Our Council

Te Tari Puna Ora o Aotearoa/NZ Childcare Association (NZCA) is an incorporated society of members governed by a Council elected by members at Annual General Meetings (AGM). The Council's role is that of a governance body, overseeing NZCA's policies and strategic direction. The Council meet four times each year.

Council is responsible for:

• Consulting with members of NZCA in a regular and systematic manner
• Developing the NZCA’s strategic vision and direction and approving its strategic plan
• Employing and managing the performance of the Chief Executive.

NZCA Council is comprised of a National President, Kaiwhakahaere, and eight members. Two member positions are reserved for Māori and one for Pasifika. There is an elected staff representative on the Council. To contact one of our Council Members, Kaumatua or National Advisor, contact EA to Chief Executive.

National President - Judy Kaa

Tēnā koutou katoa

My association with NZCA began as a centre member supporting a number of students through the years and then as an elected council member eight years ago, with the last three of those as National President. I have always been proud to be a part of NZCA and their commitment to all children and their families having access to quality care and education.

I hail from Matauri bay in the Far North and returned to live there with my husband and four children 16 years ago. My early childhood career began in 1986 in Te Kohanga Reo where I remained for nine years before moving to a care and education setting. I now have an early childhood care and education centre on the outskirts of Kerikeri which was established six years ago and just love to spend my days with an awesome team, great whanau and children who constantly amaze me.

A lot has happened in early childhood and indeed NZCA over the years and although sometimes I am discouraged by a shifting landscape or withdrawal of government commitment to our sector it is my shared vision of quality for all children that keeps me actively involved in it (not to mention that sharing your days with children under five is a lot of fun).

I look forward to the years ahead in anticipation of our first graduates in our degree programme and have the greatest of confidence in the quality of teachers that graduate from it.

No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

Kaiwhakahaere - Maureen Jehly

Affiliations: Te Arawa, Ngati Whakaue, Ngati Pikiao, Tuhourangi/Ngati Wahiao, Aitanga a Hauiti, Ngati Raukawa

I was appointed to my position in 2005 after serving on the Council as a Māori Member. My previous employment with NZCA was as an Area Training Supervisor and a National Training Co-ordinator.

i was born, bred and now retired from paid work, in Rotorua. I am one of 15 children, the mother of nine children and 17 mokopuna plus one mokopuna tuarua. I am involved in our tribal education taumata with oversight of the early childhood programs as well as other aspects of tribal life.

I have over 40 years experience in early childhood, beginning with playcentre as a parent and as President of the Rotorua Playcentres Association until 1976.

I have worked with Barnardos home based service as a Co-ordinator and as a Supervisor and Co-ordinator at Victoria University Creche for 8 years, owned my own bicultural and bilingual centre and implemented the first iwi based PAFT program in Rotorua. I was District Māori Advisor with Special Education Services until my retirement in 2008.

I have been a member of advisory committees of early childhood providers at Waikato University, Waiariki Polytechnic, ASTU, Dept. of Education and was seconded to the Runanga Matua during the reforms in education in the late 1980's. My role was to implement the Treaty of Waitangi principles throughout the early childhood sector working parties. I was also on the NZQA Early Childhood (Points/Equivalency) Committee for eight years .

I am in a second marriage to Bertram who is Austrian and is fluent in Te Reo among other languages. We live in a wharenui style house which was built as a gallery. We live surrounded by our tupuna both Māori and Austrian in a range of paintings depicting not only the Māori Creation story from Te Kore but the gilt edged paintings of the Austrian whakapapa. 

Council member - Jo Ellis

Kia ora koutou. Nga mihi nui ki a koutou.

I am the Director of the Dunedin Community Childcare Association. The DCCA is the largest not-for-profit provider of all day care in Dunedin and operates five centres and three home-based schemes across the city. DCCA educates and cares for nearly 450 children and provides employment to more than 100 teachers, educators and staff. We have a proud history as an established organisation and contributing to Dunedin's early childhood community. I am proud and privileged to lead this organisation. I am also the president of the Dunedin NZCA Branch.

I have been involved in early childhood education for over 30 years. I began my career as kindergarten teacher graduating from Dunedin College of Education in 1979. I have been involved in facilitation of professional development for the Early Childhood Development Unit, Lecturer and Base Coordinator for NZCA for 10 years and was Early Childhood Development Officer for the Ministry of Education prior to moving into the role of Director in October 2008.

Whilst lecturing at NZCA I completed my Masters in Education. Through a case study narrative method I told the stories of three NZCA students and the resilience and the self-efficacy they required to rise above adversity and graduate with their Diploma in Teaching. This was an amazing experience for me personally and professionally.

I am married to Richard who works for Whitestone cheese; we have a 20 year old daughter who is studying Fine Arts at Massey University, and a mono-syllabic teenage son who is Year 10 at Otago Boys High School.

I believe I have much to contribute to the Council, I have wide networks that would bring the voice of the lower South Island to discussions, thirty years of knowledge and skills from many experiences and organisations and philosophically I believe in the strategic direction and leadership of NZCA.

Council member - Jan Taouma

I manage the A'oga Fa'a Samoa, a full immersion Samoan early childhood centre on the site of Richmond Road Primary School that has Samoan Unit we transition our children into for language continuance. I wanted to be Council member as NZCA has always stood for high quality early childhood care and education for children. I like the field based training that my staff have undertaken as I believe that working and training is the best way to learn to become good experienced teachers. I also believe in the bicultural stance of the Association and in the long standing relationship with Pacific teachers and centres. I also believe in the political stance and lobbying force that this association has long been known for. 

