Kia Ora, I'm Niki Collins. I have been here at Te Totara Primary School since it opened in 2008. I have taught across all levels of the school and am excited to be joining the Milky Way team this year.

I enjoy all aspects of teaching but particularly love Reading, Art and Physical Education. I'm looking forward to a fantastic year with Milky Way 18.

Hello, my name is Rebecca Gardyne and I am very excited about 2024. I have been a teacher on and off at Te Totara since 2012. I have taught in most of the blocks and a range of year levels. Now I am the teacher of a fabulous group of year five and six students in Milky Way 19.
I enjoy making learning fun, exciting, hands on and relevant. I love the outdoors and am very passionate about bringing the outdoor environment into my students' learning. My absolute favourite is teaching PE and having sports days! I love being amongst nature, keeping fit and relaxing with friends. But most of all I love being with my husband Kyle and children Theo and Zoey.
I have an open door policy, so if you have any questions, concerns or just want to say hello then feel free to come in any time. I look forward to meeting you.

My name is Morgan Hunter. I have been teaching for 9 years, working with students from Year 0-6. Before working at Te Totara, I was teaching at a school in Morrinsville and I also lived and worked in London.

Outside of the classroom I enjoy spending time with family and friends, being at the beach and going on hikes.

Kia ora,
My name is Kristy Hanks. This is my eighth year teaching at Te Totara Primary School, and my fifth year with year 5/6. Prior to this I taught in the year 3/4 area of the school. I love being part of the Te Totara community and getting to know my students and their whānau. I have passions in teaching literacy and Digital Technologies, and have completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Digital and Collaborative Learning. My classroom is a safe space for children to take risks and step out of their comfort zone, building confidence and resilience.

In my spare time I enjoy riding my horse, hiking, walking my dog, and spending time outdoors.

I look forward to meeting you.

Kia ora

My name is Jim Baker and I am lucky enough to have gained a teaching position at Te Totara School in front of the amazing kids in Room 21. I started at Te Totara Primary School as a Guest Teacher in 2023 and before that had been teaching at a Whangarei School for many years. I am just about in my thirtieth year of Primary School teaching and I still enjoy helping everyone in the class to reach their goals. I try to engage students by making the learning fun, meaningful and motivating and I support a collaborative classroom environment.

I am married with two grown children and am also blessed with two wonderful grandchildren. I love birds, comics, gardening, spinning vinyl and discovering family history through genealogy research.

I believe that home-school partnership is extremely important and always welcome all contact with parents.

Kia ora :)

Ko Rochelle Lingard tōku ingoa.
No Rangiwahia ahau.
Ko Te Totara tōku wāhi mahi.

Kia ora koutou, my name is Rochelle Lingard and I am pleased to be a teacher at Te Totara school.

I grew up in Rangiwahia, a very isolated farming area in the Manawatu. I moved to the big city of Kirikiriroa/Hamilton to train as a kaiako/teacher, and I am still here. I’ve been teaching for many years with experience in all areas from Year 2 to Year 8.

I have always wanted to teach since I was in primary school. I am particularly passionate about Pāngarau/Mathematics, Te Reo Māori and the importance of regular Whakaako tinana/Physical Education. However, I get excited when students succeed across all curriculum areas!

My husband and I have two delightful daughters. We like to spend much of our time at the takutai/beach. I also enjoy mahi māra/gardening, panui/reading, and eke paihikara/cycling.

Ngā mihi,
Rochelle