Hayley Leibowitz

As an award-winning editor, author and scriptwriter, along with publishing novels, Hayley has written for daily soap opera and television drama. As a hybrid author writing under a pen name, her romance novels have been traditionally and self-published - five novellas and three full-length contemporary romances so far. As an accomplished journalist and editor, and long-time writing tutor, her experience stands her in good stead to pass on both the practical knowledge and creative writing skills necessary to write a romance novel.

Hazel Grace

Ko Hazel Grace taku Ingoa

I am Raranga Kaiako (weaving teacher) for Te Wananga O Aotearoa in Mangere.

I have been teaching Raranga for the past 35 years.

At the moment I deliver the Diploma level in Mangere and I also deliver the level 4 course.

Throughout my time here at Te Wananga O Aotearoa I have been able to help my past tauira (students) gain employment here at Te Wananga O Aotearoa as Kaiako too.

My husband also is a Kaiako and teaches Whakairo (carving) and also has been teaching for the same amount of time.

We have four adult children that are also all teachers: one teaches carpentry, one is a mainstream teacher, one teaches Kura kaupapa, and one teaches and leads the Maori devision National Correspondence School.

My whanau has a passion to teach and we get so much joy doing what we do.

Nga Mihi

Hazel Grace

Heather Chambers

Heather spent many years working in the technology field, which was lucrative but ultimately unfulfilling. She then pivoted into the education sector which she's found much more meaningful.  Heather has a Certificate in Adult and Tertiary Teaching, a Postgrad Certificate in Digital and Collaborative Learning, and is an accredited Mindfulness Mediation Facilitator.  

Helen Carroll

Herasha Randhir

Kia ora whanau, I am Herasha Randhir, a dedicated technology teacher at Selwyn College. I am thrilled to be a part of the Get Real Programme, where I get to delve into the realm of sewing techniques and unleash creativity through exciting projects. I am passionate about empowering students to explore their talents and skills in the world of technology. Let's create amazing things together.

Himeka Ishikawa

Hello! Nice to meet you. I'm Himeka Ishikawa, the Japanese teacher.

Hiu Fai (Dodo) To

Holly Clarke

Holly Clarke, an eco-artist based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, specialises in creating her own paints and pastels using non-toxic earth pigments. Crafted in small batches from high-quality materials sourced in France and Italy, her pigments are free from additives and solvents, and meet archival standards.

After earning scholarships in painting and graphic design during high school, Holly pursued a career in design. Trained as a fashion designer in Florence, Italy, she later became an award-winning graphic and textile designer, collaborating with renowned brands like Citta Design. Eventually, she returned to her first love: painting, drawing inspiration from nature and its organic mediums.

Ian Connelly

Ian has been turning for nearly 20 year and is a senior tutor of the South Auckland Woodturners Guild Introductory and level S2 training program. Ian enjoys helping others learn, develop craft skills and achieve their best.

Ian Eng

Ikue Wakashima

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.

Jackie Yan

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.

Jam Mayer

Jam Mayer is a seasoned digital marketing expert and educator with over two decades of experience. She runs two businesses and was a former lecturer in NZIE and Unitec. Her hands-on, interactive teaching style has earned her praise from students and professionals alike, ensuring participants leave her workshops with skills they can use right away.

From a person who attended one of Jam's courses:

Your 4 classes for chatgpt are amazing 

You are one of the great practical people that I know. I really appreciate your passion, knowledge and energy with your classes.

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.

Janet Locke

Janice Marriott

After years spent writing fiction, plays, memoir, gardening books and newspaper columns, I became a grandmother, a very involved grandmother. Now life is a discontinuous narrative. Time for writing is unpredictable and starts with clearing clutter off the dining room table. Increasingly I spend my non-family time teaching others what I have learnt about writing and the publishing industry. And in my own writing life I have turned to poetry to express my new self. I think of the poems as small wild animals I have captured for a few moments in my hands and then released. Read some of my work here on her blog.