I have been involved with early childhood since 1984, have been a longstanding member of the Auckland NZCA Branch, as well as part of OMEP, SAASIA, NZEALS and Reggio groups. I have also done contract work in early childhood for the Ministry of Education and attended and been on many early childhood advisory panels and sector group seminars. 

I have seven children and nine grandchildren and one great grandchild. With all these mokopuna and the busy lives their parents have I believe it is so important that early childhood is of the best quality, and is affordable for all children from all groups of society. I know that NZCA will continue stand for this well into the future.

Council member - Karla Tardieu

I have been involved in the early childhood sector for the past 20 years and have been privileged to work with children and their families in a variety of services including Te Kohanga Reo, education and care centres and a sessional preschool and have always enjoyed being involved in early childhood activity including NZEI and NZCA. The rewards of being involved and supporting a child's learning and development are endless. I continue to be inspired by the people that I work alongside in the early childhood sector who continuously ignite my passion for quality early childhood education.

I studied and attained my Diploma of Teaching (ECE) with NZCA several years ago, so have had a long standing connection to the association which has also included contractual work as an Advisor for RPL to the diploma programme and more recently as a Professional Development Facilitator. My personal values and aspirations align very closely to NZCA visions and values for quality early childhood education in Aotearoa/New Zealand and hence why I believe that I possess the right skills, attitude and knowledge base to be an active member for the NZCA Council. I have an interest in strategic planning, financial accountability and as a chair of a school Board of Trustees I am also fully aware of the roles of governance.

I am currently employed as the early childhood services manager for a community-based organisation in Gisborne/Turanganui a Kiwa where I am responsible for the operation of three early childhood centres and a home-based service. But my most rewarding role is being a loving wife to Dave and awesome Mum to Jade, nine years, Zara, eight years and Zane, two years. My young family keeps me on my toes, and in between hip hop, kapahaka, and guitar practices we love to spend as much time as possible on the beach fishing and relaxing with the whanau.

Council member Māori - Kahurangi Apiata

Kia ora koutou katoa

I passionately believe education is a key for change and growth. I am a teacher and a learner with many years of experience in early childhood education. I am currently working as an Early Intervention Teacher with Ohomairangi Trust Early Intervention Service in South Auckland. We work alongside whānau and their tamariki with special needs. I am also a trainer with Autism NZ, delivering the Early Bird programme to parents of pre-school children with autism. My other passions are working with the Māori deaf community and supporting Ritimana Kohanga Reo as their licensee.

Council member - Rosemary Searle

Kia ora koutou

As a previous employee of Te Tari Puna Ora o Aotearoa/NZ Childcare Association (NZCA), I have experienced an organisation with philosophical values and beliefs closely aligned with my own. I honour the determination and commitment to provide high calibre pre-service and professional development programmes and innovative support services for members.

I am currently a Professional Services Manager with Auckland Kindergarten Association and have notified my employer of my nomination as a member of NZCA's Council.

I believe that I have an in-depth knowledge of early childhood education in Aotearoa New Zealand. I have management skills that I have developed in business and currently, in more senior roles in kindergarten. From previous experience in the education sector, I have a sound understanding of the governance role required of Council members. 

Council member Pasifika - Toesulu Brown

My grandchildren went to the A'oga Fa'a Samoa in Richmond Rd, Ponsonby, Auckland. That is my initial connection to the ECE sector. When the MOE brought in the Pasifika Training Programme for Early Childhood Teachers, I was on the Advisory Group.

I have been teaching for over 45 years. I started in the primary school and now I work as a guidance counsellor and Samoan language teacher in a secondary school in Auckland. I am a member of some educational and cultural organisations. These include PPTA, NZCA, FAGASA (the National Organisation of Samoan Language Educators), PACIFICA Inc, the Samoan Sports Association, EFKS Church, Polyfest Trust. I am one of the two coordinators of the Samoan Stage of the ASB Polyfest. I was awarded in the 2009 New Years Honours as a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

I chose to accept my nomination to the Council so that the Pasifika people have a voice in the discussions of the training and care of our young people.

Staff representative - Chris Cotman

Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.
Ko Maungataniwha te maunga,
Ko Wikitoria te awa,
Ko Chris Cotman taku ingoa,
No Kaitaia ahau.

My home is in the beautiful region of Tai Tokerau, where I live in a rural setting with my husband Des; our three children live nearby. My experience in early childhood education began in playcentre in 1976 with my own children. Over a period of 20 years I gained qualifications in teaching, became supervisor of an early childhood centre and taught in kindergarten. After further study and involvement in developing and teaching a certificate course for adults, I accepted a teaching position with NZCA.
I was base coordinator in Whangarei for eight years and during that time we developed a satellite class in the Far North, which then became the Kaitaia teaching base in 2005 when I moved back home as base coordinator.

I have been the staff representative on the Council since 2006, when the staff representative position was initiated. I
strive to represent staff interests at all times within the parameters of a governance role.

I bring to the role a strong commitment to biculturalism and to the core values of our organisation. I believe I can contribute to the organisation's achievement of its strategic goals, and be proactive in visioning our future.

National kaumatua - Sam Jackson

The Council is supported by a National Kaumatua appointed by the Council.