Aaron Brunet

Plant-based for four years, Aaron has been on a life-changing journey of discovery after Masterchef. Now he's ready to share his enthusiasm for enjoying food and life in a whole new way. www.aaronbrunet.co.nz

Aisling Cavanagh

Alison Seidl

Alison completed her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training, as well as a Level One Restorative Teacher Training in 2018, at Yoga Nanda in New York. She will always be a student of the practice, and is a qualified Bodylight Level One Instructor. The Bodylight method combines the teaching of ancient Yoga with Qi gong and Pilates. Her own practice started around 2012, shortly after becoming a licensed Massage Therapist in New York City.

Alison loves learning about the connection between the mind and the body, as well as exploring the natural healing capacity of both. Her focus is on guiding the breath to link mindfulness movement and proper body alignment. Her knowledge of massage combined with the practice of yoga creates a well balanced offering to all. Yoga is transformative - it is an opportunity to develop an internal awareness leading to the discovery of the self for endless growth and evolution.

Alysn Midgelow-Marsden

I love to share my experimental, improvisational approaches and am an internationally acknowledged artist, curator, tutor and author. I specialise in a range of unusual materials such as metals, paper, wire and paint, and not for nothing is my blog called ‘Alysnsburntofferings’ as my techniques include burning, hammering, patinating and distressing (amongst others). Stitching and embellishing are not forgotten and are used freely and expressively. Designs and inspiration are often drawn from natural patterns and textures in addition to a fascination with the history and context of materials and techniques.

Anahera Hare

Kia Ora! My name is Anahera.

I am of both Māori and Pākehā decent.

I am from Murupara and Waiohau, which are rural towns located on the outskirts of the Urewera ranges. I have been blessed with the privilege of both rural and urban influences. I have been teaching Te Reo Māori, Māori leadership and Traditional encounters of a Māori kind at AUT University for 4 years.

I am an enthusiastic, animated and lively teacher who focuses on the conversational aspects of speaking Te Reo Māori.

Andre Taber

Tour guide at Eat Auckland for more than three years.

Andrea Jewett

I have been studying money management for the better part of the last decade in a mission to master this thing called money. Having a background in integrative psychologies has helped me understand how human behaviour affects this emotional subject. For this course I have brought together the most effective methods and techniques that I have personally used with much success and I am driven to share my findings with others.

Andrea Waterhouse

I have always had a love of art, be it flowering arranging, writing, silk painting or working with resin. I get a tremendous amount of satisfaction helping people express their unique talents and discover that there is an artist in each and every one of us.

Andrew Ockleston

I've been working as a portraitist for five years, as well as exhibiting my own work. After finishing my studies at animation college, I've spent the last two years tutoring adults and children in art.

Angella Gilbert

Angella Gilbert - Organising & Decluttering Expert

Angella believes one of the keys to a joyful life is living in harmony, with our environment, within our working day, and in our home. Angella’s passion for helping others achieve this brings her joy. 

Having lived abroad for 15 years, she quickly found that the necessities of life were few and the pleasures of a simplified life were many. Italy became her second home for over eight years and as she became fluent in the language, she discovered the immense appeal of a country where its people live and love each and every day with an exuberance and passion that is enviable. That’s the passion Angella brings to her business and her life.

Angella has an extensive background in business management in a number of industries including telecommunications, travel, management consulting, real estate and business broking. This experience, gained over many years in Australia, London and Italy, and in her home city of Auckland, has contributed to Angella’s innate talent for creating organised systems and processes that work, both in the home and in business.

She established Gioia in 2005 to provide her services to people living in overwhelmingly cluttered and disorganised homes.  Since that time she has worked alongside hundreds of clients in their homes, helping them to declutter, downsize, solve storage problems, and ultimately creating lovely relaxing and harmonious living environments.

 “I believe we all want our home to be a warm and inviting haven. If the home is organised and cleared of clutter it becomes a welcoming environment where we can truly relax and allow the tensions of the day to disappear.”

Her business clients enjoy the benefit of feeling in control that comes once order is established and simple practices are put in place to have their business running smoothly.

“To have your business day flow with ease is a joy. Once processes and systems are in place, everything becomes simplified and daily activities can be handled quickly and without stress, allowing us to perform at our best.”

Ania Grant

I have recently completed a PhD in English at the University of Auckland. My research focuses on romantic narratives, from Jane Austen's novels to the hit television series Sex and the City. I argue that such texts are culturally important and that they have positive psychological effects on their audiences. For the last ten years I have been tutoring and lecturing in English, Media and Communication at the University of Auckland and at AUT. 

Anne Ashby

Anne Ashby proudly originates from Southland. She enjoyed a very satisfying career in the Royal NZ Navy before retiring to raise her family and begin pursuing her dream of writing. Anne writes contemporary sweet/sensual romance with a kiwi flavour. www.anneashby.com. She has also compiled a non-fiction book of Women’s Memories in the RNZN Multi published contemporary romance writer.

Anne is keen to share her love of the romance genre and the written word in general and has more than 20 years instructional experience. Encouraging others to write is her goal. 