I continue to write for children, and articles for magazines. My most recent book is called Grandparents Talk, based on a series of interviews, published by David Bateman Ltd, examining the role of grandparents in our diverse and busy society.

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: 

Jasmin Logie

I am a passionate artist and art tutor who has lived and worked in five different countries. My cultural experiences have helped me to develop a unique art style, understanding of different cultures, positive attitude and good communication skills. As an art tutor its privilege to share art experiences with others who love art.  

Teacher’s Certificate - Teacher of Fine Art in South Korea

Graduate Diploma - Computer publishing and Design Level7

Auckland University of Technology

Bachelor of Design - South Korea 

Jasmin Shea

Bachelor of Psychology, Bachelor of Health Science (Couns)

I’m a counsellor (Member of New Zealand of Association of Counsellors. I’ve had experiences supporting people through private practice, and Lifeline. I have also had personal experience of helping others with mental health issues.

Jason Tan

Jasper Hallamore

Jasper Hallamore is a No-Code Developer and AI Specialist with a passion for making technology accessible and practical for everyone.

He develops applications and AI solutions, and conducts training and workshops to help others leverage the power of AI in their daily lives and businesses. Jasper is committed to helping New Zealand individuals and small businesses with the knowledge and tools to improve productivity, creativity, and efficiency through AI.

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. 

Jayshree Somnath

Jayshree is a baking lecturer at MIT and has been working as a baker for 12 years.  Prior to this she was a primary school teacher before embarking on a 12 year career in baking and cake decorating. 

Jean Christophe Varnier

My name is Jean Christophe Varnier. I am a French Chef by qualification with over 30 years experience. I am passionate about everything that involves food. For the past nine years, I have been a cookery, bakery and pastry tutor in one of the leading PTEs in NZ. Before that, for 18 months, I was Head Chef at Orbit 360 Dinning Restaurant at Sky City (150 seats, managing 17 chefs and doing 400+ covers daily). Before that, I owned my own restaurant being the founder, executive Chef and manager at St Tropez Restaurant in Parnell Auckland, for 12 years. I am also a passionate photographer.

Jennifer Perez

Jessica Hall

English tutor.

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.

Joanna Hakaraia

Kia ora, ko Joanne Hakaraia-Olson tōku ingoa. I am a Māori wahine born and raised in Ōtaki, Aotearoa. I am tangata whenua of this land. The Tararua ranges, the Ōtaki and Waitohu rivers raised me. My parents are both Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Whakaue.  My waka are Tainui and Te Arawa.

I am a Rongoā Māori healer and I follow in the footsteps of my tūpuna. My great-great-great grandmother Mereruia Hakaraia and her sister Heneti were kairongoā. They were medicine women and spent considerable time on Kāpiti Island cultivating land that had been given to them by Te Rauparaha in the 1800's.

My dad would use rongoā for his rugby injuries and mum would go and get the plants from outside for him. I was keen to learn but my dad was concerned for me, and wanted to keep me safe. I didn't understand this at the time, but I do now. Once you know something there is a huge responsibility and the learning is ongoing. I dabbled with plants all my teenage years making medicine for my skin. I loved the feeling of it and the sacredness of applying it. I started studying rongoā seriously in 2010 when I moved to Auckland. My greatest teacher was Te Wao Nui a Tiriwa (Waitakere Ranges). 

The founding of Rongoā Mauri came from a calling to work with the indigenous plants of Aotearoa. I have dedicated my life to working with the plants and the ngahere (forest).  

Most of Aotearoas' trees, ferns and flowering plants are native having evolved in isolation for millions of years. There are forests of unique conifers, called podocarp, whose species include Rimu, Totara, Matai, Kahikatea and Miro, whose lineage stretches back to Gondwana. Our trees and ferns hold the DNA of millions of years. This is mauri and it is a powerful and potent rongoā not just from a physical state but primarily within the esoteric realms. Our tipuna passed down pūrākau that hold the key to unlocking the codes to these realms.

