

Our People
Meet Our Principal

Michaela Phillips
Principal
Tamariki no teia rā, e arataki no te au tuatau ki mua.
Children of today are the leaders of tomorrow.
Kia Orana e te au metua e te iti tangata - Api'i Te Uki Ou, e kāinga no te au tamariki ei akapapa i to rātou ora’anga ki mua.
It is a privilege and a great responsibility to serve as the Principal of Apii Te Uki Ou. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to be part of this special school and community, and to contribute to the learning and growth of our tamariki.
I bring to Te Uki Ou a broad range of experience across education. My background in the public sector has included teaching in Early Childhood Education, Primary and through to Year 9, as well as experience in Waldorf Education. I have also had the privilege of serving as a Principal for the past 11 years.
I believe strongly in collaborative leadership. The best schools are built by people working together, listening to one another and sharing their knowledge and strengths.
As an inclusive school, Te Uki Ou has a special character that values and responds to the individual needs of our tamariki. We are committed to maintaining small class sizes, providing appropriate Teacher Aide support and recognising the importance of different cultural backgrounds, experiences and learning styles. We want every child to feel included and able to succeed.
Our school is a place where learning, culture, relationships and belonging come together. We value our Cook Islands identity and the strong connections between our environment, our tamariki, our families and our wider community.
We warmly welcome families to Apii Te Uki Ou. We look forward to getting to know you and your children, and to working together to ensure that their years at Te Uki Ou are filled with learning, belonging, discovery and joy.
Meet Our Team

Liz Cribb
Deputy Principal
Junior College Leader
Sports Co-Ordinator
Yr 9 Teacher - Tavake

Gardenia Rouru
Culture and Reo Maori Teacher

Carleen Ashford
Yr 5/6 Teacher - Kopeka

Holly Sutherland
Yr 2 Teacher - Kakerori

Kathy Lagoudis
Lead Teacher - Kura ECE

Hannah Taio
Office Manager
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Jon Monga
Coach - PE, Health & Technology

Bea Taripo-Prestige
Learning Support Assistant

Talitha Ine
Learning Support Assistant

Kahurangi Poa
Assistant Principal
Middle Team Leader
Yr 5/6 Teacher - Kaoko

Roberta Murray
Year 7/8 Teacher - Kota'a
Maths and Technology Lead

Lydia Hammersly
Yr 3/4 Teacher - Kukupa
Library Lead

Kiana Marino
Yr 1 Teacher - Kuriri

Natasha Tafa Maoate
Teacher - Kura

Christine Mose
Accounts Manager

Ursula Puia
Learning Support Assistant

Maddy Spurge_Lowe
Learning Support Assistant

Te Pau Ngauke
Caretaker

Saireni Pekepo-Poila
Leader of Culture and Reo
Culture and Reo Teacher

Cheree Cowsill
Yr 7/8 Teacher - Kakaia

Sheena Naik
Yr 3 Teacher - Kotuku

Shana Kamana
Junior School Lead
Yr 0 Teacher - Karavia

Mary Bagnell
Primary Art and Learning Support Teacher

Nicole Warwick
Office Assistant

Mia Bob
Learning Support Assistant

Jordayn Matutu
Learning Support Assistant

Board of Governors
The Board of Governors protects our school’s future, vision, and high standards. Made up of the Infrastructure, Personnel, Finance, Policy, and Fundraising committees, the Board plays a vital part in ensuring every area of school life is managed and resourced.
Serving on the Board is a voluntary commitment. It requires a significant investment of time, energy and expertise from its members, whose dedication keeps our school flourishing for our students and staff.
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