Kia ora tatou,

I am really excited to be leading South Wellington Intermediate School as the Acting Principal. I joined SWIS in 2020 having already taught for 9 years at another intermediate school. I love this agegroup and the amazing transformation our students go through during their two years with us. 

SWIS has an amazing teaching staff and is part of such a diverse and vibrant community in the Southern Suburbs, we offer our students a broad range of learning opportunities and live our mission of statement Challenge – Engage – Inquire – Inspire, and our vision; To always challenge the status quo, engaging and inspiring our students to achieve to their highest potential at SWIS and beyond.

I have a passion for pastoral care and enjoy working with students inside and outside the classroom. I am passionate about sports and enjoy coaching teams.  Outside of school I have a busy family life, you are likely to find me following my daughters around their various sports and activities. In my free time you might find me running around the south coast or walking the dog at Lyall Bay beach. I love spending time in and around the water.

Tena koutou katoa

This is my fourth year at SWIS, and I’m proud to be the fourth member of my whānau to be part of this special school community. My partner, Thomas, was a student here, and our children, Ben (24) and Aimee (21), have also walked these corridors.

In early 2025, I stepped into the role of Acting SENCO, and in April 2025, I was honoured to take on the permanent position of Deputy Principal and SENCO.

Over the years, I’ve taught across Years 1–8 in both Aotearoa and the UK. I’ve also worked for the Ministry of Education, lead teacher professional learning contracts, run an education website, and written teacher support materials for the MOE Literacy Series. Literacy is a particular passion of mine, and I’m especially committed to supporting students in building resilience and confidence in their learning. I am committed to ensuring the learning environment is an inclusive place for all learners.

Outside of school, I love travelling, spending time with family and designing and sewing clothes and jewellery for my family, friends, and myself.

Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa

Tēnā Koutou Katoa. I’m a Cantabrian, born and raised in Christchurch, but have spent time overseas, living in China until Covid trapped me in NZ, leading me to start my teaching career in earnest at home. I am excited to be part of the science team at SWIS, taking advantage of my undergrad major in Anatomy. Outside of school I’ve taken up a bit of game design as a hobby, and enjoy relaxing with a video game, movie or TV series, accompanied by the occasional bit of exercise.

Kia ora koutou katoa! Ko Morgan tōku ingoa.

Originally from Auckland, I completed a Bachelor’s in Interior Architecture at Victoria University in 2023 and am now working toward a Graduate Diploma in Primary Teaching. My background in Architecture has strengthened my creativity, problem-solving, and visual skills—all of which I’m excited to bring to my teaching. I look forward to creating a warm, engaging environment that inspires students to explore their potential. Outside of school, I enjoy unwinding with a good video game or movie. I also love to cook, relax at Lyall Bay Beach, and spend quality time with friends and family.

Talofa lava.

My name is Stephen Moli.  I am of Samoan descent, but I grew up in Tauranga and have been living in Wellington for the past 7 years. I teach Physical Education for SemiSpec and help out with sports and Pasifika. In my spare time, I enjoy playing sports, listening to and playing music, eating and spending time with family and friends.

E tū ana ahau i tōku maunga o Kaiatewhetu, Ka titiro whakararo ki tōku awa o Waimamaku, Kei reira tōku waka o Ngatokimatawhaorua. Ka huri tōku mata ki tōku marea o Te Whakamaharatanga. Nāna nei te hapu o Ngati Korokoro i taurima.

Hei whakaruruhau i a mātou ngā iwi o Ngā puhi me Te Roroa. Te Ngarunui, Te Ngaruroa, Te Ngarupaewhenua – The great wave, the long wave and the wave that lands upon the shore.

Tenā koutou katoa, My name is Hannah and I whakapapa from the far north. I grew up in Tamaki Makaurau before moving here to Whanganui-a-tara to study at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University. I completed a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Art History and Media Studies before completing my Graduate Diploma in Primary Teaching. Outside of school you can find me doing kapa haka, hanging with friends or running my own clothing business.