For many indigenous cultures around the world, plants and the natural world are the pure resonance of AIO, the Supreme Being. This is the esoteric component of indigenous medicine. Our tūpuna left us a guide-book and a map to enter these realms.

I created a waka, an esoteric vessel, to navigate my way through the ngaherehere (forest). One tree at a time. I gathered a roopū (group) to come along with me and we studied the trees that protect the ngahere. Then we went further into the ngaherehere and studied the Rākau Rangatira (Older trees). This path is considered tapu and it was forbidden to enter up until recently. The tapu was lifted. I dedicate my life to this work and I am deeply humbled and grateful to the tūpuna and kaitiaki for the journey.

I have been healing for nearly 20 years serving thousands of clients in Aotearoa and globally.  

I intuitively read energy patterns and tohu (signs and symbols), interpreting the movements and messages of the environment. 

Over the years, in collaboration with the plant kingdom, I have grown my apothecary of plant medicine and now make it available for everyone. 

Joanne Kaharaia

Joanne Luker

Jo has always collected lost old shards of china and recycled broken pottery and old glass into mosaic art.  This a very therapeutic and fun way to recharge and escape from reality.  Jo is inspired by the stories each little piece of broken plate or cup could tell, and where they have come from - making meaningful mosaics. 

Jo is an award winning mosaic artist and was also recently awarded Frist Place in the 2D (wall-hanging mosaic) section at the NZ National Mosaic Exhibition 2022 in Whanganui.   

For more details about her work see the website : 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 Bray

Jonathan Crook

I have over 20 years’ experience in ESOL teaching and have also taught in the UK, Spain and Argentina.  With an MA in Intercultural Communication, I'm very interested in the cultural aspect of language learning and adapting to life in a new country.  I really enjoy teaching at Selwyn because of the friendly atmosphere and motivated students.,and I teach all levels from elementary to advanced as well as preparation for the IELTS exam.  I also run workshops covering intercultural awareness and competence.

Jose Entrican

I began as an arts student with a teaching background and was employed originally by Apple in the early days to help communicate the wonders of computing. So began a long enthusiasm for and enjoyment of the power of software to make our lives easier. Now self employed, I have focused on Microsoft Office as an everyday productivity tool – with Excel a speciality. Who knew that spreadsheets could be so fascinating!

Judith White

Judith was born in Wellington and went to school in Hastings. She now lives in Auckland, New Zealand.

She was the secretary of the Auckland Branch of the New Zealand Society of Authors for several years in the 1980s. She has taught creative writing courses for over two decades, and has worked as a one-on-one mentor for the AUT Creative Writing Masters (MCW) programme, and for the NZSA mentorship scheme. 

Judith is the author of two novels The Elusive Language of Ducks (Penguin Random House, 2013) and Across the Dreaming Night (Penguin Random House, 1999; Oneworld Publications UK 2014; China Times Publishing Company, 2015). She has also published a short story collection Visiting Ghosts (Hodder and Stoughton, 1991; Timeless Tangerine, 1991).

She won the 1988 BNZ Katherine Mansfield Centenary Award and has twice won the Auckland Star short story competition (1987 and 1990) as well as placing third in 2009. Judith was awarded the Frank Sargeson Fellowship in 1995. She has been shortlisted for the NZ Book Awards.

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.

Julie Poirier

Julie is an instructor with Kia Haumaru, a nationwide network of trained and accredited teachers of Empowerment Self Defence. Formerly known as the Women’s Self Defence Network – Wāhine Toa has been providing personal safety education to women, girls and members of the LGBTQIA+ community in Aotearoa for over 30 years. Their work is informed by mana wāhine and feminist understandings of both the causes and solutions to the problem of violence in Aotearoa.

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.

