Kia ora tēna koutou katoa
My name is Nancy Green and I am delighted to be joining the Playcentre team. I have a degree in Organisational Communication and bring 20 years of corporate training experience and 30 years of working with children. I originally hail from California and travelled to New Zealand in the 90’s and met my husband Brendon on the Abel Tasman track. Brendon is from Tokoroa of Ngati Hikairo and Ngapuhi descent so we have ties to Kawhia marae and the Hokianga.
We settled in Wellington where I worked with the NZ Dairy Board and transferred to Mexico City as their Spanish-speaking Change Manager before returning to the Huntington Beach in the U.S. where we had our 4 children.
We returned to New Zealand and homeschooled them before joining St Heliers School when our youngest was 6 years old. I speak from the heart when I encourage families to dedicate those initial years to enjoying their children, shaping their character, keeping siblings together, creating a community, and building strong memories and traditions.
All four are now fine young adults aged 13 to 18 years, excelling at Glendowie College, Sacred Heart College and Victoria University Wellington and making us very proud.
I contracted back to Fonterra as a Change Manager for several years before becoming the Director of Faith4Families where I have had the pleasure of working with Mary and Ian Grant for 7 years. As my children moved out of the age range for Faith Box, I trained up my successor and sought a new role.
I am eager to be apart of the Playcentre team and wholeheartedly embrace the vision of Whānau tupu ngātahi – Families growing together. I look forward to being part of Rõpū Playcentre affirming parents as the first and best educators, valuing whānau play, and fostering communities interwoven with Te Ao Māori.