Leadership Team
Matt Tilley
Matt Tilley
Tena koutou katoa, Talofa lava, Malo e lelei, kia Orana, Taloha ne, Fakalofa lahi atu, Bula Vinaka and welcome.
Kia ora, ko Matt Tilley toku ingoa.
I am very delighted and proud to be the Principal of Titahi Bay School and am honoured to be leading such an effective learning community. It is a pleasure to lead a very committed and fun team of teachers and support staff.
Titahi Bay School is a large multi-cultured school with a long tradition of providing learning for life and ensuring that children are valued and supported to make effective choices and decisions in their life. The core business at Titahi Bay School is based on ensuring that children have all the skills needed in literacy and numeracy and meet the expected levels of achievement for their age. Alongside this we want to ensure that every child leaves Titahi Bay School being a well rounded citizen with a strong sense of self belief. The ‘I can do it’ attitude. In the six years your child will have at our school we want them to be happy, listened to and valued by staff and other students.
We welcome parents/caregivers into our school and we love forming relationships with our community. When home, school and the child are all connected research shows children develop positive attitudes for learning and achieve accordingly. Our doors are always open at school and we welcome you in to discuss your child. Please feel free to ring the office to make an appointment with me on 04 236 8399, or you can email me at principal@titahibay.school.nz.
Miranda McMahon
Miranda McMahon
Some information about Miranda and why she loves this school.
Teaching & Support Staff
Kaiako me ngā Kaiāwhina
Tanya King
Ko Tanya King tōku ingoa. It was over 20 years ago that I started teaching at Tītahi Bay School and since then I have taught every age group and had various roles, working alongside our tamariki and kaiako. Our school is a very special place within a special community that I just love. You can’t help but feel happy walking around our school grounds with our beautiful environment, our murals and cared for gardens and playgrounds, not to mention our warm and friendly staff and KURA kids. I feel that teaching is not just a job but a privilege in that I get to teach and promote KURA values and create opportunities that have an impact. When I am not at school you will find me hanging out with my family and friends (or possibly cuddling our new pet rabbits!) or in the yoga studio, finding peace and relaxation.
Chelsea Renshaw
Tēnā koutou katoa. Ko Chelsea Renshaw tōku ingoa. I love working at Tītahi Bay School. I am approaching my 14th year of teaching, with 12 of those years spent at this Kura. I have two tamariki, aged 8 and 4. It is an absolute privilege to work within this supportive community, alongside so many wonderful kaiako and tamariki. Our Kura offers many wonderful opportunities for tamariki to learn and grow as unique individuals. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my whānau, cooking, exercising, and having fun with my friends.
Cherie Haughton
Kia ora koutou e te whānau, ko Cherie tōku ingoa. It is such a privilege to be part of the Tītahi Bay School community. From the first time I walked through the door, I knew this was a kura whose kaupapa and values resonated with me. Born and raised in Orongomai, Upper Hutt, I moved with my husband and three children (currently aged 8–16 years) to Porirua more than ten years ago, after several years living overseas. I’m passionate about Sir Mason Durie’s model of Te Whare Tapa Whā – places of wellbeing that embody physical, mental, and emotional health, rooted in whānau and whenua. I’m keen to help cultivate respectful learning environments that provide nurture, warmth, consistency, and a good deal of humour and creativity too. Places where all tamariki feel seen, heard, and can thrive. In my spare time, I love to garden and be outside, journal and read, make art, and walk our beautiful pup beside the sea. Poipoia te kākano kia puāwai – Nurture the seed, and it will bloom.
Lauren Blakeley
Tēnā koutou katoa. Ko Lauren Blakeley tōku ingoa. I began my teaching journey at Titahi Bay School in 2023 and have been loving every second of it. It is a huge privilege to be teaching at such a great kura within an amazing community, with incredible tamariki and alongside awesome kaiako. I am passionate about ensuring my classroom is a safe, supportive and inclusive environment where students thrive as individuals and as a team. Outside of mahi I love playing rugby, reading, baking, going to the gym, spending time with my whānau and friends and doing anything outdoors.
Sharon Thompson
Kia ora koutou. Ko Sharon toku ingoa.
I have been teaching at this amazing Kura for 16 years, all up having spent over 40 years in education throughout Aotearoa and overseas. My husband and I have lived in this wonderful community for over 30 years, and our two children spent a very happy time at this Kura. (They left and I moved in) The fine tamariki and the kaiako who uphold the PB4L values make my heart sing, this is a truly special place to belong. I am working part time this year releasing teachers, and the other part of my life is devoted to being an outrageously proud and happy nana to my three gorgeous moko. How lucky am I to have it all right here in the Bay.