Anne Kennedy

Anne Picart

Annette Balsillie

Annette completed her 200-hour Teacher Training in 2017 with Ashram Yoga, Yin/Yang Yoga Teacher Training with Sarah Powers in 2018 and Contemporary Yoga 200hr YTT 2020. This has given Annette a wide understanding of Yoga from different perspectives. She is a Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance and trained as a Mindfulness-Based Stillness Meditation Teacher with Gawler Cancer Foundation, Australia.

“I love being able to help people cultivate a nourishing and sustainable yoga practice, encompassing body, mind and spirit , that supports you throughout the ups and downs of life, a practice which guides you towards optimal health and wellbeing”

Her previous 20 years professional experience as a Registered Nurse working with people with Life threatening Illness informs a caring and intuitive approach, her teaching style is thoughtful, informative and inspiring.  She has a passion for the power of movement, stillness and mindfulness as a path for self -transformation and healing. 

Annette teaches safe, functional and sustainable principles, along with mindfulness and Breath awareness tools and techniques.  Currently completing Mental Health Aware Yoga training with Dr Lauren Tober she has a special interest in mental health and the practice of Yoga as a pathway to wholeness and healing.

Ashlee Lala

I completed a Masters of Art Curatorship at the University of Melbourne in 2016. During this time I became fascinated by Australian indigenous art and culture. I also have a Fine Arts Degree in Photography and a BA in Art History and French, both from the University of Canterbury. I have also studied Art History at Sciences Po University in Paris.

I have volunteered in the education departments of numerous museums and galleries across Australia and New Zealand.

Barbara Mahoney

I'm a part-time tutor who gets a lot of satisfaction from passing on my mosaic knowledge and bringing out the hidden talents that people don't know they have.

Comments from 31 August 1 September weekend workshop with Barbara: "Enjoyed that it was over a weekend and we could leave our projects"  "Enjoyed the helpful teacher and learning a new skill"  "Enjoyed the interaction with others in the class"  "Enjoyed the patience of the teacher and the autonomy of setting projects".

Comments from Oct/Nov 2013 class with Barbara: "Enjoyed the creativity of meeting with other like-minded people" "Enjoyed learning a new craft" "Fantastic tutor, very patient and good clear explanations"

Barbara Martelli

Bess Fairfax

Bess is a CELTA qualified English Language tutor who uses innovative techniques including drama and vocal training to deliver effective and engaging lessons. With over 15 years teaching experience, Bess has taught a variety of courses including ESOL Entry Level to Level 3, General EFL,  exam preparation including IELTS, FCE, CAE and functional skills classes. Bess has Work Based Learning experience, having taught ESOL to NZ employees at companies such as Cadbury. Bess has enjoyed working with diverse students including adults, children on study abroad programmes, refugees and even foreign inmates in UK prisons. Bess takes the time to get to know her students and fully understand their objectives so that her classes are planned to truly support the individual needs of each student. She is currently teaching ESOL to groups and individuals with English Language Partners NZ as well as volunteering to teach English to a recently welcomed refugee from Afghanistan.

Brigid Ryan

Dr Brigid Ryan is a neuroscientist working at the Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland. She has expertise in neurodegenerative disease and a particular interest in early biomarkers of dementia. She is currently leading a multi-disciplinary longitudinal study of the earliest changes that occur in dementia.

Brij Narayan

Bruno Rubini

Bruno was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is a qualified Coach and Massage Therapist. Bruno started archery at the age of six, and started meditation, Tai Chi and Chi Kung in 1979 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

He competed in archery in his teens throughout South America. He has been Auckland Coaching Director of Archery New Zealand and trained archers for international competition and teaches archery as a form of meditation. Since 1985 he has been studying the Healing Arts of Naturopathy, Energy Balancing, Reflexology, Nutrition, Chi Kung and Meditation.

He has also been practising Tai Chi Chuan for over 30 years and now teaches Chi Kung, Tai Chi and Meditation in the evenings and weekends.

For more details see 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tai-Chi-Bruno/119339098141816

Campbell Mason

Caroline Faigan

Caroline Faigan is a multidisciplinary artist who recently completed a MFA at Elam, University of Auckland. She has also worked in film and fashion as an art director, stylist and writer. She enjoys teaching and learning and spent several years working in fashion education in London. Caroline’s art practice incorporates diverse techniques and materials to represent the body and form.

Catherine Guevera

Cathie Joyce

Cathie gained her qualifications in teaching English as a second language after a background in sales and as a lawyer.  She has lived and worked in the UK, Belgium and Rarotonga and has travelled the world extensively. The production of skilful English, in both speech and academic written forms, has always been one of Cathie’s passions.  She assesses individual student needs and objectives and lessons include personalised additions. Cathie currently teaches groups and individuals; and her ESOL experience covers Beginner to Advanced levels, Conversation, Pronunciation, Preparation for Work in NZ, on-site teaching to businesses, teaching refugees, women-only groups, skilled migrants and workshops on the Treaty of Waitangi.

Cecilia Kim

Cecilia has come to New Zealand from Korea in 2001 with her family.  Previously a secondary school teacher of mathematics and science, Cecilia has a passion for cooking and wants to share her knowledge and enthusiasm for authentic Korean food with the community. Students from her courses have since participated in a Korean cooking competition and two received places.

