Board Members

Ko Ōpuke tōku maunga
Ko Hakatere tōku awa
Ko Te Herenga Waka ō Ōrewa tōku marae
Ko Ngāti Māmoe ko Ngāi Tahu tōku iwi
Ko Robert (Bob) White tōku pāpā
Ko Anita White, nee Smith, tōku māmā
Ko Gabrielle rāua ko Elise tōku tamariki
Ko Fraser Neil tōku hoa tāne
Ko Lisa White tōku ingoa

I feel very humbled and privileged to lead our kura from April 2025. 

I have been in education since January 1991 as a teacher, Head of Faculty, Dean, Director of International Marketing, Leader of the Whangaparāoa Peninsula Kāhui Ako (Community of Learning), Deputy Principal, and now Principal. 

I was born in Ashburton, raised in Gore, studied in Invercargill and Christchurch.  I have taught at Ōrewa College, Massey High School, Ashburton College and Whangaparāoa College, as well as some time in the business world as a Marketing Consultant and Mortgage Broker.  I have a stepdaughter and a daughter, both now grown and making their way in life.  I am in education to make a difference, help students on their pathway in life and want my life to be meaningful for others.

I look forward to working, ngātahi-together with you, to assist our tamariki on their journey.

My name is Stephen Tansey and I came here from England in 2005 to teach and be Head of Technology at the Kura. I was staff representative on the board for three years before I retired in 2014.  I see representation on the board as an opportunity to use the knowledge and understanding gained during 40 years of teaching to support the Kura and the Doubtless Bay community. I am currently privileged to be the Board Chair.

In retirement, I enjoy sailing, golf, fishing and looking after my home in Cooper’s Beach. I am also Treasurer at Mangonui Cruising Club and a trustee of Clean Waters to the Sea – Tokarau Moana Charitable trust, a local environmental group focusing on the restoration of the Doubtless Bay catchment.

Kia ora, 

He rāngai maomao ka taka ki tua o Nukutaurua, e kore a muri e hokia

Ko Maunga Taniwha te Maunga

Ko Maungataniwha te maunga

Ko Mamaru te waka

Ko Tokerau te moana

Ko Ngāti Kahu te iwi

Ko Ngāti Tara te hapū

Ko Harihona te whānau

Tēnā tatou katoa. My name is Rox Harrison and I am the proud mum of two cool as humans. My grown-up daughter is off seeing the world (currently in Canada) and my son is in Year 10 here at TAS. I was born in Kaitāia and grew up in Te Tai Tokerau. 

I have a lot of love for stories, learning and literacy and my background is in libraries and education. I’m a qualified primary school teacher and spent 15 years with Far North District Libraries, where part of my mahi was taking library services and literacy programmes out to remote parts of the Far North. I’ve also worked in the education team at Te Papa, and these days I’m with Te Hiku Media as well as teaching part-time at Mangōnui School.

I’m passionate about student and staff wellbeing and achievement. I believe te reo Māori and local matauranga are taonga, and that honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi is key to building a school where everyone belongs. 

Whānau, hapū, iwi, kura and community, we’re at our best when we connect. 

Ngā mihi!

Hi, my name is Alison Chuck. The beautiful Doubtless Bay became my home 18 years ago after I moved here from Taranaki.

I am a very proud mum of 2 children with my husband, Brendon, and work as a Beauty Therapist at Doubtless Beauty Retreat. I love the outdoors and exploring our local areas and walks. I am also currently involved in the Eastern Football Club.

Info to come 🙂

Tēnā tātou katoa, my name is Zinnia Smith, and I am the Board Secretary for our Board of Trustees.

Having attended Taipa as a student and worked here for the past several years, I am deeply connected to our school and community.  Outside of work, you’ll usually find me diving, fishing, gardening, or spending quality time with my tamariki. I whakapapa to Ngāpuhi, and our whenua is over in Whangaruru right up the habour. In summer me and my whānau spend as much time as we can there eating and swimming.

It is my mahi to keep our Board running smoothly – handling administration, preparing documents, and making sure our trustees have everything they need to carry out their governance responsibilities. I am also your first point of contact for any Board correspondence, helping connect our kura whānau and community with the work of the Board.

I love supporting our Board as they guide and strengthen our school for the benefit of all our tamariki, staff, and whānau.

If you wish to make a submission to the Board, or have any questions regarding Board matters, please feel free to reach out to me on 406 0159 ext 202 or via email at zinnias@taipa.school.nz.