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

Karen Balmer

Karim Lakhani

Qualified in both medicine and philosophy, Karim enjoys exploring the intersection of these realms. His writing often interrogates fraught moments in the lived experiences of perennial strangers -- the immigrant, the exile, the stricken. Karim has taught ethics and creative writing to medical students in the midst of their initial exposure to illness and mortality. Most recently, his creative nonfiction has appeared in Fire words Magazine, Hippocampus Magazine, and Gone Lawn.

Karyn Van Dam

Karyn is a creative professional and experienced course facilitator, with a passion for learning as an adult. She has a diverse business background spanning across public and private sectors, professional services, training and teaching, agile and project work, communications management, marketing and contracting. After many years in the corporate scene, Karyn embarked on a career change to follow her true passion of singing and music. She started her own online vocal coaching studio, which enabled her to have international reach. She now works with singers and songwriters mainly in USA, managing all the different aspects of the business herself. Karyn also works at developing relevant online learning programmes for adults. In more recent years, she also enjoys working in marketing/digital marketing and has developed special interests in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and User Interface (UI) Design. Karyn also chipped away to complete multiple qualifications, mainly via distance learning whilst working over many years.

Her credentials include:

• Bachelor of Business (Marketing)
• DIgital Marketing Micro-credential
• National Certificate in Business First Line Management
• Postgraduate: Bachelor of Media Arts (Hons) - Music
• Diploma in Performing Arts

Kate Thompson

Kate loves helping her students gain the English language skills and confidence they need to get ahead in their daily lives and careers. She gained her CELTA teaching qualification from AUT University and has taught in New Zealand (community education) and Morocco (a refugee programme). In her life beyond teaching, Kate is Head of Communications for a sustainability firm. She has learned languages herself and understands the challenges! 

Kathy Skellern

June 2021: "Kathy is truly an amazing, dedicated and enthusiastic teacher."

Kavita Lamba

I have been painting off and on for about 20 years now. I have also won awards at the New Zealand Fellowship of artists and the Nara International Competition. I paint in water colours, encaustic wax and alcohol inks. I love the way the inks flow and it fascinates me to see what the students can create in a matter of hours.

Kay Garvan

My journey into this field of natural health began 38 years ago. While pregnant with my first child, I went to a Holistic Healer to support a healthy baby and pregnancy. Her advice allowed me to treat my children successfully and naturally for any ailments they had. This experience of providing the body with what it needed in order to be well led to me studying several different modalities. I started a natural remedies support group for young Mums and Dads by providing speakers from all over the country on how we can treat our children naturally. 

When I started my own clinic, my passion was to empower people to help themselves. This class is to share a powerful art to restore harmony to mind, body and spirit so we can shift to a new positive way of living and being.

Kaye Avery

I have been coaching for 25 years in the careers industry and have worked across all ages and stages of a career journey. Now I lead a team of six career coaches and train careers advisers in schools to use our online career assessments and resources.

Keely Shelton

Financial Adviser (Mortgage and Investment Qualified)

Kevin Helas

Kevin Helas is the founder and Head Chef of The Wholefood Kitchen. His primary training was completed in London, UK, at the Concord Institute of Culinary of Arts. Over 10 years of volunteer work and training in the Concord Kitchen culminated in the completion in 2016 of the Mastery of Cooking programme; a professional training course that promotes expertise and mastery in wholefood and seasonal cooking across a range of traditional cuisines. 

It was at the Concord Institute, under the guidance of Jean Torné and other teachers, that Kevin was first introduced to the principle of ‘cooking with awareness,’ a powerful way of establishing a deeper connection with ourselves and the world around us, which informs The Wholefood Kitchen ethos.

