Te Whare Tikanga Māori Candidates 2025
Gemma Franken
Te Whare Tākaro/Playcentre: Blenheim 2014-2016, Waitohi/Picton 2015- 2023
Rōpū: Whānau Māori
Iwi: Rangitāne -Tamaki nui ā Rua
After 9 years of Playcentre life, where I continue to be a life member, I studied a Bachelor of Teaching (ECE). I graduated in March 2025.
I have been on the School Board at my son’s local rural kura for 6 years, four of those years as Presiding Member/Chairperson.
I have also spent the year on the Regional Executive Board for Te Whakarōputanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa, also known as New Zealand School Boards Association, where myself and 4 other elected members represent te Tau Ihu and it’s 120 + kura as a bridge between the region and head office.
At Picton Playcentre, while enrolled, I held every office holder role except Treasurer. As a Life Member, after all my tamariki were in kura, I have gone back to centre to support whānau through changes in Session Facilitators, and to provide support around Privacy, Health and Safety and Property. I continue to further my own education around governance and leadership.
I am raising the next generation. As someone who wasn’t raised as Māori, I am taking the role of cultural responsibility and sustainability very seriously. I know that means that I need to take extra time and care when advocating and holding space for whānau Māori. I believe building visibility and advocating for centres needs to be a top priority for the organisation. This also ties in with building community.
Lynette MacDonald
Te Whare Tākaro/Playcentre: 2009- 2010 – Rolleston Playcentre
Rōpū: Whānau Māori
Iwi: He uri ahau o ngā iwi e iwa o Te Waipounamu – Ngāti Kuia, Rangitāne o Wairau, Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Rārua, Ngai Tahu.
I am currently employed as Pukenga Atawhai with the public health system in Waitaha where my role is to tautoko whānau accessing mental health support at Hillmorten Hospital and Emergency Department at Christchurch Public Hospital.
My experience with governance boards includes:
- 2009 – Parent Representative, Canterbury Playcentre Association Board of Management
- 2011 – 2020 Founding Director, Educarents Limited (Charitable Organisation)
- 2021 – Finance Manager, Birthright New Zealand Trust
- 2021 – Kawhakahaere, Christchurch Collective for the Homeless Charitable Trust
I have held the following roles within Playcentre:
- 2009 Parent Representative, Canterbury Playcentre Association Board of Management. Representing parents of enrolled children at board level, providing positive suggestions for improvements and contributing to the development of the Canterbury Playcentre Association’s 5-year strategic plan.
- 2010 Licensing Liaison Person, Canterbury Playcentre Association. Assisted 51 licensed ECE centres in the association to renew their licenses pursuant to the Early Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008.
- 2018-2019 Property Projects Coordinator, Playcentre Federation. 15-month project management contract with the NZ Playcentre Federation, Upper South Island region, to manage four major capital works projects through to Code Compliance stage.
- 2019-2023 Playcentre Education Tutor, NZ Playcentre Federation. Delivered Playcentre Education workshop B404 to Playcentre parents.
After my tamāhine was born, with the support of Playcentre Aotearoa, I began a journey of cultural reconnection that led me to where I am today – a proud wahine Māori committed to advancing equity, whānau ora and mana motuhake for iwi Māori in Aotearoa.
Joy Scott
Te Whare Tākaro/Playcentre: Nūhaka School Playcentre, 1998-2005.
Rōpū: Whānau Māori
Iwi: Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa
I have 17 years operational and strategic organisational experience spanning local and central government and not for profit organisations. While not a Board member, I have held senior leadership roles and worked with Boards for approximately 8 years and iwi post settlement governance entities.
A bilingual Māori woman, I was raised in te ao Māori in a whānau of reo Māori speakers, with a background in mātauranga Māori.
I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Māori and law and have been admitted to the Bar. All my children attended Playcentre in our rural community, as well as kōhanga reo, where I was licensee at our whānau kōhanga.
I am an advocate of parents as first teachers and believe it takes a village to raise a child and support an equitable two-house governance model.
My responsibility is to advance, nurture and protect the best interests of the tamariki and whānau and to advocate for and provide a balanced sustainable organisation for all those that engage with Playcentre Aotearoa and uphold the values of the tangata whenua model.
Te Pae Tata, Te Pae Tawhiti: (The near/distant horizon: Short/Long term goals)
- To include a Māori development plan to ensure a equitable position for tangata whenua, to build on the gains already existing. Begin with a gap analysis which will identify potential areas to explore and develop. Break these down to achievable and measurable strategic goals.
- Bolster the membership of the Māori team, led by the Pou Māori, and entrench them as change champions and “go to” people for the organisation and to implement the agreed Māori development plan.
- Normalising te reo in centres, with a focus on significant events during the year (eg. Tiriti o Waitangi, Matariki, Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori), and empowering the graduates of Playcentre with cultural awareness as an outcome of their time in Playcentre.
Remaining sustainable and viable as an organisation of choice for parents and whānau remains a challenge, one which largely has been managed well over the years. The long-term challenge however is to ensure the momentum of equity continues.
Andrea Webster
Te Whare Tākaro/Playcentre: Massey Playcentre, Auckland, 2003-2008.
Rōpū: Whānau Māori
Iwi: Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Hine, Ngāi Te Rangi, Whakatohea, Te Whanau Apanui, Ngāti Porou
I’m mum to a blended whānau of seven, aged 16-33, and a nanny to four gorgeous mokopuna.
Currently, I hold board roles for Mount Maunganui College, Tourism Bay of Plenty, the Disabilities Resource Centre Trust, two post settlement governance entities, two ahu whenua trusts and the Playcentre Aotearoa Trustee Board.
I have been Secretary and Chairperson for Massey Playcentre, the licensee for Kōhanga Reo, Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer for Kindergarten and I have been Chairperson and remain a current Board member on the Mount Maunganui College Board for over 8 years.
In 2014, I completed a Postgraduate Diploma in teaching and learning through the University of Canterbury.
I worked as a teacher in local schools at all levels from 2014 until 2020 when I accepted a role with the New Zealand School Trustees Association as an integrated advisor of employment and governance. Eventually I became a specialist regional adviser for all schools within the central northern region. In this role I supported hundreds of school boards and their communities across the country to work through many complex and challenging situations.
I am active in my marae, hapū and iwi matters. I am the current chairperson of two of our whānau ahu whenua trusts and incorporations. I have recently been the chairperson for Hunghungatoroa Marae and I am currently serving on the Ngāti He and Ngai Tukairangi hapu trusts and whānau Ahu Whenua trusts. Prior to training as a teacher, I worked for Ngai Te Rangi iwi within the education unit as a Kaihapai Rangatahi, responsible for the development and facilitation of education support programmes in response to the Kahikitia Māori Education Strategy.
My academic background includes a Bachelor of Social Science, specialising in industrial relations, HR, and organisational psychology. I’ve worked with the Department of Labour and the Employment Relations Mediation Service, resolving employment disputes and providing expert advice for over 25 years.
Currently I’m a Māori Engagement Facilitator at Tauranga City Council, supporting the City Waters Services teams to engage appropriately with local iwi and hapū on projects of work that impact them under the Resource Management Act, the Local Government Act and Council plans and policies. I have the privilege of working alongside the 17 iwi and hapū representatives of Te Rangapu Mana Whenua within the Tauranga City Council boundaries.