Chris Zwaagdyk

Christina Wylie

I was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, and trained as a secondary teacher but I have taught ESOL to adults here, and also in England, for 35 years. 

I have travelled to many parts of the world, including China, South America, Turkey and Russia, and have learnt several languages. Because of this, I understand how difficult it is to live in a different culture using a new language.

Playing the piano, practising yoga, walking my dog and going boating with my family take up my spare time. Most of all I enjoy learning dances from other countries, especially flamenco from Spain.

I like to find new ways of making learning interesting for students and find it very rewarding watching life become more enjoyable for them as their English language improves.

Claire Lichtwark-McInnes

10+ years’ experience as a senior local govt manager and 10 years’ experience as a consultant and partner at McInnes Associates Ltd.  

Extensive experience in all aspects of recruitment as well as supporting candidates and interns in career guidance/coaching.  

An ATCL in speech and drama.

Clark Valmont

Clark Valmont is one of the country’s most prolific businessmen; running and owning several multi-million-dollar businesses along with being the country’s largest affordable housing provider. Clark has coached and consulted a number of CEOs and companies to improve business performance, along with having the most engaged Facebook campaigns in the country month-on-month. 

Craig Sutherland

Dr Craig Sutherland is a professional teaching fellow in the Department of Electrical, Computer and Software Engineering, where he teaches the next generation of engineers to build robots and other systems. Previously, he worked in the Centre for Automation and Robotics Engineering Science (CARES), where he explored how people and robots can interact together, and how to improve robots in healthcare. Prior to getting a PhD in Human Computer Education, he worked in healthcare, education and software engineering.

Craig’s research focuses on two areas: how robots interact with people and how people learn to program computers. These interests conclude in teaching children how to program robots, especially his own. He regularly visits schools around Auckland to introduce robots and programming, so the next generation will be inspired to improve our robots.

Cristina Capri

I was born in Milan, Italy, and studied in Venice, where I achieved a Degree in Architecture and a Masters in Architecture Conservation. I have worked on a diverse range of architectural projects including the conservation of heritage buildings in the provinces of Padua and Venice.

Later I lived and worked in South Africa for twenty years where I was an architecture tutor at Wits University in Johannesburg. I also founded my own company, Italdesign Architects, and managed residential and commercial projects.

Currently in Auckland, I am the director of Ital Design, a company specialising in residential, eco-architecture and interiors. 

I teach a diverse range of short courses and workshops at Selwyn Community Education. I also teach at Unitec within the Bachelor of Interior Design and the Diploma of Interior Design.

Daniela McKeown

I have been coaching international students and young workers since 2005 and I understand how challenging it is to be placed into the work force without previous experience, especially when living in a new country. I provide training in hospitality skills to help young workers to gain initial abilities to apply for an entry-level job in the hospitality industry. A recent three month sabbatical experience through Southeast Asia inspired me to teach these courses after seeing so many young workers having English as a second language working in hospitality and assisting tourists with enormous excellence.

David Hill

Founder of Auckland Walks, a professional guide in Europe and Australasia for over 30 years, former curator of NZ Historic Places Trust.

David Partis

David began his working career at Television New Zealand as an apprentice Television Engineer. After 6 years there David went overseas to work in a computer company in Australia for 2 years and then returned to New Zealand.

David has worked in New Zealand in the computer industry for Trilogy Business Systems, Southmark Computers, Fujitsu, then joined Compaq in 1996 and worked through a number of mergers over a 11 year period and left what was then Hewlett Packard in 2007.

David started a web design business called Designhand Limited and has since gone on to start a training business called Web Design Training Limited from which he teaches courses through Selwyn's community education programme. One of his favourite courses is "How to be Found on the Internet" which in essence is a basic SEO course for beginners.

In 2014 David went on to form an SEO business called Website Optimisers where he now offers a range of SEO and SEM services. Learn more about David and his experience in the web design and optimisation industry at his website Website Optimisers.

David Ratu

Tēnā koutou

Ko David (Rāwiri) Ratū taku ingoa, nō te iwi o Ngaati Te Ata, Te Waiohua, Waikato-Tainui, Ngaati Maniapoto.

Greetings, David (Rāwiri) Ratū is my name. I am a descendant of the Ngaati Te Ata, Te Waiohua, Waikato-Tainui and Ngaati Maniapoto Tribes.

Paimārire – goodness and peace

Debbie Thackwray

Debbie gained her qualifications in teaching English as a second language in South Africa, after completing a university degree. In 1996 she moved to Seoul, South Korea and the following year went to Jakarta Indonesia for a further year of teaching abroad. On returning to South Africa she taught at a private university as well as providing one-on-one private lessons to students requiring English language support at various levels. In 2010 she immigrated to Auckland New Zealand, and since then has been busy teaching ESOL classes to all levels at a wide range of English Language institutes. 

Deborah Walker

I have been in the beauty industry for just over four years. I am a makeup artist with a passion to help other women feel more confident in their makeup skills.

I use the Younique brand of makeup which is hypo-allergenic and not tested on animals.