Kia ora koutou katoa, ko Rebecca tōku ingoa!

Tēnā Koutou Katoa,
Cycling from Britain to Rome to Marrakech, was my last big adventure before settling in Wellington to raise my family with my wife Gemma. On the weekends you will find me swimming, walking, hanging from the playground, biking, reading a book, or watching a movie with my daughters Briar and Jette.

One of my many interests is sports. Whether it’s cheering from the sideline, coaching a team, or actively participating in recreational activities.
I understand the importance of teamwork, discipline, and perseverance. These are valuable life lessons I weave into the classroom everyday.

In the ever-evolving world of technology, I am an advocate for integrating digital technology into the learning process. I recognize that today’s students are digital natives and strive to harness the power of technology to enhance the educational experience, making learning engaging and relevant.

While I have a strong passion for sports and technology, my primary dedication is to provide genuine learning experiences. I am committed to fostering a nurturing, inclusive, and supportive learning environment that empowers students to explore their potential, develop critical thinking skills, and become lifelong learners.

Kia ora koutou katoa, ko Greg tōku ingoa.

I’m a Wellingtonian born and bred, and have also lived in Te Puru in the Coromandel. I’m an experienced teacher and have a passion for the arts which I love to weave into my teaching and learning wherever possible. My wife, Miriam and I have 3 children as well as 2 cats and a Labrador!  In my spare time I love playing music, dance, astronomy and golf.

Tēnā koutou katoa! My name is Xiaoyu Zhai and I joined South Wellington Intermediate School in term three of 2023. I am originally from China, I completed a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Applied Statistics, a Master of Science in Applied Statistics, and a Graduate Diploma in Teaching at Victoria University of Wellington. In my spare time, I enjoy playing with my little boy, jigsaw puzzles and handcrafts.

Kia ora koutou

You know you’ve been working at SWIS for a long time when (a) new students inform you that “You taught my mum/dad/aunty/uncle”, and (b) you are asked outside of school if you are still teaching there! I am trying a new focus this year, still teaching textiles, French and stitching techniques for Enrichment, but this year I am releasing teachers, rather than having my own home class. I am still coordinating our Gifted and Talented programmes which this year include Kids’ Lit Quiz, Tournament of Minds, Future Problem Solving, World Scholars’ Cup, and ShowQuest Toi. In my spare time you will find me singing with Faultline Chorus, reading, knitting, or making quilts.

Tēnā koutou katoa. I’ve taught a variety of levels, from new entrants to high school, but I  particularly like working with the intermediate age group.  I teach food technology at SWIS and I have high expectations of what our students are capable of – from the very first lesson we make real food from scratch. Though my degree is in maths and economics, I draw on my own experiences from a previous life when I owned and ran my own café, making up many of my recipes. With the skills and knowledge that our students will acquire at SWIS, they will have the foundations to adapt and work around recipes to suit themselves. In my out of school life, I enjoy reading, mountain biking and exploring wild places.

Tēnā koutou katoa, Ko Nicola ahau
I have discovered I’m the fourth and final person in our immediate family to attend SWIS – ranging from 50 – 8 years ago! I have taught across years 1 – 8 both in NZ and the UK, worked for the MOE, run an education website and for the past five years (and continuing) written teacher support material for the MOE Literacy Series. At SWIS, I will work part-time providing support for literacy and numeracy across the school as well as some kaiako release. I have a particular love for literacy and have been told I’ve inspired many tamariki to become writers too. When I get spare time, I love designing and sewing clothes for family, friends and myself.

Nō reira tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa

I started at SWIS in 2019 having previously worked at Owhiro Bay School. I’m looking forward to the chance to reconnect with the students who’ve moved to SWIS from OBS and meet a wide range of new students.

Fanaga has been part of the Support Staff at SWIS since 2004.

I have been a Teacher Aide at SWIS since 2014.

I began working at SWIS as a teacher aide in 2021.