Our Team
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Jack Potaka | Director
Ngāti Hauiti | Ngāti Tama ki te Upoko o te Ika
Bachelor of Laws & Arts (Māori Studies & Spanish), Te Pīnakitanga ki te reo Kairangi (Level 7 Language Diploma)
For the past 5 years, he has been teaching te reo and tikanga Māori to people from all walks of life. He is dedicated to sharing his love and passion for his language and culture with all New Zealanders to help strengthen society's knowledge and understanding of the Māori world. Jack is a passionate orator on the marae and a kapa haka performer for Te Manu Huia.
Outside of work, you will find Jack, spending time with friends and whānau, attending wānanga, playing golf, watching rugby and being active both in and outdoors.
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Te Whainoa Te Wiata | Principal Translator
Rereahu | Tainui | Ngāti Rangitihi
Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics (Hons), Masters of Linguistics, Toi Māori Licenced Translator
Te Whainoa’s upbringing was such that he is well versed in Te Ao Māori and Te Reo Māori. Although there is so much more to learn, Te Whainoa is passionate about teaching what he knows about these concepts and ways of life to those who are interested and open to learning. Prior to his current role at Toi Mai (Workforce Development Council), Te Whainoa was a facilitator of Māori kaupapa at CORE Education. While at university, he mentored in Linguistics and tutored stages 1, 2 and 3 Māori linguistic papers.
Outside of UoA, Te Whainoa spent time teaching te reo Māori and tikanga privately to executives in and around the Tāmaki Makaurau area. Te Whainoa also taught at Unitec’s Kura Pō and students from Boston University studying in Aotearoa.
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Nyra Marshall | Te Reo Trainer
Raukawa ki Wharepūhunga | Ngāti Tūwharetoa | Ngāti Kahungunu ki te Wairoa
Conjoint LLB / BSocSci (Te Reo Māori and Māori & Pacific Development), Cert. in Adult & Tertiary Teaching, PGDip in Teaching Secondary (field based).
A firm believer in the power of Education, Nyra currently works for Ako Mātātupu | Teach First New Zealand as part of the Teacher Education team, training and mentoring secondary school teachers and working closely with Te Reo Māori trainee teachers throughout Aotearoa. In her additional role as Kaihautū, Nyra is responsible for navigating and guiding Te Reo and Tikanga Māori on behalf of the organisation. A fully registered teacher, she was in charge of Te Reo Māori, Tikanga and Kapahaka in a large South Auckland high school for five years. Before teaching, Nyra worked as a Barrister and Solicitor in Manukau City.
Nyra gives back to her communities in several ways and she actively supports her Marae. She enjoys cooking, travel, going to the gym, reading history and spending quality time with whānau and friends.