Don Cooke

Experienced and enthusiastic dance tutor for 7 years.  Demonstration of basic dance moves to easy music rhythm.  Clear, patient review of taught dance moves and selection of key aspects to help each individual student's learning.  Committed to growth as a teacher and to students to get people into dancing for fun.

Dylan Mann

Mr Dylan Tarragon Mann originally grew up in Auckland, moving to Australia in 1995. In 2016 he returned home to NZ.

Dylan has worked as the head of client advice at iPraxis Financial Services Australia, founder of My Independent Financial Adviers, and AMP financial advise for five years. The experience he brings includes stock trading, options, insurance brokers, government payments, property sales and purchase, economic impacts.

Dylan Mann is registered at the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) as a fully accredited AFA Financial Adviser. "I really love and enjoy my role in the community as a financial doctor (or financial GP). My clients share their private information with me so that I can step into their shoes with my financial experience. I take on my clients' financial concerns/worries and problems and recommend a course of action to medicate the issues to achieve their requested outcomes."

Edward Elder

Dr Edward Elder is an aspiring academic from the University of Auckland whose research focuses on political marketing, communication and new media in New Zealand and the United States. His work can be found in books such as Marketing Leadership in Government, Political Marketing in the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election, and Political Marketing in the United States.

Eva Lourenco

Eva is a professional Chess coach.

Fiona de Gruchy

Fiona de Gruchy has many years experience as a graphic designer & photographer using the adobe products and has tutored classes for over a decade.

Fiorella Tomasi

Fiorella is an experienced Italian language teacher and looks forward to supporting you on your Italian language journey.

Frances Battersby

Frances has extensive overseas ESOL teaching and training experience. She is qualified with an MFA (Aust), Dip JAP and RSA CELTA.

"My name is Manuel Alberto Alvarado and I am a 62-year-old student from Venezuela, who recently took classes with teacher Frances Battersby for the IELTS Academic test. I had the test on October 8, 2016 obtaining an overall band qualification of 8.

I am very happy with my score, and must say that it is the result of the excellent job done by Mrs. Battersby. She is the best English teacher I have known so far. She is very professional, open-minded, knows how to teach in a way that it is very easy and fun to learn, with a thorough knowledge of the English language and teaching method.

I congratulate you for having such high qualified teachers in your college and will recommend it to any person I know in need of learning English as a second language and has to take the IELTS test.

Best regards Manuel Alberto Alvarado" November 2016

From an Academic IELTS student: "Dear Frances, it is rare to find a teacher who is truly attentive to her student's needs and shows she cares.  I am grateful for all the help, support and guidance.  From the bottom of my heart, Osnat K" Sept 2014.

Gabriel Baron

“E rere kau mai te awa nui mai i te kāhui maunga ki Tangaroa, ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au.”

From the mountains to the sea, I am the river and the river is me.

Ko Gabriel Baron tōku ingoa, he uri ahau nō Paerangi te Wharetoka ō Ngāti Rongomaitāwhiri ki Kaiwhaiki marae. He Baron nō Wīwī anō hoki e mihi nei, e karanga nei.

Kia ora e hoa mā. I am Gabriel, I was born and raised in Whanganui and attended total immersion te reo Māori schools throughout each stage of my education. My passion lies deep within the Māori culture and for the most part, I love sharing my culture with those eager to learn. I have been teaching te reo Māori at AUT for the last 3 years where my passion for nurturing te reo Māori to others grew uncontrollably. I am so excited to be amongst the Selwyn community nō reira, nau mai tauti mai e te marea.

George Hajian

George is a Doctoral Candidate at Elam School of Fine Arts, researching masculine representations and the male body. His practice uses collage and printmaking to trace embodiment in culture. Although he uses a variety of sources and materials to make, collage becomes central to George's research through the assemblage of these representations, revealing the role of popular media in shaping the male body.

Gillian Elmslie

Gillian began working with clay in her cousin’s pottery studio when she was 14 years old. She was 24 when she was introduced to the recipe she calls ‘Soft Stone’. At that time she was busy having exhibitions of her flax forms and sculptural baskets. Soon the soft stone sculptures took over from the baskets. Her first shows were in the Pumphouse. She has taken classes with other sculptors but mostly has worked developing her own style.

Gillian Manolis

Graham Reid

Greg Smith

Greg Smith has been a tutor for the last five years and spent ten years volunteering for Auckland Coastguard as a crew person and skipper. He has operated a commercial fishing charter vessel out of Sandspit. 

Gregory Bern

Hansa Rama

Hansa is a registered pharmacist running her own business with her pharmacist husband.  Over the years Hansa has developed a keen interest in natural health and now also practises Ayurveda from her pharmacy.  Her main focus now lies with nutrition and health and is currently tutoring nutrition and cooking at a naturopathic college.  Hansa has a keen interest in imparting this knowledge to the community.

Helen Carroll

Helen Fergusson

Helen is a therapeutic movement practitioner with a background in dance. Through her own journey of healing she has developed a passion for movement, self-expression and holistic health.

Knowing that the body thrives on variety and joy, Helen was drawn to and has embraced Nia. Helen has recently become a licensed Nia facilitator and is excited to share this beautiful, healing movement form with you.