Jessie McKee
Kia ora. Ko Jessie McKee tōku ingoa. Over the past three years, I have worked as a teacher aide and found a passion for working with tamariki. This year I am excited to be a part of this amazing school as a master’s student. I look forward to meeting new tamariki and getting to know the wider community. Outside of school, I enjoy reading, going to the gym, camping, walking and hanging out with my family and friends.
Sarah Taylor
Kia ora. Kō Sarah Taylor tōku ingoa.
I have been teaching for 17 years, and most of these at this wonderful kura. It is the amazing tamariki, kaimahi and environment that makes this place feel like a home away from home for me. Currently, I teach at Titahi Bay School part-time. Outside of school I am busy with my own three children, cooking, reading or exercising- my favourite ways to relax!
Nadia Collins
Tēnā koutou katoa,
Ko Nadia tōku ingoa. He uri tēnei nō Ngāti Maniapoto me Ngāti Tūwharetoa. Ko Te Huia te whānau. I tipu ake au ki Porirua ā e noho ana au ki Tītahi Bay. Ko Hayden tōku hoa rangatira. Ko Carter rātou ko Anahera, Ko Amaia-Grace ā māua tamariki.
A mum of three, a lot of my time is spent running around after my own tamariki and enjoying time with whānau and friends. I feel very blessed to be working in the community that I live in and with the beautiful kaimahi at Tītahi Bay kura. I became a kaiako because I am passionate about our tamariki and whānau. My heart is to see every child that we work with, grow with a security in who they are, knowing that they are worthy, and to be encouraged to take hold of the amazing things that the future holds for them.
Mathew O’Hagan
Kia ora ki a koutou! Ko Mathew O’Hagan ahau. I was born in Porirua, and grew up here and in Kāpiti. After university in Wellington, I jetted away from Aotearoa for what ended up being 18 years abroad (22.5 if you count time in Auckland ). It’s so good to be back home! I’ve been a teacher for 25 good years (and in five different countries). Now I live in Plimmerton with my partner and little dog. I love long walks, the beach, books, the bush and TRAVEL. I was inspired to get into teaching by the Mahatma Gandhi quote: “You must be the change you wish to see in the world”. I am passionate about tamariki, kaiako, strong and healthy communities, Aotearoa, New Zealand, and the power of education in enabling all to achieve their highest potential. Hāpaitia te ara tika pūmau ai te rangatiratanga mō ngā uri whakatipu: Foster the pathway of knowledge to strength, independence and growth for future generations.
Looking forward to meeting you all soon!
Kristina Stevens
Kō Kristina Stevens tōku ingoa. Kei Paraparaumu ahau e noho ana. I’ve been a teacher for over 20 years in both the US and NZ, and I’ve been teaching at Tītahi Bay School since 2013. If your children have me as their teacher, they may develop a slight American accent by the end of the year! What makes our school unique is our KURA values, colourful school grounds, and fantastic Tītahi Bay community. I’m grateful for having a career that I love and for the privilege of working with such wonderful tamariki and kaimahi. Creating a classroom environment that’s fun, safe, and positive is important because I believe students learn best when they feel happy and loved. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, doing jigsaw puzzles, going for walks on the beach, and spending time with my pets.
Reece Kennedy
Tenā koe,
Ko ingarangi te whakapaparanga mai engari, Ko Waihī te whenua tupu, ko Waihī te kāinga, nō Australia au, kei Kirikiriroa au e noho ana, He kaiako au i Te Uku, Ko Reece au
Tēnā tātou katoa.
Kia ora Titahi Bay whanau, my name is Reece Kennedy.
I am extremely passionate about a variety of sports, and have a wide range of hobbies and interests including history, music and travel.
I will create a very open and inclusive classroom, not only for my students but their whanau and caregivers too. I am very excited to be a part of this kura and can not wait to meet you all!
Leah Merewater
Kia ora! Kō Leah Merewater tōku ingoa. I feel so lucky to be part of the amazing team of kaiako at KURA street and totally blessed to be surrounded by the joyful bunch of tamariki here as well. I have been teaching for 12 years and have been lucky enough to have joined this beautiful kura in 2022, so I am quite a recent import. My three sons are current students so I have the pleasure of seeing my own tamariki while I am working! In my own time you might spot me and the whānau on a walk with our pup Diesel or hanging out down at the beach. I have set myself the challenge of completing the Great Walks of Aotearoa and have been busy ticking off one a year.
Cheryl Naylor
Kia ora koutou, Kō Cheryl tōku ingoa.
I have a long history with Titahi Bay School, as my children came here, and I was privileged to start my teaching career here 17 years ago. We moved and spent 9 years living and teaching in the Waikato. I was delighted to return to teach in the Bay in 2022, and love being part of this passionate, supportive and enthusiastic team and community.
