, Te Wānanga Ihorangi is excited to have Hamuera onboard full-time with us. Together with his wife Aroha (of Maimoa Creative), they have 3 tamariki: Te Rauriki Māia (5), Manahau Ākina (3), and Atamai Ewai.

Waiora Te Moni

Kaiako – Te Reo Ihirangi

(Ngāti Haka (Tūhoe), Waitaha, Tapuika (Te Arawa), Ngāti Hine)

Born and raised in Aotearoa’s kiwifruit capital, Te Puke – Waiora is deeply committed to whānau, whakapapa, and whakapono. Passionate about the place of Māori in God’s story for humanity, Waiora has recently left studying theology at St John’s Theological College to teach at Te Wānanga Ihorangi. Holding a Bachelor of Communication Studies from AUT, she has also formally studied te reo Māori at the University of Waikato and Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. Waiora is ordained under Te Pīhopatanga o Te Tai Tokerau and serves at Te Ana Tapu | Tātai Hono in Auckland City.

Rev’d Sam Hēnare

Kaiako – Te Reo Ihirangi

(Ngāti Hine, Ngā Puhi, Ingarangi)

Raised in Pōneke, Sam brings a background in education, community development, and ministry. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Victoria University of Wellington) and a Graduate Diploma in Theology (Laidlaw College). He completed te reo Māori studies at Te Wānanga Takiura and was a graduate of the first Te Reo Maruata cohort (Te Wānanga Ihorangi). He began his career as an electrician before transitioning his skills toward education and community development—first as a Kaiako Mātauranga Māori at Te Papa Tongarewa, then as a youth worker with St Augustine’s. He is ordained under Te Pīhopatanga o Te Tai Tokerau and serves at Te Ana Tapu | Tātai Hono in Tāmaki Makaurau. Sam is married to Stacey, and together they are raising three tamariki.

Tuiti Savage

Kaiāwhina – Te Reo Ihirangi

(Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga)

Raised in Te Tai Tokerau, Tuiti made Tāmaki Makaurau his kāinga rua while completing a Bachelor of Arts (University of Auckland) and serving as a Resident Assistant at Eden Christian Hostel. He further strengthened his reo through study with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and Te Wānanga Takiura. After beginning in the pastoral and student-support team at Te Wānanga Ihorangi, Tuiti has moved into the Te Reo Ihirangi classroom as a kaiako and tutor. This shift reflects his desire to work more closely with ākonga, where he brings creativity, care, and a strong commitment to indigenous-led pedagogy.

Manaakinui Te Kahu

Pou wairua | Chaplain

(Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Paoa, Ngāti Kahungungu ki Wairoa, Ngāi Tahu)

Manaakinui is a theologian, community leader, and pāpā. He holds a Bachelor of Theology and Postgraduate Diploma in Theology (Carey Baptist College), along with Te Reo Māori qualifications from Te Wānanga o Raukawa and the inaugural Te Reo Maruata cohort (Te Wānanga Ihorangi). Over the past five years he has lectured at Carey Baptist College, served in Baptist Māori governance, and worked on the front line of social services with Middlemore Hospital and Kāhui Tū Kaha. These strands of theology, healthcare, and social justice now converge in his role as Pou Wairua at Te Wānanga Ihorangi, where he strengthens cultural–spiritual connections and supports ākonga in their language-reclamation journeys.

Katie Perkins

Manutaki Mātauranga | Education Lead

(Pākehā)

A former White Fern and Auckland’s most-capped cricketer, Katie pairs elite-sport experience with community advocacy. She leads community-driven policing initiatives with New Zealand Police (Counties Manukau), chairs the justice-reform group Just Speak, and volunteers with Karuwhā to strengthen Te Tiriti relationships. Katie holds a Conjoint Bachelor of Sport & Recreation and Bachelor of Business, has studies Te Reo Māori at Te Wānanga Takiura, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and is a graduate of the inaugural Te Reo Maruata cohort (Te Wānanga Ihorangi). At Te Wānanga Ihorangi she serves as Manutaki Mātauranga, overseeing academic integrity and quality assurance, guiding kaiako through professional development, and working closely with the student-support team to ensure every tauira can thrive.

Leah Te Kahu

Te Kaiwhakahaere o Ngā Ringa Hāpai | Operations Lead

(Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi te Rangi)

With a rare blend of operational, pastoral and strategic strengths, Leah has a background in Māori development and cultural consultancy work. Before stepping in as the Operational Lead of Te Hāpai Ō (operations/student support/pastoral oversight), she’d worked for Rape Prevention Education, Maurea and Auckland Womens Centre. She has a Bachelor of Māori Development from AUT, and has studied te reo Māori through Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and Te Wānanga Takiura. Married to Manaakinui, they can both be found leading a range of church and community development initiatives throughout the motu.

Amiria Reid

Ringatohu Ākonga | Communications and Recruitment

(Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau-a-Kai)

Professionally, Amiria developed marketing, stakeholder-engagement, and strategic planning expertise at NAIA Māori Consulting, then coordinated the Indigenous Design unit of a leading architectural firm. Raised in Ōtautahi in a home where waiata was part of everyday life, Amiria progressed to the national stage at Te Matatini and now tutors kapa haka at the wānanga. At Te Wānanga Ihorangi she leads communications and student recruitment, managing key media and education partnerships. Amiria holds a Bachelor of Commerce (University of Canterbury), has completed Te Reo Māori studies with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, and is a graduate of the inaugural Te Reo Maruata cohort (Te Wānanga Ihorangi).