Helen McKessar

HineAhua Tokōtokō (Michelle Sime)

HineAhua Tokōtokō is her given name by Kaumatua Paraone Patena Mariu in 2012. Paraone was her mentor, since 2005. He said it is his 5th great grandmother's name, she who was brought in as support for the Rangatira, the first Te Heuheu. This name was given to Michelle for her as she comes in as support with the Rongoa.

A Kuia later had a dream, Tokōtokō was given to her as she assists in going to the depths of the knowledge.

HineAhua Tokōtokō is a registered Rongoa Practitioner who has been working with Native Plant remedies with clients wanting to improve their health since 2012. 

Check out her page medicineplants.co.nz  or join Medicine Plants NZ on facebook.

HineAhua Tokōtokō is available for consultation at Marae clinics working alongside other Tohunga and private appointments in Orakei.

She continues her specialist level training privately in Hinengaro and Rongoa Rakau, the mind and plant medicines.

HineAhua Tokōtokō  is also known as Michelle Sime. Her lineage is predominantly Scottish and Welsh with her first NZ ancestor living in Orakei 6 generations ago,  and she was born and brought up in Whangarei. Orakei whenua (land) is still her home today.

Hiu Fai (Dodo) To

Ian Eng

Isabel Zarco

Bonjour! My name is Isabel and I'm the new French tutor at Selwyn Community Education. I come from the Spanish side of the Basque Country and have been brought up in Spanish, French and Basque. I have been teaching French and Spanish for over 20 years and my first experience teaching in Auckland was actually at Selwyn Community Education! After many happy years tutoring evening classes, I had to take a break to look after my two sons and go back to university, I kept however teaching day time courses at several Community Centres. I am passionate about Community Education teaching. I feel truly inspired by the enthusiasm of my students which I find contagious. Learning a second language is an exciting and challenging experience and I would encourage everybody to give it a go. À bientôt j'espère...

Jacqueline Ziegler

Jacqueline, having worked in IT for many years, decided to follow her passion for crafts, in particular soap-making. She has been making soaps and body products for more than 20 years.

Jacqueline loves teaching and regularly gets positive feedback on her courses. She has been teaching  soap-making through private classes community classes for nearly 10 years.

Jade Osborne

Jade is a qualified lifestyle/nutrition coach and personal trainer working with people to make holistic and sustainable lifestyle changes.

Having made significant changes to her own lifestyle and losing 40kg, Jade is highly empathetic and passionate about helping people establish the right mindset and behaviours to lose weight for good and feel great!

Jade also brings extensive corporate career experience helping people to learn, grow and be the best version of themselves.

You can learn more about Jade’s journey here: https://www.facebook.com/zenergene/

James Lawrence

James is well known in Auckland and overseas as an accomplished painter and printmaker. His works are widely exhibited and he has won awards from his drawing, printmaking and painting. He enjoys energy, movement and colour when painting so they become a rhythmic combination of feelings and thought combined with formal considerations.

James has extensive teaching experience. 

Personal statement from James Lawrence about this work:

Like all artists, I am concerned with light. I study its movements across water. The shadows cast on weather cliffs and how buildings and human habitations are transformed as light travels across these surfaces, including marks made by hand(s).

I have synthesised this keen interest with the re-investigation of the origins and though of some of the various movements within Twentieth Century Abstract Art. I paint intuitively, "The Flow" is through me creating a rick complex of textures ans shapes that is equally controlled and random, filled with accidents, abrasions and then re-establishment or partial re-establishment of hidden shapes or movements, which allows light and the viewer's position, be it close or far, or off to the side, to offer constantly changing sensations with corresponding fluidity in the perception of form(s).

The Pentimenti created by overpainting, that is, allowing the underpainting its "voice" creates a depth, much like looking into a bottomless pool of water, complete with sky reflection. Paintings may give the impression of completeness, but at the same time represent a provisional statement, as I may be just around the corner with a large brush. As to the concept of "Finish" I continuously work on several paintings at any given time. Sometimes I cease working on one or more of these canvases while continuing to work on others. Thus the painting becomes finished when I no longer paint on it. I often discover something I like on one painting, and use it on others while over-painting it on the original.

I enjoy energy, movement and colours. For me, painting is "letting go!". The works thus created represents a distillation of person expression, with gestures (marks) and discoveries. For me a successful painting is flat and spatial at the same time with a balance of structure and expresssiveness and with a spontaneous, complex and sensual surface, creating layers, that one may "enter". I hope my art speaks to something in us all that transcends the realm of words.

I believe that painting non-objectively allows the intuitive nature of the painter its voice. It also affords the widest possible range of interpretation, including contradiction. I like the idea of the meaning being felt, rather intuitively by the view, rather than a meaning being expressed, as once this occurs it tend to preclude other meaning. It's difficult to answer questions about how I felt or what I was thinking other that to say it felt good, because when it doesn't, I paint it out. On the good days, the painting speaks to me and a most enjoyable dialogue ensues. I can't think of anything I'd rather be doing.

Jane Strickland

Meet Jane, as she shares her passion for mind and body awareness through dance and fitness. Jane’s career has predominantly been on stage as a dancer, singer and choreographer. Since graduating in 2007 in Melbourne, Australia Jane has performed in many Music Theatre shows such as The King And I, Shout! The Mod Musical and Cats The Musical. She is also a choreographer and talent manager for New Zealand’s most engaged commercial dance company, Momentum Productions.