I strive to create a safe, happy and supportive learning environment where KURA kids can take risks in their learning, make mistakes and be curious. When I am not at kura you will find me connecting with whānau, making art, or standing in a river fly-fishing with my husband Wayne.
Abby de Groot McKenzie
Kia ora koutou! Ko Abby de Groot-Mckenzie (Mrs d.g-Mck) tōku ingoa.
With 14 years of teaching experience, from ECE and New Entrants through to Intermediate, I’m passionate about fostering a love of learning.
Originally from Wānaka, I now call beautiful Whitby home, where my husband and our energetic toddler, Lucy, enjoy exploring local parks and the wonders of the world. Spending time with friends and family is important to us. I believe in creating a warm and supportive classroom community where every child feels valued and empowered to learn. I’m absolutely thrilled to be back in 2025 and can’t wait to connect with both new and familiar faces.
Natalie Hillier
Kia ora koutou. Kō Natalie tōku ingoa.
I entered Tītahi Bay School as a trainee teacher four years ago, and have enjoyed every minute. My love for the Bay was undeniable so I moved here shortly after my teaching career began. I have a huge passion for the outdoors. If you don’t see me working up a sweat at the gym, you may find me down at the beach on my paddle board or climbing up Rangituhi. Prior to teaching I taught dancing, so I will never shy away from a dance battle on the back court. I believe if it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you. All tamariki are born to be great! With the right support and a positive learning environment, there is no doubt they will shine and be the best versions of themselves they can be.
Jimmy Steele
Kia ora koutou. Ko Jimmy toku ingoa. I was born and raised in Kirikiriroa (Hamilton) before going on to live in a few different cities and countries. I’ve lived in and around Te Whanganui-a-Tara since 2018, setting up life with my partner and pets. I love being a part of the Tītahi Bay whānau. The awesome team and community around here bring so much joy and excitement, going above and beyond for tamariki. As a kaiako, I place huge value on whānaungatanga and manaakitanga. I love creating a class culture where ākonga thrive, where strengths are utilised, mistakes are learnt from and individuality is celebrated. Outside of school, I’m generally planning an adventure, making improvements to our whare or simply enjoying being with friends, whānau and our animals. Noho ora mai!
Allie Waters
Ko Allie toku ingoa.
I joined the Tītahi Bay KURA team in 2020 amidst the first lockdown, and feel extremely grateful to have become part of such an amazing team of kaiako and staff in such a wonderful community. I am a hutt girl at heart, born and raised in Petone, which is where I currently live. However, I do admit that Tītahi Bay now has a special place in my heart too, and I love working with the amazing tamariki and whānau in this area. This will be my sixth year of teaching and each year my passion grows! In my spare time you can find me getting outside and going for walks, enjoying food and coffee with friends, and catching up with family. I am passionate about animals and the environment, and love every opportunity to teach the ākonga in my class about caring for our country, world and all things in it, as they are the future!
Khaylen Huriwai
Tēnā koutou katoa. Nō Ngāti Koroki, Ngāti Pikiao me Ngāti Porou te iwi. Ko Huriwai raua ko Teleaga te whānau. Nō Porirua ahau. Ko Khaylen Huriwai (Aka Matua Khaylen) tōku ingoa. Kia Ora, I’m a born and bred Porirua boy growing up on Champion Street in Cannons Creek while also having stints of living overseas in countries such as Korea, India and Australia. Building our tamariki to have a strong sense of culture and identity is a big part of my teaching philosophy. I have a huge passion for sports and can often be found playing league, flag, indoor netball or anything team orientated. I bring this love into my teaching and believe sports and PE support tamariki to learn valuable life long skills in a fun and active way. My spare time these days is usually spent with my beautiful tamariki, Tiaia and Kāwhia and my lovely wife who some of you may know as Whaea Grace.
Delwyn Gardner
Tēnā Koutou Katoa, Ko Whetumatarau te maunga, Ko Awatere te awa, Ko Ngāti Porou te iwi, Ko Delwyn Gardner (a.k.a Matua Gardner) tōku ingoa.
2025 will see me teaching in my 11th year at Tītahi Bay School. I proudly grew up in Cannons Creek until meeting my beautiful wife and eventually moving to this paradise we call The Bay. We have one son who went through our kura and currently attends Mana College. I absolutely love living in this wonderful community, and the huge three minute commute to work is also a bonus. We have such amazing teachers at Tītahi Bay School, who always go out of their way to encourage and support our tamariki to thrive. I am an advocate for Te Reo Māori and Kapa Haka as I believe they give our tamariki skills and knowledge that will help them in the future.
When not teaching, you can usually see me outdoors, either walking my dog, riding my bike, playing tennis or golf, or just hanging out with whānau.
