Teaching staff

Leadership team

At Houghton Valley School, our leadership team is dedicated to fostering a positive, inclusive, and inspiring environment where every learner can thrive. With a shared commitment to student success, community engagement, and continuous improvement, our leaders bring a wealth of experience, passion, and care to everything they do.

  • PRINCIPAL/TUAMAKI

    principal@houghton.school.nz

    My privilege as the tumuaki is being able to support and inspire our tamariki and kaiako to reach their full potential and to find what makes them passionate about the world around them.

    I get pleasure from reading a good book, travelling and spending time with my whānau.


  • RAKAU ROOPU RANGATIRA / RAKAU TEAM LEADER

    nina@houghton.school.nz

    My Room is: 9 / Rata
    I teach: Year 5/6

    Over the years I have worked with tamariki from new entrants through to Year 8. I currently have the privilege of teaching our Year 6 ākonga and leading our senior team.  As tauiwi, I continue to deepen my knowledge and understanding of te ao Māori and te reo Māori and sharing this with our kaimahi and ākonga. I enjoy finding new ways to bring creativity into our learning to help inspire tamariki to dream big and reach their full potential. Outside of school time, I enjoy being out in nature, the arts and spending time with friends and whānau.


  • DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

    Karen is the DP, SENCO and Kakano Team Leader ( years 0-3). She will be teaching in Harakeke.

Kākano team

The Kākano team at Houghton Valley School is made up of passionate and nurturing teachers who work with our youngest learners in Years 1–3.

"Kākano" means "seed" in te reo Māori, reflecting our belief that these early years are all about planting the foundations for a lifelong love of learning. We focus on building strong relationships, developing key skills through play-based and inquiry learning, and helping each child grow with confidence at their own pace.

  • stephanie@houghton.school.nz

    My Room is: 6 / Ti kouka
    I teach: Year 1

    One of my favourite parts of teaching at Te kura o Haewai is spending my days with fabulous tamariki who are excited about their learning, in particular sharing the creative stories they come up with when writing. When I’m not teaching, I enjoy relaxing with a good book and cup of tea, going for walks around Te Whanganui-a- Tara and spending time with whānau.

  • laura@houghton.school.nz

    My Room is: 2 / Kowhai
    I teach: Year 2/3

  • georgia@houghton.school.nz

    My Room is: 10 / Rimu
    I teach: Year 5/6


  • jackie@houghton.school.nz

    My Room is: 8 / Ngaio
    I teach: Year 2/3

Rākau team

"Rākau" means "tree" in te reo Māori, symbolising growth, strength, and the deepening of roots – just like the learning journey of our years 4-5 tamariki at this stage.

Our team of dedicated teachers provides a rich and engaging learning environment that encourages independence, critical thinking, and creativity.

We focus on nurturing each child’s unique strengths while fostering collaboration, resilience, and a strong sense of belonging within our school community.

  • mary-carmel@houghton.school.nz

    My Room is: 4/ Karaka
    I teach: Years 4


  • greg@houghton.school.nz

    My Room is: 3 / Nikau
    I teach: Years 4/5

    I am a passionate learner of Te Reo Māori and have been involved in the inspiring world of kapa haka over the past few years in Whakatū, Nelson. I look forward to sharing this passion with the tauira in my year 4/5 class and continue learning through teaching and exploring Te Ao Māori. I love storytelling and sharing new pūrakau with the kids. I have two amazing tamahine who I spend a lot of time in the water with and love going for runs with my dog Barry. 

Part time teachers

School wide, all year levels


  • kate@houghton.school.nz

    This year I am working 4 days a week at the school Learning Support Teache.


  • cilla@houghton.school.nz

    I work in the Rakau Team (years 4-6) on Wednesday, Thursday and every second Friday.

  • miriam@houghton.school.nz

    I teach: In the Kakano Team on Tuesday to Friday.