Having understood the benefits of health and wellbeing for dancers, Jane chose to cast her net into the fitness world and for 5 years has instructed Barre, HIIT and HIIT Pilates around Auckland. Her classes are fun filled and will leave you feeling worked, toned and invigorated!

Janet Sergeant

Janet Sergeant has been practicing yoga for more than 20 years.  She studied to be a teacher at Ashram Yoga in Parnell and has been teaching for eight years.  The style of yoga could be categorized, in part, as  Hatha as there is real emphasis on working with the breath throughout the class.  Many of the postures involve flowing movement.  We work gently to develop a greater awareness and sense of subtlety within our bodies and ourselves. 

Janice O'Connor

Janice has been teaching ESOL classes at Selwyn College since 2003. Her background is in Primary and Intermediate classroom teaching, with a degree majoring in English.

She is also a qualified piano teacher but no longer practising!

She is a NZ-born Chinese, married to a Kiwi. She and her family are typically Kiwi in their passion for sports.

Jasbir Kaur

Jazzing it up in the kitchen 

When students take a culinary class with Jasbir Kaur, they’ll open a door to a whole new world of flavours.

That’s because the well-travelled professional has worked in some of the best establishments around the globe, adding more than a few feathers to her chef’s hat. The affectionately-known Jaz first began her foray into the world of gastronomy at the tender age of 16 after being encouraged by her father to turn her love for cooking into a career. After graduating from the University of Huddersfield in England’s West Yorkshire, she began to hone her skills on the hotel circuit in Wales and began rapidly moving up the ranks.

Craving for more, soon other opportunities beckoned and Jaz moved to the United States where she became the corporate executive chef for the Marriott chain, moving between South Carolina, Florida and Georgia. Another top job in Miami followed, along with many high profile judging and hosting gigs as well as multiple industry awards.

A shift in her personal life led Jaz to New Zealand where she began to actively pursue a career in culinary education. Today, Jaz is the culinary campus manager for the New Zealand Management Academy (NZMA) and has featured on television, including TVNZ’s Good Morning show and Neighbourhood. And she still finds the time to inspire students, whether it’s aspiring professionals, amateur cooks, or home entertainers through her classes at Selwyn Community Education. With French cuisine and flair at the heart of her cooking, Jaz enjoys teaching people skills to impress. “I like the precision of French fare; I like everything to be perfect. And in fine dining everything is petite but flavourful.” Always on the lookout for new and exciting food trends, Jaz often travels to top dining destinations; last year was Dubai and this year, she hopes to pick up some tips from a Michelin-starred restaurant in Spain.

Jessica Stubbing

Currently I am a course tutor for Level 2 Psychology students at the University of Auckland.

I also work as a Shift Supervisor at Kidsline, supervising year 12 and 13 'buddies', supporting them in their service to children and dealing with any risk situations that arise.  Previously, I have volunteered for Lifeline as a phone counsellor, and as a Team Leader leading groups of teenagers and younger children in residential or weekend courses as part of the Discovery Programme (to teach life skills).

Jiehua Ma

Jiehua Ma has a teaching degree. She is passionate about arts and crafts and she loves reading. She is addicted to Book Art and spends many evenings folding books. She loves sharing her hobby and knowledge with people.

Jill Malcolm

Jill Malcolm was editor of the Air New Zealand inflight magazine for eleven years and has now been the editor of five other magazines covering architecture, travel and lifestyle. She has also free-lanced for many New Zealand and overseas publications and written four travel books.

For the last 12 years she has been taking travel and creative writing workshops at the University of Auckland and around New Zealand.                                   

Jo Seagar

Jo Seagar is a New Zealand writer, TV personality and celebrity cook. She lives in the small town of Oxford in North Canterbury. Jo initially trained as a nurse, and attended the Cordon Bleu cookery school in London while working there. Back in New Zealand, she opened Harley's Restaurant in Auckland with a friend. Jo ran "Seagars at Oxford" cooking school, café and kitchenware store for about ten years with her husband Ross, but it closed in 2015 after tourism decreased following the Canterbury earthquakes.  Jo Seagar has written for a number of publications including North & South, New Zealand Woman's Weekly, Cuisine and Australian Woman's Weekly. She has already written many cookery books and leads culinary tours abroad.

Jo Seagar is patron and ambassador for Hospice, and raises money for the charity through cooking classes. In 2015 she was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the community.

Joanne Luker

I have always collected old shards of china. I find that recycling broken pottery and old glass into mosaic art is a very therapeutic and fun way to recharge and escape from reality. I am inspired by the stories each little piece of broken plate or cup could tell, and where they have come from. This makes mosaic art very meaningful to me.

I have recently been awarded First Place in the Reflections of New Zealand category at the 2018 National Mosaic Exhibition.

