Our People: Mel Taite-Pitama

Reporter Northern Outlook

A catch up with the principal of Tuahiwi School Mel Taite-Pitama.

1. Tell us a bit about your self - where are you from, your family and what are your hobbies?

My father is from Tauranga and my mother from the Waikato. They raised me in Woodend where I did my primary schooling and then attended Rangiora High School. I lived in Tuahiwi most of my adolescent years. I have a brother who is a painter and owns his own painting business, The Paint Boss.

I am married to Mathias Pitama and we have three children: Sheldon, 22, lives in Brisbane and is a semi professional rugby league player doing his apprenticeship in Civil Construction. Jadah is 19 and is at university studying Māori Indigenous Studies and Te Reo Māori hoping to be a teacher, and Halle, 14, who is at Haeata Community Campus hoping to be a journalist and professional rugby player.

My 3 year old grandson Te Koha is the most beautiful boy. I'd walk across coals for him.

I play touch rugby for Canterbury. We are about to go to Auckland for Nationals in March.

I love sport, I rode horses for a long time, good food is important to me and so is travelling, but I'm a girl too...I love dressing up and putting on a great dress and red lippy!

2. What is the best thing about living/working in North Canterbury?

I love that work is close to home and that where I work is like being at home. I have always lived in NC, my husband and I decided when we had children we would never move them away from their grandparents.

It's important to us that our children know who they are and where they belong.

3. What are the three best things about Tuahiwi School?

The whānau and tamariki - they are super cool.

We are unique - There is no other school doing what we are doing in NC and I would say in Chch. Ask me what we do differently and the list is infinite.

The committed, dedicated staff who come to work every day to inspire and motivate our learners whilst nurturing them alongside their whānau.

4. Tell us something wonderful about Tuahiwi that we might not know.?

In the 80's, at the time my husband was about 8 years old, his mum and dad would drop him off at the 5 Cross Roads and he would walk from one end of the pā to the other. He would end up at Aunty Patricia Silk-Anglem's house on the corner of Bramley's Road.

On his journey about 27 of the maybe 35 houses he passed were relations. He would visit aunties and uncles, taua, poua and cousins while his parents were at the marae.

5. What is the best, most rewarding part of your job?

I love creating extraordinary opportunities for people. I'm always looking to see what and how I can help young people succeed.

When you have been in education for as long as I have you cross many people's paths and when they come back to you when they are adults and they still have a love for you, that's cool....you know you have been a positive influence in their lives, and for many made a massive difference.

Every day is different when you are in a kura, I love that...I never know what the day will bring or who I might meet.