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Our People

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Angela Morgan , Centre Manager

Kia ora friends, whānau and local community, I am Angela (Ange) and I am the Centre Manager at Little Wonders Oamaru. I began working at Little Wonders in 2009 and have worked in Early Childhood for over 20 years.


My Early Childhood journey began as a Playcentre Mum where I embraced the opportunity to complete my playcentre training and become an assistant and then supervisor at Lower Waitaki Playcentre. From this, I developed a passion for working with and alongside young children and I began my training towards a Bachelor of Education in ECE graduating in 2010 from the Canterbury University.


I have two adult children and in my spare time I love to garden, enjoy the outdoors, time with family and listening to music.


I have a passion for environment design and how it has a vital role to empower children to play in a natural and unhurried way. I believe it is vital to work in partnership with our whānau and love to observe and enrich the children’s growth and development evolve over the time they are with us.
Like many educators my philosophy continues to evolve and feel it is important that our tamariki in their own time foster the skills for life, through being exposed to real life authentic experiences, through nature and play.


I look forward to meeting your whānau soon.

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Tracy Willetts
Tracy Willetts, Assistant Manager (Tapawha ruma)

Kia Ora my name is Tracy Willetts, I am Assistant Centre Manager here at Little Wonders Oamaru. 

I am an enthusiastic, positive, creative hands-on personality who loves to build relationships with Tamariki, whanau and the community.

I have a passion for developing children’s learning through the principles and learning outcomes of Te Whāriki, our guiding curriculum.

I began teaching 26 years ago, first entering home-based care for three years followed by training and completing my Diploma of Teaching in early childhood education.

My, Oamaru local husband and I have two adult sons and a 10-year-old granddaughter. I have spent 30 years holidaying in Oamaru, with friends and family, and moving here in early 2024.

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Emma Cathcart, Team Leader (Porowhita ruma)

Kia Ora, I am Emma. I have been a part of Early Childhood Education for over fifteen years and very passionate about providing quality education and care.

I have always felt a passion for working with and alongside young children and their families.
Providing a warm calm learning environment, allowing the children to learn at their own pace, building safe secure relationships and being respectful and responsive to the needs and interests of young children have always been paramount to my own teaching practice.


I am a mother of two wonderful boys (11 & 9) and I am excited to bring my skills and knowledge as both a parent and as a teacher.
I spend my spare time on our lifestyle block, helping my husband with our business, cooking, gardening and enjoying the company of close family and friends.

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Justine Middlemass , Certificated teacher (Porowhita ruma)
My name is Justine, and I am thrilled to be one of the Little Wonders Kaiako. My family and I moved to Oamaru in 2002, and I completed most of my schooling here. I graduated from the University of Otago with a bachelor's Degree in Teaching Early Childhood Education in 2020. I have been working at Little Wonders Oamaru since February 2021.
I love to see children's curiosity nurtured through the discovery of the natural environment.
I like to build positive relationships with all Tamariki and all the people who are involved in their lives.
I also like to help children develop values like perseverance and determination as they give new things a go and they work on developing their skills at their own pace.
In my spare time, I enjoy swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking and riding my bike to work. I also enjoy walking and discovering new scenery, being amongst nature and spending time playing games with my family. 
I am really looking forward to meeting and getting to know all of you and working with and alongside your tamariki
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Ana Zubiri, Uncertificated teacher (Tapatoru ruma)

Hola
My name is Ana. I'm originally from Uruguay (South America) and I have been in New Zealand 17 years.

I'm a proud mom of three beautiful daughters that are the most important people of my life.
I have been a part of Early childhood Education for over fourteen years and my passion is to help expand young children's mind and to help them grow and develop into young independent learners. I spend my spare time cooking and enjoy the company of close friends and family.

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Lyndal Mulligan, Uncertificated teacher (Tapawha ruma)

Kia ora, my name is Lyndal Mulligan and I’m in my final year of studying towards my Bachelor of Teaching, Early Childhood.

I have worked in Early Childhood since 2013 and am passionate in advocating for our tamariki and their whānau. I love being part of our tamariki’s learning adventures and watching them grow and learn. I also get to be Mum to 2 teenagers, I love planning family adventures, singing and I get very competitive at Quiz Nights! Please don’t hesitate to come and say hi!

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Hannah Gould, Administrator
Hello!! I was born In Cardiff, Wales and moved to New Zealand with my family when I was 6 years old growing up in Christchurch and moved to Oamaru in 2020. Introverted social butterfly that enjoys being amongst nature, music and forever gathering art/crafts projects and books that I will eventually read one day. I look forward to being your first point of contact with the centre.
Taina
Taina Asi , Uncertificated Teacher (Porowhita ruma)

Malo e lelei
Ko hoku hingoa ko Taina.

My name is Taina. I grew up in Tonga with my parents, four sisters and two brothers.
We moved to Australia in 2008 and then I moved down to Oamaru in 2015, married with my lovely husband Paea.

 

My hobbies are singing with the choir at church and also cooking.
I really enjoy working with children. I had some experience working with children in Tonga and in Australia.


I joined Little Wonders in 2015 and have come to really love working with the 2yrs old and under since I joined here.
I look forward to meet more children and their families.

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Latecha
Latecha Bathgate,  Certificated Teacher (Tapatoru ruma)

Kia ora my name is Latecha and I grew up here in Oamaru.
I have worked here at Little Wonders since the end of 2017.
I have always been interested in working with children and have completed my degree in early childhood education.

I believe that us as adults are always learning new things just like the children and it is so rewarding getting to watch the children as they continue to learn new things all the time.

I look forward to getting to know you and your children during their time here with us.

Laura
Laura Dinning , Certificated Teacher (Tapawha ruma)
Kia Ora I'm Laura,
I am originally from England but moved to Oamaru when I was thirteen with my family. I have recently graduated with my Bachelor of Teaching (early childhood education) and have been here at Little Wonders Oamaru for 3.5 years. 
I enjoy building relationships with the tamariki built off trust and nurture. I like to get to know each child individually and supporting them to build their own interests about the world surrounding them. I am passionate about bringing an environment which is fun and rewarding for the tamariki.
Feel free to come and say hello! I cant wait to work alongside you and your tamariki
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Yuliya Hanns, Support Staff
Hi my name is Yuliya
I am original adopted from Russia and have been in New Zealand for 25 years.
I am happily married to Dean and we have 3 children, 1 girl and 2 boys.
I love being outdoors doors, playing sport and trying different experiences. 
I have been working in Early Childhood environment for 15 years and love spending time with kids and all their different personalities.