Our People
Our Principal
Welcome to Pakūranga Heights School,
All parents want the very best for their children. At Pakūranga Heights School this means our school has a commitment to nurture, guide, inspire and challenge students to find the joy in learning, to build their skills and understanding, and to make sense of their world to become confident responsible global citizens. We are extremely proud of the safe, caring, family environment our school provides. The school has a proud tradition of being a focal point in the community and has always enjoyed a high level of community involvement.
By providing our students with an array of opportunities inside and outside the classroom, we encourage them to not only explore and recognise the diversity of their talents and abilities but to develop essential leadership skills.
Pakūranga Heights School is proud to provide a learning environment that is dedicated to meeting their specific needs. We are fortunate at this school to have excellent and dedicated staff who work hard to support and encourage their students. The school community is strong and works closely with parents to obtain the best outcomes for their children. We believe we enrol the family, not just the student, and work closely in partnership to obtain the best possible outcomes.
Fintan Kelly
Principal
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Support Staff
Chris Heaven
Learning Assistant
Kat Heaven
Learning Assistant
Keisha Scott-Bennie
Learning Assistant
Michelle Alexander
Learning Assistant
Nooriah Sayed
Learning Assitant
Nutcha Ken
Learning Assistant
Sinead Tyner
Learning Assistant
Jean Wilkinson
Learning Assistant
Ellanor Farmer
Learning Assistant
Mya Knight
Learning Assistant
Emily Ronberg
Learning Assistant
The Board
All of New Zealand's state and state-integrated schools have a school board which is the Crown entity responsible for the governance of the school.
The board ensures every student can reach their highest possible standard in student achievement. The board is the employer of all staff in the school, it sets the school's strategic direction in consultation with parents, whānau, staff, students and the wider school community and is responsible for overseeing the management of personnel, curriculum, property, finance and administration.
Our current Board Members are:
Alex Winter (Presiding Member)
Gillian Ardern
Zeena Bode
Svend Hansen
Principal: Mr Fintan Kelly
Staff Representative : Mrs Sue Kandasamy
Our Board is made up of:
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The Principal of the school
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One elected staff representative
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Five parent elected trustees
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Co-opted trustees (as needed)
Trustees are elected by the parent community and staff members.
Elections for parent and staff trustees are held every three years (next elections in 2028). A by-election can occur at any stage in the 3 year election cycle if an elected trustee resigns from the board and thereby creates a casual vacancy.
Board Meetings
Boards typically meet once a month between February and December. Meetings are open to the public, however, they are not public meetings where everyone has the right to speak. Speaking rights can be granted in advance by the Board Chair. Sometimes parts of Board meetings are closed to the public when the board is discussing confidential matters.
BOT members are also involved in Board sub-committees which meet as required to discuss issues. Recommendations from these meetings are presented to the full board for approval.
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Standing for the Board is a great way to get involved in your child’s education. Training and support are available to make carrying out this responsibility easier.
Elections are run every three years and in order to stand for the board you must confirm that to the best of your knowledge you are eligible to be a school trustee. The website of the New Zealand School Trustees Association (NZSTA) has and excellent website with lots of great information for current or potential trustees.
If you are interested in standing for election, a good idea is to talk to a current BOT member. You may also like attend a couple of BOT meetings to get a better idea of what goes on at the meetings and about the responsibility involved.
Meet the Board
Alex Winter (Presiding Member)
I have served on the Pakuranga Heights School Board since 2019 and have been honoured to be the Presiding Member since 2022. I have had both my children pass through Pakuranga Heights and my wife Amanda previously served as PTA Secretary in 2016 and 2017.
I have continued on the Board despite my kids leaving as I am passionate about the importance of education and about Pakuranga Heights as a community of students, teachers, support staff and parents. The school and staff impressed me from our very school visit before Liam started in 2015. This is a fantastic place that brings together so many people of different backgrounds and embraces them all with positive values and with a goal of having our kids leave both improved and inspired. I am proud to be part of this community and what it stands for.
My goal is lead and be part of a Board that ensures that Pakuranga Heights School as an organisation of teachers, support staff and facilities is in the best possible position to ensure that every child that walks through our gates has the opportunity to grow, improve, learn and be inspired every day.
Meet the Board
Gillian Adern
I am passionate about seeing our school community continue to thrive. I have been a board member since 2022 and a part of Pakūranga Heights since 2019 when my eldest son started. I have the privilege of serving as Treasurer, where I worked to ensure responsible financial stewardship and supported the board in making informed, strategic decisions for the benefit of our tamariki and staff.
During my time on the board, I have developed a strong understanding of the governance responsibilities involved and worked collaboratively with fellow trustees to uphold the values and vision of our school.
I am committed to creating an environment where every child can flourish and where our school continues to grow in strength, and excellence.
My family have lived in East Auckland for over 20 years, and we have 3 children.
Meet the Board
Zeena Bode
Hi, I’m Zeena: usually busy building dreams, solving puzzles, and adding a little sparkle to the community. You’ll find me living at the intersection of "What if?" and "Why not?".
After university, I spent a decade building a custom wedding cake business from the ground up. That journey taught me more about resilience, grit, and strategy than any degree ever could, and it gave me the confidence to help others find their own path to success. I’m naturally wired to lend a hand; I believe deeply that what you pour into your community eventually flows back to you. I’m a creative problem-solver with a lifelong love for colour, sparkles, and community projects.
In 2015, I accepted a new role as an Executive Personal Assistant. By 2017, I took on a second client. The hours are exhausting and the pay is illegal but they're cute, they make me laugh, teach me patience, and have shaped me into a better human being.
I likely hold the world record for "Most Browser Tabs Open at Once," mostly because I see life as one giant puzzle. We usually have all the pieces we need; we just have to keep turning them until they fit. One day, if we're lucky enough, we get to stand back and admire our creation and the beauty of the lessons we've gathered along the way.
Meet the Board
Svend Hansen
Kia Ora to the Pakūranga Heights Community. I am proud to represent you on our school’s board of trustees. I come with a lot of relevant experience, having previously been a primary school teacher, and holding number of corporate and non-profit roles in the education sector. I have been on local school boards since 2019, having always had the desire to give back to my local community. I am really excited by this opportunity to again do more!
As a member of the board, I will be hoping to make a difference in workload and wellbeing of students, teachers, and school management and ensuring that there is always room for ‘fun’ in teaching and learning. I have a personal interest in science, technology, and internet safety.
I believe that positive relationships are the most important factor in a young person’s education; those with their teacher, and those which anchor them to their community. My daughter started at Pakūranga Heights in 2022, and my son is a couple of years behind her, so I am hoping that during my time on this board I will be able to help build some of those important relationships for my family, and hopefully yours too!
PTA
The PTA is a voluntary group who work to fundraise for the school, provide community connections and plan the annual school disco.
Meetings are held once a term in the staffroom and all are welcome to attend. Please see the school calendar for details of meetings.
For any further information, or to be added to the PTA mailing list, please email pta@pakurangaheights.school.nz
