Role

As a Pouako, Johanna supports our tauira and staff navigating te ao Māori and upholding the bicultural kaupapa of Te Rito Maioha. She also lectures in Māori papers.

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Education Background

Johanna’s teaching background has mainly been in Māori-medium Early Childhood, working as a Kaiako in Kōhanga Reo, Kōhungahunga and Puna Reo for the past 18 years. She says her career highlight was being Kaiako Matua in her last centre, before moving into this role.

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Research Background

The research she has focused on is language revitalisation, particularly how we teach and transmit our indigenous language to our tamariki. She has explored Māori language approaches to language transmission, learning and play, and the ways te reo language, culture and identity are nurtured across the generations. She is passionate about sharing Indigenous knowledge and strengthening practices that support the revitalization of our language.

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Teaching Interests

Johanna’s teaching philosophy is grounded in her Māori identity, whanaungatanga, manaakitanga. She believes that by nurturing mauri, fostering meaningful relationships and upholding te reo Māori and tikanga, we create spaces where others can flourish in their identity, language and culture.