For more details about my art work see the members gallery in nzmosaicart.co.nz

Joanne West

John Botica

John was born in Belgrade, Serbia in 1953 and most of his life he was involved in tennis, being a tennis professional. He has lived in the US and Germany and has settled in New Zealand since 1997. In 2004 he was able to discover his true passion, namely pebble mosaic art. He established a completety different and innovative approach to this ancient art through bold usage of Maori and Polynesian motifs so common in his adopted country. John caught the pebble mosaic bug when his uncle gave him a book on this ancient art. John was already an accomplished mosaicist, using bright ceramic tiles, and he was instantly intrigued by the textures and patterns that could be created using only natural pebbles. John has been involved in many private and public commissions. He has created what is considered, in the specialist publication Mosaic Art Now, one of the world's top 100 mosaic works. Botica's Tree of Life was commissioned by the North Shore City Council and installed at a children's playground in Greenhithe. His latest public project at Bastion Point in Auckland.

In 2013, the St Frajou Painting Museum, Haute Garonne, France, presented the preparatory drawings for the mosaics by John Botica. In 2013, he also participated in the National Mosaik Art Exhibition: Magic of Mosaic: Mosaic Symposium 2013 in the Helen Smith Meeting Room, Pataka + Museum, Auckland. John is also a member of the Mosaic Association of Australia and New Zealand and a founding member of the Art Resilience movement created by Ksenia Milicevic in 2014 in Paris, France.

His work has been included in a recent Australian House and Garden article. https://www.homestolove.com.au/a-wellness-garden-with-a-japanese-influence-7168

John McLean

Member of Toastmasters for 10 years. Past President of Eastern Bays TM Club. Mentor for new members joining our club. Competent Communicator, Advance Speaker Bronze and Silver.

Jonathan Crook

Jose Entrican

Julia West

I have a Bachelor in Social Sciences and have studied effective ways of communicating over the last ten years. I enjoy facilitating conversations where each participant is listened to and understood. I use a variety of skills including those of Compassionate Communication (also known as Non-Violent Communication). I am also an NLP Master Practitioner.

I also have a post graduate diploma in Arts Therapy.

I have previously tutored at Wellington Polytech and the National College of Design and Technology.

June Renwick

June loves teaching and sharing her vast repertoire of recipes, skills, cooking styles and secrets.  Initially trained as a Home Economics teacher, June has taught many night classes and has run a home cookery and other food establishments with her husband Don.  Her inspiration was her mother who ran a successful catering business and was a great cook.

YouTube Clips: 

 - How June become a part of Selwyn Community Education: click here.

 - Junes's cooking classes: click here

Have a look at one of June's favourite recipes on our blog:  June's Dutch Fish Cakes

Karen Balmer

Karin Puttner

For over 20 years, I have been conducting seminars, talks and cooking classes for everyone interested in nutrition and health. 

To help you to discover the difference between living power food and dead processed food, I have written a helpful cooking and work book:

NUTRITION AWARENESS - 10 Steps to Healthy Eating 

To make the transition to a healthy lifestyle easier it answers questions like:  

What is real health food?

Why should I eat it?

Where can I buy it?

How to create delicious meals!

Check out our blog about Karin Puttner here. 

Kathy Skellern

Award to Kathy following her June course:

Kelila Jaffe

Kerry Mitchell

Kerry has been a florist for 32 years and retains a wealth of knowledge in this industry.   She is also a wedding specialist and has done over 3,000 weddings during her entire career.

Kerry was the head floristry tutor at the NZ Academy School of Floristry for 2 years and has owned three florist shops, with her currently managing Orewa Beach Flowers.

Kevin Booth

After publishing his first novel Celia’s Room in 2011, Kevin Booth went on to establish the independent publishing initiative, Poble Sec Books, through which he has published numerous books by various writers, including his own. Having worked as a translator for over 20 years, he has also been an editor and proofreader for more than a decade. Working in independent publishing enables him to develop his passion for graphic design, typography and visual art, as well as retaining creative control of his publishing endeavours. Born in Aotearoa New Zealand, he has lived in Barcelona, Spain, for over 20 years.

Kirsty Cantley

Konrard Wojak

Konrard Wojak is an experienced woodworking tutor who has been teaching adult courses at Selwyn Community Education and other community education programmes for more than a decade.

He teaches woodworking with a warm and friendly style and loves seeing the pleasure students get from their completed projects.

Kristy Atkinson

I have taught classes on essential oils for two years and used oils extensively for more than two and a half years.

Kyan Krumdieck

Kyan is a Denver born, Christchurch-raised Queer filmmaker.

He has written and directed over a dozen films, which are a blend of character comedy and drama that often tackle some aspect of sexuality. This year, Kyan made his first funded film Repugnant through the Someday Stories initiative. The film stars Donogh Rees as a woman attempting to “cure” a pug of his homosexuality. The film also features Hamish Parkinson and Simon Prast.

Last year his TVNZ New Blood pilot The Sisterhood starred Amanda Billing and centred on a secret society of women who can time travel when they have sex. The episode won Best Pilot at the New Zealand Web Fest.

His short The Grind, about Christchurch gay men’s experiences on Grindr, won Best Student Film at Show Me Shorts 2015.

This year he won Best Script for La Coquille at the 48 Hours Auckland Finals, where the film also won Best Auckland Film.