Kirsty Cantley

Komal Swamy

Hi, my name is Komal Swamy and I am a private chef. My journey as a chef started at the age of 18 in Auckland, New Zealand. I attended Auckland Hotel and Chef training school because I wanted a career which didn't feel like work. For me, when I'm in the kitchen I am in my happy place: it's the one place where I feel a sense of purpose. Here I thrived and knew this was the path I was meant to follow. Being born in Fiji and coming from the Pacific Islands, I understand the importance and nutritional value of fresh and organic produce. This is what further stemmed my interest in food. I make food with the mindset of how I ate whilst growing up. Using only finest and the freshest handpicked, organic, free range ingredients to make simple, tasty and most importantly healthy meals. When I cook for others, and I can see and appreciate them enjoying food I have cooked, it brings me warmth. Cooking good, honest food from the heart is what I pride myself on.

About me

• I love travelling, having visited 20 countries and counting.
• I LOVE cooking and trying different cuisines.
• I love a good laugh.
• I'm always smiling.

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.

Krishnil Kumar

I completed a Diploma in Hindi from the Institute of India in New Delhi before doing a Diploma in Tertiary Teaching at the Fiji National University and a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Fiji.  Since then I have been teaching Hindi at DAV college.

Kristina Cope

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.

Leilani Tamu

Born in Tamaki Makaurau under the shelter of Maungakiekie, poet Leilani Tamu is a descendant of Te Moana nui a Kiwa (Samoa & Tonga). Her first book The Art of Excavation (Anahera Press, 2014) was birthed into the world following a decade of poetic meditation tempered by the personal and political.

Leilani's published writing has featured in a range of anthologies and journals, including 'Remember Me: Poems to Learn by Heart from Aotearoa New Zealand' (edited by Anne Kennedy, 2023).

Leilani has delivered reviews for RadioNZ's Nine to Noon programme and been a judge for the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards.

Lesley Alexander

Lesley Alexander is a botanical and natural history artist living in Riverhead, Auckland. Originally from the UK, Lesley has 1^st Class BA Hons in Scientific Illustration and worked for various London publishers before moving with her Kiwi husband and three children to New Zealand. Later, she completed the Diploma in Botanical Art run by the Society of Botanical Artists in the UK, gaining a Distinction.

She exhibits regularly both in group exhibitions as well as having successful solo exhibitions.

Lesley teaches botanical drawing and painting in Auckland, facilitates the art group at the Auckland Botanic Garden as well as being a tutor for the ‘Seasons Art’ classes aimed at adult beginners in Orewa and Takapuna.

You can see Lesley's website here: LesleyAlexanderArt.com

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.

Lilian Weisz-Koves

Lilian credits her mother for her passion for cooking. After graduating, she worked in England and New Zealand restaurants. Lilian is a regular cook at Hungarian community events and won several prizes at community cooking competitions.

Lina Xu

I graduated from Whitecliffe in 2022 with a Sustainable Fashion Design Degree. I love tailoring and embroidery. Tambour Embroidery was one of my sustainable practices in my final year. I couldn’t find much information about tambour embroidery in New Zealand and no one was teaching it. Therefore, I took it as my mission to revive this beautiful craft and started teaching tambour in April 2023.

Linda Tyler

One of the most experienced arts administrators in New Zealand. Linda completed her PhD on nineteenth-century botanist and museum worker John Buchanan, and her MA on émigré architect Ernst Plischke. She has been Director of the Fisher Gallery, and is currently the convenor of Museums and Cultural Heritage at the University of Auckland, she also directs the University’s post-graduate Art History candidates.

Lisa Critchley

I remember wanting to make natural remedies since I was a teenager. I have always been a natural tutu or tinkerer. Growing up there was not a single time that we didn’t have a garden for kai. This was my dad’s garden. Mum always had beautiful flower gardens, we always had fruit trees or vines. One of my nanas used to be involved in garden communities groups, and my other nana grew up at the Marae.

Gardening is in my veins, along with food preservation but also soil health. My dad always had the meanest composting system for soil restoration, and I ferment all my food scraps and compost my weeds and branches.

My employment history is in the Horticulture and Food industries. At High School age I was offered an apprenticeship for baking bread, cakes and pastries. After I was made redundant I looked for an outdoors job, where I started my horticultural journey and an Apprenticeship came up through work, and I completed my Level 4 at M.I.T.

