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

Aiko Fukumoto

I am a Kintsugi artist and Qigong instructor. I am Japanese and have lived in Auckland for 30 year. At first it wasn't an easy life as a migrant. During this time I was seeking the purpose of life, meditating and reading many books about psychology. When I encountered Kintsugi art, I could face what had happened to me. As I practised this art, I began to accept and be proud of my own scars in my life. Kintsugi helped me to meditate more easily, become calmer and be strong enough to face new challenging circumstances, and to rebirth myself. 

Having seen these benefits, I would like to share with others this art of repairing our hearts, as understanding, nurturing, and strengthening of mind and spirit. I believe Kintsugi will help you to be strong and create a beautiful quality of life.

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

André is a researcher and writer who left behind the world of food journalism (freelance reporting, feature writing and restaurant reviewing for several outlets, two books on New Zealand food) to specialise in food history. He has previously worked as 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. 

Anna Piskun

My name is Anna Piskun. I'm certified instructor of clay art modeling over 8 years.

Mainly I work with Japanese paper base clay Decoclay. It’s an amazingly soft, lightweight and flexible material. That’s why lots of my students call our workshops 100% art therapy classes. You don’t need be an artist. Take the clay, relax, enjoy and your beautiful flowers or figure soon appear.

Anna-Maria Bribiesca

Anna-Maria Bribiesca is a multidiscipline artist, who has been practicing all of her life. Her parents (Lois Marie Ashton Bribiesca and José Maria Bribiesca) were artists and members of the first Arts and Crafts Market (The Browns Mill) in the 1960s, in Tāmakimakaurau. This had a massive influence on Anna-Maria from a very young age.  She works in mediums including : textile, painting, sculpture, mixed media, jewellery and moving image. Anna-Maria exhibits solo and in group shows annually in the Auckland Festival of Photography and the Franklin Art Award and the Pollok Art Gallery exhibition. She also supplies Pollok Art Gallery, Art Industry Gallery, and Arohart Gallery with her various art forms. Anna-Maria teaches art, as well as exhibits at and curates, the annual Manurewa High School Art Exhibition.

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.

Annie Chang

Having graduated from Whitecliffe College of Arts & Design, Annie has worked in the fashion industry and as a graphic designer at Blunt Umbrellas for five years. Whilst working, she got engaged and set about to create flower arrangements for her wedding. From there, her natural talents brought in her first flower orders.

In 2019, after two years of floral arranging as her side hustle, she took steps towards her dream of running a studio full-time.

Looking to explore more ways of working with flowers and combining that with her unique talents, background in arts and design, Annie set off to travel across the world. There, she gained a KCDA flower piping certification and learnt from the best floral cake decorators. This is where she fell in love with sugar art and was able to master the skills in a short amount of time.

Eventually, she leapt into her new venture and is now the proud and happy owner of Annie's Little Valley studio and cafe that showcases her sugar art and all things creative.

Antonia Marino

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.

Asma Shaikh

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 Guevara

Catherine is a Colombian visual artist based in Auckland. Her body of work comprises curation, research, writing and ceramics. 

An accomplished visual artist in her country of origin, she moved to Auckland to deepen her practice by further understanding the relationship between Latin American and Pacific culture. As Curator for The Consulate General of Colombia, she develops educational programmes and art workshops that aim to help with the settlement of the Latin American community in New Zealand. 

The artist’s work examines the process of ceramic-making, imbuing layers of clay with memory and history. Often collaborative and experimental, she activates these vessels as meaning-making and storytelling tools. The results challenge our assumptions about the medium while enduring as deeply sensory objects.

Her passion for children and their creative mind inspires her to design and develop art experiences using all sorts of art techniques and surfaces to keep learning from the materials and their possibilities.

Find more in @CfromCat

Catherine Huckerby

From Catherine: I must admit, I'm a little bit obsessed with colour. It's transformational properties can inspire, excite and calm our moods. Colour is powerful, it's one of the first things that grabs our attention.

My mother was extremely sensitive to colour.  I remember going on regular shopping trips with her to find the exact colour to match her handbag or newly purchased items. She had an amazing eye for colour and pattern and knew instinctively how to put these together. She wore highly patterned and flamboyant colours, with flair.

Of course, I did rebel. My love of the murky, complex shades was the exact opposite to her adoration for the bold and bright hues found in her wardrobe and our home.

So, it was only natural that my childhood experience has led me to work with colour. I was lucky to inherit my mother's sensitivity, passion and confidence in colour and pattern.

20 years later, I am still here, working with colour, pattern and design, within the Interior Design industry. Teaching colour and design has enhanced my level knowledge.

I am always intrigued and excited, never bored.

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. 

Claudia Terzi

Hello! My name is Claudia, and I am originally from Italy. I have been in New Zealand for 11 years. I have completed my pilates qualification with BASI Pilates which is internationally recognised and I am also a Yoga teacher which helps to improve the quality of my pilates sessions.   I have been practicing yoga and pilates for a few years and I love it! I used to like the idea of trying different studios and different styles of yoga and pilates and still today I love practicing and learning. I see a student like a capable and competent learner and teachers and students learn alongside each other. My goal is to facilitate a practice that allows people to move from the inside out, allowing a freedom in movement and the body at ease. I aim to teach a practice that empowers people and it instigates curiosity, exploration and creativity to reach freedom in mind, body and spirit. I aim to teach a practice for a fun, loving, explorative and nourishing experience in an inclusive and welcoming environment. Pilates improved my posture, alignment, flexibility, balance and strength. Pilates also helped me to recover from injuries and prevent more injuries. I offer a practice for all levels with plenty of variations for everyone, using props and creativity in the workouts I offer to my students.  I am looking forward to meeting you all. 