Professionally Kyan has worked on 7 Days, edited for animation at Toybox and written for Shortland Street. Additional Crew Roles: AD, Animation Editor, Director’s Assistant

Lawrence Xu-Nan

I have a PhD in Ancient History from the University of Auckland, specialising in ancient Egypt. I have also taught at the University of Auckland as a tutor and lecturer, as well as a number of continuing education courses and public lectures.

I have an interest in all aspects of ancient Egypt, from language and literature to material culture. My thesis focused on ancient Egyptian literature, particularly those from the Graeco-Roman periods, where I looked at how ancient Egyptians constructed their narratives to be enjoyed by the audience. I also go to Egypt every year on excavation near Luxor.

Lekshe Chodron

Lekshe Chodron is a trained mindfulness teacher, qualified yoga teacher and Reiki Master Practitioner. She skilfully weaves her wide-ranging experience and passion for these various traditions into easy-to-understand wellness workshops and retreats, mindfulness courses, Reiki sessions and yoga for children and adults of all abilities and requirements. This includes staff and students (from the age of three) at early learning centres, in schools, colleges, tertiary institutions and adult learning centres. She also teaches to staff at a hospice, outpatients and patients very close to death in the hospital wing at the hospice. As well as working with community groups, she runs her own studio offering private sessions.

Lekshe supports clients and students in their wellness journey via a number of modalities including Hatha yoga, Yin yoga, children's yoga, breathing techniques, relaxation and mindfulness practices, shiatsu massage, reflexology, Reiki, yoga therapy and support with holistic lifestyle choices. She works with people of a large age range and varied physical and mental well-being including adults with grief, anxiety, depression, cancer, suicide and other life-threatening illnesses and children with ADHD.

Lekshe has worked in England, Canada and New Zealand and has regularly practiced, studied and attended retreats since 2000.

Leonie Agnew

Leonie is an author of three children's books, winner of numerous awards including the New Zealand Post Junior Fiction Award, Best New Author, the Esther Glen Medal and more.

She is also a current finalist for the 2017 NZ children's book awards.

Lesley Lee

Have been teaching in community education since 1988 in the UK and then for the past 7 years here in Auckland.  I teach computing at Te Waipuna Puawai at Ellerslie. 

Lesley Pearce

Lesley is a textile artist who dyes and prints all her own fabrics for her art panels. Her process is one of discovery and a dialogue with the material, form, line, colour and surface textures. Her background is predominantly in education as a teacher and facilitator of workshops around NZ.

Libby Brookbanks

About Libby Brookbanks

My name is Elizabeth (Libby) Brookbanks. I have been committed to both the practical and theoretical study of Fine Arts and have graduated with a BA (Art History) from Otago University and a BFA (hons), BA (hons) and MA from the University of Auckland. I love teaching, researching and making art. I was required to maintain administrative student records as well as deliver art and art history lessons. I have also tutored Art History papers at the University of Auckland where I was required to facilitate administrative demands relating to teaching and student records. I can tutor in call areas of art practice and have particular interest in nurturing drawing skills. I believe art can act as a healing agent that encourages meaningful discussion and creative expression. I am very familiar with both international and national arts practices and am connected to an extensive network of art practitioners, academics and arts facilitators throughout New Zealand. I have worked at both the Auckland and Dunedin Public Art Galleries in a range of diverse roles including education and tour guide. I have written extensively on artists, art practices and complexities within and around the Fine Arts sector. I have had experience curating and facilitating art exhibitions, and have written and presented talks on many artists.

I’m both fascinated and challenged by contemporary art. My PhD thesis considers some of the many conceptual complexities of contemporary art practices. Come and indulge your interests in some lively discussion and debate.

Relevant teaching experience:  University of Auckland Graduate Teaching Assistant, Hungry Creek Art History HoD.

Linda Tyler

Associate Professor Linda Tyler was appointed as the inaugural Director of the Centre for Art Studies at the University of Auckland in February 2006. In this role, she administers the Art Collection, manages programmes and exhibitions at the Gus Fisher Gallery, and digital and on-site exhibitions under the auspices of the Window project. She also teaches art writing and curatorial practice at Honours level in the Art History Department, and is a frequent contributor to Art News and Art New Zealand publications. She is co-curator of this year’s Sculpture in the Gardens, opening at the Auckland Botanic Garden on 8 November 2017 and Director of Art for Sculpture on the Gulf in 2019.

Lindsay Diggelmann

Dr Lindsay Diggelmann is a senior lecturer in History and also Associate Dean, Teaching and Learning, in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Auckland. He teaches a wide range of topics concerning European history, especially the Middle Ages and the Italian Renaissance. His specialist area is the Anglo-Norman period of the 11th and 12th centuries.

Lindsey Dawson

I have long experience in teaching my own writing courses founded on a long history of writing, magazine editing, book authoring, speaking and TV and radio hosting.

My career combines journalism, magazine start-ups, fiction and non-fiction books, column writing (including a magazine internet column), with author mentoring and manuscript assessment.

I began my first blog 10 years ago and have built three websites with blog add-ons. I am not a tech person but love the possibilities inherent in the web and understand the challenges for beginners.

Lisa Hansby

I am an experienced teacher, trainer and facilitator with a passion for living simply and reducing our impact on the environment,