Little did I know that my path would lead me to the answers of the skin allergies I have suffered with since toddler age.

5 years ago I started going to Rongoā community workshops, show casing our beautiful Rakau Taonga and how to make natural remedies for our whanau. Our Facilitator and Kaiako was Judy Henderson. She has been a valuable start to my Te Ao maori journey.

From here is where I started researching to start my healing journey for skin allergies. It took a 3-year period for me to find time to find the right rakau and ingredients that worked for me. This is also the time I applied to study Rongoā Maori through Te Wananga o Aotearoa.

A huge mihi to my Level 4 kaiako Helena Netana and Level 5 Diploma, Riwia Te Kaawa. The matauranga shared through the eyes of these 2 wahīne is so extensive, but also to the wider rongoā community through Te Wananga o Aotearoa.

Today I share some of that knowledge through Rongoā Hikoi alongside different communities in Tamaki Makaurau. Whether it be walking around a park or ngahere locally. Open korero identifying plants, their medicinal properties, tikanga and kawa/ rules and protocols, nga Atua/gods, elements and history’s of that area and how we can show respect by maintaining the health and wellbeing of Papatūānuku and caring for our rakau.

Ko au te taiao, Te taiao ko au
Ko au te whenua, Te whenua ko au
Ko au te tangata, Te tangata ko au
Whakawheti ki a koe mo te wa ki te panui, ka whakanuia.

Thank you for taking the time to read, appreciate you.

Liza Cornelius

Lizzie Snow

Lizzie Snow works under her artist name 'fortyonehundred'. Inspired by fractals in nature, Lizzie creates contemporary explorations of the mandala and free-flowing artworks.

Her credentials include a Master of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Design, over 150,000 followers online, numerous high-profile collaborations, professionally produced online courses, and significant media coverage.

She has collaborated with brands including Apple, Lululemon, Converse, Whittaker's, and more.

The mediums Lizzie engages in includes original drawings and paintings, limited-edition prints and products, and internationally commissioned murals.

Lorenzo Lorrai

Hi everyone, my name is Lorenzo and I'm a chef, originally from Italy. I've been in New Zealand for almost five years.  I have over 16 years experience as a chef working in fine dining restaurants around the world (Melbourne, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Auckland).

I'm historically aware of my family's culinary background, and the wonderful times I spent cooking with my Nonna led me to my vocation in food.  I've developed a taste for experimentation, technical exploration and challenges. Currently, I feel inspired to teach others the love and the passion of Italian cooking in a simple and easy way, using organic and fresh produce.

Lorna Gardiner

After moving to New Zealand from the UK, Lorna re-trained as a florist as she had always had a passion for flowers. Since then, she has worked both in retail and wholesale florists and is keen to share her knowledge of floral design and simple and practical techniques that you will be able to use at home.

Lucette Hindin

Lucette learnt to sew and knit as a child, enjoyed a career in devised theatre, and now pursues embroidery as an art form. See her work at www.lucettehindin.com

Lucie Blazevska

Originally from the Czech Republic, Lucie spent time living and studying in Paris before settling in Auckland. Artistic expression came naturally for Lucie, and a creative career was always in her future. She studied graphic design and visual communication and is now pursuing a postgraduate degree in art therapy after personally experiencing the healing properties of making art and craft.

Lyndiana Rosieur

Kia ora! Ko Lyndiana tōku ingoa. He uri tēnei nō Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngā Puhi. My name is Lyndiana and I affiliate to the iwi of Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Raukawa and Ngā Puhi. 

In 2017 I graduated with a Bachelor’s of Māori Development majoring in Māori media. To further my studies I started my Master of Arts in Māori development in 2018. My research focused on how universities can improve Māori students’ transitions from secondary school to university. A case study was completed with Māori students from AUT’s kapa haka group and Māori association. 