Corinne Yee

Corinne has 30 years of international teaching experience across all ages. She is also an examiner, adjudicator and choreographer. Corinne is passionate about dance and passes this love onto her students.

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.

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.

Elena Titkova

Elena is a PhD student at Auckland University of Technology. She completed her Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology with a dissertation focused on perception of sexual consent in New Zealand. Elena is passionate about teaching and doing research in social psychology.

Ema Frost

Eva Lourenco

Eva is a professional Chess coach and has recently completed and achieved her National Instructor title from the FIDE (World Chess Federation).

Faye Lawand

Faye Lawand is on a mission to change the attitudes of burnout professionals around managing stress.  She is known as NZ's Trusted Internal Conflict Resolution Expert for the Busy Professional. She's an International Speaker, Global Citizen, World-Class Trainer and leading expert in the field of practical solutions for transforming stress.

Before starting her own business, Faye worked for 20 years as an international educator and champion of learning and supporting growth in primary, secondary and tertiary education. She lived and worked in several countries across several continents before making New Zealand her home when she married her Kiwi love. 

Faye is on the mission she’s on as a direct result of her own healing journey dealing with chronic situations that seemingly had no viable solutions. Starting her own business where she can share the programme she has developed for transforming stress, was a dream come true for Faye and the culmination of her own healing journey.

Faye was born into conflict in Lebanon during the Lebanese Civil War of 1975, and although she left the area of conflict early on and felt she had left it behind, she took the patterns of internal conflict with her. 

It wasn’t until she turned 40 that she started to realise that this internal conflict was leading to the stress and burnout in her life. This began her journey of discovery away from unresolved conflicts to true wellness. 

Now, Faye is able to draw on these experiences and the knowledge that came out of this journey to help deliver a programme that transforms stress and its devastating impacts into a source of true wellness. 

Faye has mentored countless professionals across numerous industries to resolve their internal conflicts and transform their experience of stress. Her offerings allow professionals who are tired, stressed and anxious to experience more resilience and calm in their work lives. Through a combination of proprietary techniques and a range of tools, her mentorship provides a unique approach to boost resilience and wellbeing. She has been invited to speak at universities, work places, wellness centers, schools, yoga studios and NGOs in several countries around the world. 

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.

Fiona Flynn

Fiona Read

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.

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 Harrington

It started out as a hobby, joining a beekeeping club then I became the president after a few years. I opened my own beekeeping equipment store with beekeeping training. 500 plus students have completed my introduction beekeeping course. A percentage of these have progressed and have become commercial beekeepers. I taught NZQA level 3 full time for 3 years and was also the Regional Administration Manager – this involved student registration, L & N testing and NZTA resulting plus other administration duties.

I have known about the decline in world bees and by teaching and passing on my knowledge I hope this will increase the world population of bees. Its not all about the honey. Bees are a major part of our eco-system and without them we will lose a large percent of our food supply.

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 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...

Isabella Brown

After working with coffee in Auckland for over eight years, training many baristas, specialising in Latte Art and competing in various coffee competitions around New Zealand, I'm excited to share my passion and help provide you with the knowledge and tools you need to make a beautiful cup of coffee.

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.

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.

Jana Formankova

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.

A spontaneous testimonial March 2021: 

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.

Jason Tan

Jaspreet Kaur

I have been teaching for the School of Architecture at Unitec for 2 years in the position of a Teaching assistant and have been invited to prepare and deliver lectures on Ancient architecture of Indian and Meso-American civilizations for first year Bachelor of Architecture students. I am currently in this role and will be taking on the role of Teaching assistant for Critical Studies 2 in 2021, which covers Architecture history of the 19th and 20th centuries.

I have also worked with YMCA Auckland as a childcare and holiday program leader where my main role was that of a guardian/supervisor who was responsible for the children in our care. However, I was responsible for preparing arts and crafts lessons/activities for the children in my care. 

Jessica Stubbing

Jess is a doctoral candidate at the University of Auckland studying clinical psychology. She recently completed research at Harvard University in the USA as a Fulbright Awardee, and now works in child and adolescent mental health. 

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

Joshua Wainui

Te Whanau-a-Apanui, Te Whakatōhea, Te Uri-o-Hau.

Kia ora! My name is Josh.

I hail from the great Te Tairawhiti and was born and bred in Gisborne which is located on the east coast of the north island. I am a graduate of Te Wananga Takiura and love sharing knowledge, practices and Te Reo Māori with anyone who is keen to take up the challenge to learn.

Typical of the people from east coast cities, I am very animated, love a laugh and will strive for excellence in your learning.

 Testimonial September 2021: "

I am writing to provide feedback to Selwyn Community Education of my experience of Josh Wainui’s Levels 1 and 2 Beginners’ Te Reo Māori classes.

Josh has a lovely way of teaching and imparting knowledge. He is relaxed in his approach and yet focused on delivering a rounded experience including a variety of learning styles; there was a good balance of him teaching and kinesthetic learning with us speaking/practising in groups. Josh never made anyone feel embarrassed or awkward. On the contrary, his style was very inclusive and brought everyone along with him; he made the experience fun and most worthwhile. We not only learned beginners’ Teo Reo Māori language but also some culture, values, traditions, and customs too – all of which was most interesting and useful.

A big thanks to Josh for being himself, for sharing some personal experiences and insights, and for making learning Te Reo Māori so enjoyable. Liz"

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. 

Kate Thompson