Posts in Huia Room
Leetal Mills

Leetal is the Team Leader of the Huia room. She is a qualified and registered teacher. Leetal is one of our longest standing Pīwaka teachers, having taught in our babies’ room for 8 years. Leetal is passionate about teaching with Aroha and does her best to ensure that your young ones develop Trust and a sense of Belonging in their new home. Leetal has two young children of her own, and is such a wealth of knowledge for all you new mothers.

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Selena Newman

Selena holds a Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Early Childhood) and is a fully registered teacher with extensive experience in the early childhood sector since 2000. She took a brief hiatus to raise her two boys, but her passion for early childhood education has always been at the core of her career. Selena is dedicated to fostering developmental growth and providing quality learning experiences for young children. Outside of work, she enjoys spending quality time with her family, including her husband, two boys, and twin sister.

Selena oversees the curriculum at Pīwaka supporting the Team Leaders and spends 3 days a week in Muriwai room.

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Stacey Heavey

Stacey holds a Bachelor of Teaching ECE and is a fully certificated teacher. Stacey believes in empowering and uplifting the mana of each child as they are considered taonga. She is passionate about working alongside infants, and respectful care is a huge part of her teaching philosophy and teaching practice. Stacey honored to have her three tamariki with her here at Pīwaka, where they are secure in their identity, culture and unique ways of learning.

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Huia RoomPhil Houghton
Steph Edwards

Steph started working in Piwaka in January 2024 before joining the Huia Team in July 2024. Steph has been a nanny for 6 years with the same family and an Education Worker for 3 years working in centres in West Auckland. In her spare time Steph enjoys fishing and hanging out with her cat and partner.

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Huia RoomPhil Houghton
Heleana McNair Burns

Heleana started working in Piwaka in July 2023 as a reliever before joining the Huia Team in January 2024. Heleana has two and a half years previous experience working with infants. Her goal as a Kaiako is to provide a safe and nurturing environment where tamariki are able to always have a sense of well-being and belonging.

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Huia RoomPhil Houghton
Pei-Pei Wang

Pei-Pei is a highly experienced teacher, having taught infants and toddlers since 2011, when she moved here from Taiwan. She believes each child is a ‘unique seed’ and as a kaiako she waters them with love, respect, care, trust and playfulness. She is also a mother of two daughters. Pei-Pei enjoys watching movies and swimming in her free time.

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Huia RoomPhil Houghton