“Ko te manu e kai ana i te miro, nōna te ngahere, Ko te manu e kai ana i te mātauranga, nōna te ao The bird who feeds on the miro berry, has the forest, the bird who feeds on knowledge, has the world”
Jayden Taufale
Kia ora koutou. Ko Jayden toku ingoa. I am a new Masters student here at Titahi Bay. I was born and raised in Te Whanganui-a-Tara before spending time in Kirikiriroa (Hamilton) at the University of Waikato. I have a real passion for teaching and coaching basketball, and Titahi Bay School is the perfect place to get involved in the community to help the growth of our tamariki. The amazing team and community here fill our space with so much joy and enthusiasm, always putting tamariki first. As a kaiako, I hold whānaungatanga and manaakitanga at the heart of what I do. I’m dedicated to building a classroom environment where ākonga feel empowered to grow, where their talents shine, challenges become learning moments, and their individuality is truly valued. In my spare time, you’ll find me coaching and playing basketball or catching up with friends and whānau. Fa’afetai lava!
Jacinta Kelleher
Ko Jacinta tōku ingoa.
I show true loyalty to this beautiful Tītahi Bay Community. This is where I spent my youth, rummaging around the rocks, surfing the waves and competing for pretty much every club in Tītahi Bay. I attended Tītahi Bay Kindy followed by Tītahi Bay School where I have the fondest memories. I haven’t ventured very far however I did spend 10 years travelling overseas, just to find myself back in this little slice of paradise. I have 3 children, 15 year old twins and a 13 year old, they are all sporty and active in our community. I am known around our Kura as the ‘sporty’ teacher, if there’s a sports job done then 9 times out of 10 it’s me behind the scenes. I would describe myself as a firm but fun teacher, always up for a good laugh with the kids when it’s appropriate. I absolutely LOVE my job and feel extremely lucky to be in such a supportive, encouraging environment, having lots of fun along the way. In my spare time you’ll spot me at the beach or driving my kids around to a million different sporting locations, yip call me taxi driver :).
Ang Strand
Ki ora, ko Ang Strand tōku ingoa. I have been at our beautiful kura for the past 14 years. I love Tītahi Bay, and the sense of community with all the kids, whānau, and everyone involved. I’ve enjoyed teaching across the junior, middle, and now the senior school. Our KURA values shine through in everything we do, and the staff I work with are amazing.
With my love for the environment, I enjoy working alongside our Enviro Leaders and other tamariki in the garden, and I’m also involved in running our Garden to Table program with the tamariki.
In my own time, I love spending time outdoors with my husband and two boys, Jake and Liam. We enjoy being active, kicking a ball around, and exploring Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington).
Michaela Evans
Āio ki te rangi, āio ki te whenua, āio ki ngā mea katoa. Tīhei mauri ora!
Tēnā koutou e te whānau, Nō Wales, Scotland me Poland ahau. I tipu ake au ki Aotearoa, kei Titahi Bay e noho ana. Ko Michaela Evans tōku ingoa.
What a privilege it is to live and work in Tītahi Bay. I was brought up all over Te Ika-ā-māui, including Taitoko, Whanganui and Kirikiriroa. However, I have been based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara for over 10 years now. When not at mahi I will be out in nature with my whānau, including our new pēpi! You might spot me surfing in the bay or walking around our local maunga.
Beth Simmons
Kia ora koutou. Ko Beth tōku ingoa.
I’m excited to be joining the awesome Kura Street crew this year.
I moved out to Tītahi bay six years ago with my whānau and we are as obsessed with the beautiful landscape and the community as the day we arrived! It is the best place to raise our two energetic tamariki.
After living and working overseas I became a teacher over 10 years ago, and have taught mainly in the Wellington region, with a couple of years in China too. I’m grateful to have a career that I love and the current flexibility to work part time while my kids are young.
When I’m not at work you’ll almost always find me outdoors, hanging at the beach and parks with whānau, spending time with friends, or heading out for a run around Whitireia.
India McMahon
Kia Ora! I’m India, a local to Titahi Bay and a master’s student with a real passion for learning and teaching. For the past three years, I’ve had the pleasure of working at Titahi Bay School, and it’s been an amazing experience connecting with students, staff, and the wider community. Now, I’m excited to shift gears and get back into a learning position, where I can continue growing while contributing to the school I care so much about. I’m looking forward to being more involved in the community and helping our students thrive as they do the same.
Fraser Asghar
Kia ora koutou, ko Fraser Asghar tōku ingoa.
I am originally from Newcastle, England, but I have called Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington) home for the past 19 years. Currently, I am a Master’s student and am excited to get as involved as possible.
I enjoy everything to do with sports and love staying active. I’m looking forward to being a part of the Titahi Bay school whānau.