While completing my Master’s degree I have been teaching and assisting in various papers at AUT including reo Māori, noho Marae (Marae stay over experience), literacy and history papers. Working at AUT made me realise I am passionate about teaching; it is rewarding being able to share knowledge with students and watch them grow in their own learning journeys.

Lynn Oram

Maca Bernal

Visual artist Maca Bernal is renowned for her mindfully designed, handcrafted contemporary jewellery. Best known for her work Links, pioneered in 2015, she explores alternative ideas of value in her jewellery.

Born in Chile, based in New Zealand since 2012, she has studied jewellery in both Chile and New Zealand, obtaining a Master’s Degree from the Otago Polytechnic, Dunedin School of Arts in 2018. You can see more of her work on her website www.macabernaljewellery.com

Maha Tomo

Maha has been carving bone and pounamu for over 10 years and has found that his art has opened doors to new places and new people, while at the same time connecting him back to old places, and to his old people. Maha is of Waikato Tainui, Rangitane, Ngati Kauwhata, Ngati Toa and Ngai Tahu descent and his hapu in Te Wai Pounamu is Ngati Huirapa of Arowhenua in Temuka.

Maha has a bachelor’s degree in Creative Arts and a post-graduate diploma in Cross-Cultural Supervision and is the Director at Aotearoa Bone and Stone Carving. 

Maha’s workshops specialise in crafting contemporary Taonga. 

“Following my passion for craft; I found purpose, direction and have strengthened my identity. I feel privileged and grateful to be able to share my passion for creating Taonga from beef bone and Pounamu. I enjoy the beauty of the materials. Simple forms with complex interweaving binding on Taonga that create an intrinsic balance with my work.”

Margaret Woollett

Margaret Woollett, a Freelance Calligrapher and Lettering Artist, has been involved with lettering and calligraphy for more than 25 years, as a student, freelancer and teacher. She works from her Devonport studio taking classes, teaching at community centres and working freelance for a wide range of commercial clients.

Margarita Politis

Maria de Jong

Maria de Jong has been writing biographies and helping others to write their memoirs for 12 years. She also tutors Memoir Writing Classes in Auckland. Her business, Life Stories, offers writing, editing, book design and printing services. She is passionate about preserving stories for future generations, and has a special interest in New Zealand and Pacific Island history. Maria has a Diploma in Journalism from the Auckland University of Technology and worked for the New Zealand Herald. She co-authored the award-winning art book, Fred Graham Creator of Forms – Te Tohunga Auaha. Maria has four grown-up children and in between writing she enjoys walking her border collie in Cornwall Park.

Website: www.lifestories.co.nz

Maria Kim

My name is Maria, and I am originally from South Korea, been in New Zealand for over 20 years. 

My passion for the French language started when I was in high school. I continued studying French at the University of Auckland where I also obtained a teaching diploma in French and music teaching. I worked as a private tutor for about 10 years and I worked at Birkenhead College as a French teacher. 

I have a strong passion for not only teaching but also learning foreign languages myself. I also love travelling and discovering new cultures.

Marilyn Giroux

Marina Pasichnik

Marina has a doctorate in theology and degree qualifications in law, music, and teaching and has presented her research in New Zealand, Poland, Romania, and Russia. She enjoys public presentations.

She currently works as a fixed-term Professional Teaching Fellow (lecturer) at the University of Auckland.

Mark Bradly

Mark Hamilton

Mark has been exploring and teaching voice work for over three decades in Scotland, England and Aotearoa. He was first trained by Dr Nadine George who was a student of the pioneering voice teacher Roy Hart. Mark uses core principles and exercises to help people find their own unique vocal potential by linking qualities of breath to singing and speaking. He has shared his knowledge with a wide range of people, ranging from work with young performers through to community projects, and coaching teachers and other professionals. Mark enjoys helping people discover how voice work is a great way for boosting confidence, expanding expressive range and flexibility, improving public speaking and presentation abilities, and making communication more effective in all kinds of contexts. You will find this course especially valuable if you use your voice in a work context, needing to command a room when delivering presentations or leading teams.

