Board of Trustees - Meet the Team!

Ngākuru School has long been the hub of our community.

We have a fantastic Board of Trustees with a common goal, to provide the best education and opportunities for our community's children. We have an excellent working relationship with our Principal and together with the highly experienced staff, we are seeing excellent academic results.

Because of the school's integrity and historical past, we have formed an amazing culture within our school and wider community, resulting in a growing roll.

Our kids just love the place!

Nick Edmonds (BoT Chairperson)

Presiding Member / Chairperson

Nick Edmonds

Principal

Rachel Weinberg

Parent Trustees

Roelof Corver

Simon Barbour

Rory Antony

Tiffany Murrell

Staff Rep

Sue Crockett

Minutes Secretary

Dave Knapman

Rachel Weinberg - Principal

My name is Rachel Weinberg and was born and bred in Rotorua. I am married to Garth and we have two daughters, Melissa and Hannah.

I started as Acting Principal at Ngākuru School in Term 4, 2020 and took over as permanent principal at the beginning of the 2021 school year. Prior to that I was Deputy Principal at Westbrook School in Rotorua. Coming out to a small rural school is a breath of fresh air and is a complete change for me. I am loving the challenges that being a principal brings and am learning lots of new things.

I am thrilled to be a part of Ngākuru School - the staff, students and community are very welcoming and I look forward to many more years here.

Mrs Sue Crockett - Staff Rep

I am Rotorua born and bred, attending local primary, intermediate and high school in town. Most of my teaching career has also been in the Rotorua area. I have been at Ngākuru since 2014 - a refreshing change to my career. A small school meant wearing many hats. I realised that being part of the management team, I needed a better understanding of what went on behind the scenes in running a school. Lots of questions have been asked and when a vacancy occurred on the Board, I put my hand up to be elected. It has been a thoroughly enlightening experience, one I hope to continue.

Always something new to consider - What will be best for our students and our amazing rural school?

Mr Dave Knapman - Minutes Secretary

My name is Dave Knapman.

I was a qualified teacher before a change in occupation to dairy farming in 1976. Following the 1987 Edgecumbe earthquake Fran and I moved to a sharemilking job in Ngākuru with our two children. We sold the cows in 1990.

I have had a long association with Ngākuru school both as a parent and as a teacher.

I started teaching at the school in August 1990 as a long term reliever. The position became permanent in 1991. In 1993 I was appointed Acting Principal and was Principal from 1994 to 1997.

I started as the Board of Trustees minute secretary in February 2008.

I have seen many changes in the school over the years as a parent, teacher and minute secretary and am impressed with the positivity of Rachel and the staff and the effort they put into assisting our students to be successful achievers.

Simon Barbour - Parent Rep

My family has been in Ngākuru for over 20 years and I was a student at Ngakuru School. Today my two daughters Emma and Romy and my son Jacob attend Ngākuru School. The school and community have helped to give me a great start to life, and I am keen to see the school continue to support and encourage our children towards a bright and healthy future.

I have an honours degree in Agricultural Science and I now grow certified organic vegetables with my wife Jordyn, here in Ngākuru. I have a passion for hauora (whole health) as I believe that it is vital to teach our children the importance of social, physical, mental and spiritual health.

I wish to see the continuation of good traditional values passed onto the children through the curriculum and community, to give them every opportunity to truly thrive.

Roelof Corver - Parent Rep

My Wife Lindy, our children Alex and Alyssa and I moved to Ngākuru in July 2018 and we enrolled Alex in Ngakuru School at that time. Alyssa was also enrolled when she reached school age and both our kids have flourished in their time at our school.

In July 2020 I was appointed as a member on the Ngākuru School board of trustees and have been involved ever since.

Being a Fabricator/Welder by trade and a Maintenance Planner at a large industrial site, I am very familiar with what it takes to maintain various assets such as pumps, plumbing, valves, electrical system, buildings etc. I believe my skills and experience is very useful as I bring some technical insight to our highly skilled board.

I have been involved in some working bees, Ag days, wood splitting and have repaired some garden equipment at the school. I enjoy dirt biking with Alex, boating, fishing, mountain biking with my family, helping to take care of our animals and tinkering with things that have engines.

Tiffany Murrell - Parent Rep

Hi Folks! My name is Tiffany and you will know me as Avah's Mum.

I have been proud to serve as a member of the Ngākuru School Board of Trustees since 2024, and it is a pleasure to continue on the board for the next term following the recent election nominations.

I remain deeply invested in supporting decisions that shape the future of our children and our community. Working alongside my fellow board members, I am committed to making thoughtful, collaborative decisions that uphold our school’s values.

It is heartening to see the way our community shows such strong involvement in their children’s learning and environment, as it reflects how connected parents are to the success of their children.

It is also special to see our kiddies continue to strive for excellence academically with the countless efforts of our amazing teaching staff and with the support of our parents through various sports.

We will ensure as a board we remain dedicated to ensuring Ngākuru School remains a place where every child can thrive.

Rory Antony- Parent Rep

Hi, I'm Rory and I've been in Ngākuru for about 12 years with my partner Paulette & Daughter Taila.

I'm a Royal New Zealand Air Force trained Aircraft Engineer with experience in many other

engineering and product development roles and some short term agricultural roles.

With our daughter Taila in Room 2 this year we continue to focus on quality schooling and have developed a greater understanding of the importance of the right type of education in our rapidly growing world.

I believe having strong core values is a keystone to which personal growth & education can be built around & I enjoy being part of a group that helps guide that journey for the children in our community.

I'm aware of the importance of the board and its responsibilities, I've been serving on the Board of Trustees for the last term & now for the next few years & I feel that the experience I've gained throughout my various roles & training will continue to provide the Board of Trustees team with helpful ideas & ways of tackling issues.

Over the last few years my partner Paulette & I have created the freedom to be able to help others & contribute to the community.

While I'm not running my own business I do work maintaining the walking, horse & mountain bike trails in the Whakarewarewa Forest for the Rotorua Trails Trust. I also mountain bike, play squash (Waikite Valley Squash Club), snow ski, ride dirt bikes and while at home I enjoy gardening, building projects & repairing engines/machinery.

I currently serve on the Ngākuru Hall Committee & help co-ordinate the local market days (Farmers Day Out).

I definitely appreciate the opportunity to continue serving on the board, and look forward to furthering my understanding and usefulness to the Ngākuru School.

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