New kaiako within o te Tari Reo Maaori

St Paul’s Collegiate School is pleased to welcome Matua Rangatahi (Tahi) Tahere (Ngaati Kahungunu & Ngapuhi) as a new kaiako within o te Tari Reo Maaori, beginning at the start of Term 3 2026.

Languages are a passion for Matua Tahi, sparked during a two-year service mission in Australia, where he discovered both a love of teaching and a knack for learning languages. He is most comfortable speaking Maaori, English and Mandarin, and also ‘dabbles’ in Samoan, Japanese, Tongan and Spanish, stating, “They are all languages that I love.”

Teaching has always been a part of Mauta Tahi’s world.  He is a graduate of the University of Waikato with a Bachelor of Social Sciences, majoring in Linguistics and Te Reo Maaori. After realising during his mission that he had a way with helping people, he went on to work at the University of Waikato as a sessional assistant for some of the papers he had just completed.

Since the middle of Term 1 2026, Matua Tahi has been on placement at St Paul’s, completing his final work experience for a Post-graduate Diploma in Secondary Teaching. It has been wonderful to observe Matua Tahi as he has quickly become part of our school team, presently teaching the vast majority of Year 9 Te Reo Maaori classes alongside and leading lessons at more senior year levels. 

Matua notes he enjoys the holistic style of education here at St Paul’s and seeing students develop in all facets of life to become competent individuals.

Whilst Matua begins his full-time journey with us from the beginning of Term 3, his wife, who is also completing her teaching diploma, will begin work at Te Kauwhata College at the same time.

Outside the classroom, Matua Tahi enjoys playing string instruments, beginning his musical journey with the violin before moving to classical guitar. He attended high school in Hamilton at Ngā Taiātea Wharekura and is also a whizz at puzzles, thriving in games involving problem-solving and trivia.

When asked what he is looking forward to most about joining the St Paul’s community, he says, “It’s all exciting, and I just can’t choose.”

We extend a whole-hearted warm welcome to our kura. 

Ka whaangaia, ka tipu, ka puaawai.