Marla Compton

I have just finished nutritionist training and would like to start helping others eat a more healthful diet. I was a hospital pharmacist for 22 years and was involved in medication and diet management for cardiac and diabetic patients.

Mary Cheung

Marysia Depczynski

Hola! I’m Marysia, and I’m excited to present this class where I’ll take you on an in-depth journey through preparing for the Camino. Having walked six of its routes - including the Camino Frances, Camino Primitivo, and Camino Portuguese - I’ve experienced firsthand the incredible transformation this pilgrimage offers. Every time I return to the Camino, I discover something new, and I’m excited to share my tips, tricks, and insights to help you make the most of your own Camino.

Masami Utsugi

My name is Masami. I was born in Iwate, in the northern part of Japan. I have been living in Auckland for more than 20 years. I have a passion for food. I grew up with parents who run a bistro in Japan, and I have been working in the hospitality industry for many years. Whenever my family get together, all we talk about is food.

I can't imagine my life without having the food industry pay a major role in my life. I was working for an award-winning Asian cooking school for about four years, and currently work as chef in a restaurant.

Cooking is my passion and I would love to share my knowledge of authentic Japanese food with you.

Matt McLean

Matt McLean is a potter and ceramic sculptor, a tutor of 40 years standing, well known for his large scale multi-pieced works. He exhibits regularly and has received numerous awards. He has also executed several large Public Arts Projects.

Matthew Carter

Master of Art and Design.

I am a practicing artist represented by Foenander Galleries. My usual practice is oil painting which explores city scenes and figures in the urban setting, I have a keen interest in colour theory and teach a number of courses. Sound drawing is an essential element of my painting.

Melinda Szymanik

Winner of Children's Choice at the 2009 NZ Post Book Awards with The Were-Nana. Melinda's short stories are published in school journals and anthologies.

Micaela Quirino

Born and raised in the Philippines before moving to New Zealand in 2007, I’ve always had a love for moving the body!

Playing baseball for 9 years, dabbling in all sorts of physical fitness throughout the years but now mainly focusing on Pilates, yoga and pole dancing.

Having had the pleasure of working in hospitality for over a decade, my focus in life has shifted to a holistic health approach since becoming a mother.

I am on the path to studying remedial massage and bodywork with more plans to expand my horizons. 

Michael Smythe

Michael Smythe spent 30-something years as an industrial design practitioner before completing a Master of Design Management. Having equipped himself to strategise the future, he was invited to teach design history to Bacherlor of Product Design students - "because, Michael, you were there for quite a bit of it". This led to writing NEW ZEALAND BY DESIGN: a history of New Zealand product design (Best First Book of Non-Fiction at the 2012 New Zealand Post Book Awards). This was followed by GIFFORD JACKSON New Zealand Industrial Design Pathfinder (2013), and DESIGN GENERATION: how Peter Haythornthwaite shaped New Zealand's design-led enterprise (2018).

Miimetua Tarapu

Miles Cain

Miles is a retired chemical and materials engineer with a huge interest and experience in DIY work having maintained and developed his property over many year. He is a member of the local MensShed and has lead many Habitat for Humanity teams building houses in Nepal, Argentina, India, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. He is looking forward to share his knowledge with budding DIY enthusiasts.

Miriam Bissett

Current Classical Studies teacher at Taylor's College. I have a PhD in Ancient History from the University of Auckland and have tutored at the University of Auckland in several stage 1 and 2 papers.

Muriel Roake

Nancy November

Nancy November is an Associate Professor of Music at the University of Auckland. She holds a PhD in Musicology from Cornell University and has written four books about music and culture in Beethoven's era.

Naomi Azoulay

I discovered the magic of collage over a decade ago and have not stopped collaging since. I love sharing my passion for collage with others, an accessible, easy, therapeutic medium that brings calm and joy.