Staff

Senior Leadership Team

Senior Leadership Team

Ms Kelly Mercer

Principal

About Me

Kia ora my name is Kelly. My favourite thing about teaching at Whangarei Heads School is how enthusiastic and keen to learn all the tamariki are. I love spending time in the classrooms, being part of their learning journey. I started at Whangarei Heads School in 2022, and have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the whanau, children, staff, Board and wider community. Interests that I have outside of teaching include; taking our dog Jett to Ocean’s Beach to play, visiting my parents and going for a drive around Northland in Aaron’s Charger.

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Ms Tracey Morgan

Deputy Principal

About Me

Kia ora my name is Tracey. My favourite thing about teaching at Whangarei Heads School is the amazing tamariki and our environment - Manaia and the harbour. I started at Whangarei Heads School in 2024. Interests that I have outside of teaching include; going to the gym, walking our beautiful maunga and spending time with whanau.

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Teaching Staff

Teaching Staff

Mrs Tineke Maunder

Year 7 & 8

Karearea

About Me

Kia ora my name is Tineke. My favourite thing about teaching at Whangarei Heads School is most definitely the students! They are just awesome with their ‘can do’ attitudes. We do some really engaging activities that make learning fun. I started at Whangarei Heads School in 2020. Interests that I have outside of teaching include; gardening, things with my family like fishing, boating, diving, traveling and snow boarding.

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Mrs Fiona Ellis

Year 7 & 8

Karearea

About Me

Kia ora my name is Fiona, or ‘Mrs E’ as I am known by the children as. My favourite thing about teaching at Whangarei Heads School is the awareness I have about being very lucky to work here; the view on the drive to work, the smell of the bush when you get out of the car, the fabulous staff team. I started at Whangarei Heads School in 2022. Interests that I have outside of teaching include: I think the number one interest I have is gardening, followed by being in the bush. Of course, my family is important too.

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Ms Jamie Love

Year 5 & 6

Kotare

About Me

Kia ora my name is Jamie Love. My favourite thing about teaching at Whangarei Heads School is our strong connection to our community and our local environment. I started at Whangarei Heads School in 2024. Interests that I have outside of teaching include; gardening, reading, tunning with our dog, and baking with my two boys.

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Ms Sharon Allen

Year 4 & 5 (Mon – Wed)

Korora

About Me

Kia ora my name is Ms Allen. My favourite thing about teaching at Whangarei Heads School is doing visual art and sport activities. I started at Whangarei Heads School in 2012 Interests that I have outside of teaching include football, reading and studying Te Reo.

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Mrs Emily Drake

Year 4 & 5 (Thur – Fri)

Korora

About Me

Kia ora my name is Emily Drake. My favourite thing about teaching at Whangarei Heads School is the awesome kids and the special environment. We are so lucky to teach under our special maunga. I started at Whangarei Heads School in 2014. Prior to being at WHS, I taught in Auckland, London, Dubai and Whangarei. Interests that I have outside of teaching include; walking, camping, and watching my kids play sport.

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Mr Dane Higgison

Year 3 & 4

Ruru

About Me

Kia ora my name is Dane Higgison and I am a Dad of three young boys. My favourite thing about teaching at Whangarei Heads School is the stunning environment we have here looking across the Harbour and up at Mount Manaia. I started at Whangarei Heads School in 2017. Interests that I have outside of teaching include playing and watching sport, cooking and travelling.

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Mrs Sara Robinson

Year 2 & 3 (Mon – Wed)

Tui

About Me

Kia ora my name is Sara Robinson My favourite thing about teaching at Whangarei Heads School is meeting all the whanau along with the tamariki. I started at Whangarei Heads School in 2016. Interests that I have outside of teaching include; running, hiking and spending time with my family.

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Ms Tracey Morgan

Year 2 & 3 (Thur – Fri)

Tui

About Me

Kia ora my name is Tracey. My favourite thing about teaching at Whangarei Heads School is the amazing tamariki and our environment - Manaia and the harbour. I started at Whangarei Heads School in 2024. Interests that I have outside of teaching include; going to the gym, walking our beautiful maunga and spending time with whanau.

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Mrs Alex Hunter

Year 0 & 1

Piwakawaka

About Me

My favourite thing about teaching at Whangarei Heads School are the fabulous children, whanau and staff!! I started at Whangarei Heads School in 2013, but became full time in 2017. Interests that I have outside of teaching include; walking my dogs, rowing on the Hatea, and travelling and exploring with my whanau.

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Mrs Sian Morris

Specialist Teacher

About Me

Kia ora my name is Sian Morris. My favourite thing about teaching at Whangarei Heads School are the people and the environment. Every day as I walk in I can’t help but smile, the children are the centre of this. I started at Whangarei Heads School in 2023. Interests that I have outside of teaching include; when not itching you will find me reading, playing the piano or having fun with our dog Molly.

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Support Staff

Support Staff

Ms Courtney Telfer

Office

About Me

Kia ora my name is Courtney. My favourite thing about Whangarei Heads School is the community, the kids, the beautiful setting under Manaia, next to the ocean. I started at Whangarei Heads School in 2022. Interests that I have outside of teaching include; beaches, bushwalks and mountain tops.

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Ms Sharon Allen

SENCO

About Me

Coming Soon

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Mrs Laetitia McKenzie

Learning Support Coordinator

About Me

Coming Soon

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Ms Jenny Snell

Learning Support Assistant, ESOL

About Me

Kia ora my name is Jenny. My favourite thing about teaching at Whangarei Heads School is the fact that I get to work right across the school with so many children. I started at Whangarei Heads School in 2014. Interests that I have outside of teaching include; walking, getting out in nature, and enjoying our garden and growing food.

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Mrs Dulcie Herring

Learning Support Assistant

About Me

Kia ora my name is Dulcie. My favourite thing about teaching at Whangarei Heads School is everything! The staff are lovely, the kids are amazing and what a beautiful spot to come to work ! I started at Whangarei Heads School in 2024, but my girls started here in 2018. Interests that I have outside of teaching include; anything creative, particularly printmaking and pottery. Finding a quiet spot to read a good book. And I love going on adventures with my family.

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Mrs Clare Spicer

Resource Teacher Learning Behaviour (RTLB)

About Me

Coming Soon

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Mr Sam Benge

Specialist Music Teacher

About Me

Coming Soon

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Whaea Val

Kapa Haka Tutor

About Me

Coming Soon

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Mrs Aileen Ashman

Library

About Me

Coming Soon

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Mr Greg Ferrar

Caretaker

About Me

Howdy, my name is Greg. My favourite thing about working at Whangarei Heads School is enjoying the kids laughing and bantering. I started at Whangarei Heads School in 2007. Interests that I have outside of working here at Whangarei Heads include going fishing and enjoying a cold one.

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