Jessica Fox

Kaiwhakatau Manuhiri Matua | Head of Reception

(Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Porou)

Jess brings extensive experience in learning and development, having led performance-management, training, and diversity-and-inclusion programmes on major construction and infrastructure projects. Earlier, she managed multiple self-storage sites, improving team performance, driving growth, and lifting customer satisfaction. At Te Wānanga Ihorangi she oversees admissions, streamlining processes so every prospective tauira encounters genuine manaakitanga while joining the wānanga whānau. Jess is actively studying Te Reo Māori through Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and Te Ataarangi, and supports the hapori Māori within her church—reflecting her commitment to lifelong learning and community service.

Simone Littlejohn

Kaiwhakatau Manuhiri

(Ngāti Porou, Tainui)

With a Diploma in Travel and Tourism Management and a background in customer service, business operations and whānau-led enterprise, Simone brings a combination of hospitality and operational skills. She began her career with Air New Zealand before moving into the hotel sector in Queenstown, where she developed a strong commitment to creating people-centred experiences. Simone later returned home to help establish her whānau business Get Attic, working alongside her father to grow the company, manage finances and navigate the realities of business ownership. She is currently on her te reo Māori journey at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, believing in the revitalisation of te reo as a taonga to be protected and carried forward for future generations.

Rev’d Te Hira Paenga

Adjunct Lecturer

(Ngāti Porou, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahungunu)

Te Hira is a Raukura alumnus of the Kura Kaupapa Māori schooling system. After schooling, he earned tertiary and postgraduate degrees from the University of Auckland, University of Waikato, Auckland College of Education, Te Panekiretanga o Te Reo, St John’s Theological College, Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, and he is currently completing his Ph.D. in Theology through the University of Otago with a focus on theology and kapa haka (Māori performing arts). Te Hira comes from a teaching background and has held roles as HoD Māori, Assistant Principal, and Deputy Principal at Te Wharekura Māori o Hoani Waititi, Hato Pētera, Te Aute College, and most recently Ōpōtiki College.

Piripi Baker

Kaiako/Kairangahau

(Te Whakatōhea)

Piripi is an experienced youth worker, programme developer, writer, public speaker, and educator. Most recently he was working for the Parenting Place, as the national manager for Building Awesome Whānau (a parenting programme that supports Māori communities). He has completed qualifications in both te reo Māori and theology, receiving his Bachelor of Theology from Laidlaw College and Te Tohu Paetahi Diploma from the University of Waikato. Piripi is a passionate advocate for Māori theology and has just begun postgraduate studies at the University of Otago.

Te Poari

Rev’d Neihana Reihana

CHAIRPERSON

(Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Ranginui)

After completing his Bachelor of Business Degree at AUT, Neihana went on to finish a Post Graduate Diploma in Teaching and spent the next five years teaching te reo Māori and business studies. He then served as the Academic Director at the InZone Academic Foundation, supporting 72 Māori and Pasifika students as they lived within a kāinga (hostel) environment in central Auckland. He spends most of his time now working through his Ph.D. in Māori theology through the University of Otago. Married to Elena, and father to Whakaaria and Mākoha, he is often travelling back home to support te reo regeneration hui at his marae, Mangakāretu.

Te Waka McLeod

Trustee

(Ngāti Mutunga, Te Atiawa, Te Ātihaunui a Papārangi)

Te Waka is most at home when she’s with her whānau and engaging with people around the motu to activate transformation in iwi spaces and champion kaupapa Māori. She has spent her life being called into leadership contexts to faithfully accomplish the work which has included roles at Parenting Place, The New Zealand Leaders Trust, Link NZ and Sport Taranaki.

In recent years she has held the role of CEO for Te Wānanga Ihorangi before being called home to Waitara in Taranaki to advocate for her people. She is the current Kai Arataki with Ka Uruora, an Iwi-led organisation that provides a pathway to housing and financial independence for whānau Māori.

She is the Director of Puna Hau Ltd and since 2022 has been a member of the New Plymouth District Council as the inaugural Te Purutanga Mauri Pūmanawa Māori, Māori ward councillor.

Ashley Pīhema

Trustee

(Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Whātua, Ngāpuhi, Kai Tahu and Ngāti Pākeha)

Entrepreneur, business owner, and educationist, Ashley is on maternity leave from her role as the Head of Faculty for Te Whare Huia, Māori Studies at Diocesan School for Girls. Spearheading the integration of Māori values, knowledge, and language into all spheres of the school; her unique set of skills and experience has made her a highly valuable asset to any educational context throughout Aotearoa. As the Cluster Leader for Ako Panuku, she also took on a leadership role supporting all te reo Māori teachers within the greater central Auckland area. An active member within a variety of community settings, she continues to serve in Karuwhā Trust.

Greg Fleming

Trustee

Greg has a longstanding resume as an innovative social entrepreneur. Greg co-founded and was CEO of the Maxim Institute for 12 years, a public policy think tank that has researched a range of issues including taxation, education, justice, and welfare. From there he became the CEO of the Venn Foundation which he co-founded to provide unique educational opportunities for young adults keen to be involved in social innovation. He is also the founding Chair of Te Whakaora Tangata, an organisation restoring hundreds of families in poverty through relationship mentoring and practical support. More recently, he was CEO of Parenting Place for five years before he transitioned into an independent contractor.

Dr. Alistair Reese

Trustee

Alistair is an adjunct Fellow at the University of Otago and his research and speaking interests include postcolonialism, reconciliation, and prohetism. He has postgraduate degrees in Theology, History, and Tikanga Māori. His Ph.D. in theology from the University of Auckland focused on reconciliation and Pākehā identity. Alistair is involved in local and national efforts to promote reconciliation between Māori and Pākehā and exploring understandings of what an indigenous form of Christianity might look like.