East Coast – Valentine Tureia Irwin

East Coast – Valentine Tureia Irwin

Posted on October 16, 2011 by admin in Mana Candidate Profiles

Valentine Tureia Irwin

Tribal Affiliations

  • Ngaati Rakaipaaka of Nuhaka, Ngaati Kahungunu ki Wairoa
  • Ngaati Taawhaki o Ngaai Tuhoe , Waimana, Ruatoki ( Ngaahina , ) Ruatahuna me hoki Waikaremoana ( Waimako )
  • Rongowhakaata, Aitanga a Mahaki me hoki Whakatohea o Opotiki

Educational Background

  • Wairoa Primary
  • Wairoa, Northcote and Avondale Colleges
  • Auckland Teachers College ( Diploma of Teaching )
  • Auckland Education Board ( Trained Teachers Certificate)
  • University of Auckland, Massey and Canterbury ( Bachelor of Arts )
  • University of Waikato ( Post graduate diploma of Sports and Leisure

Employment History

I am a trained teacher and certificated graduate from the Auckland education board in the year 1972, and completed my first degree in 1996 from the University of Canterbury and my post graduate diploma from the University of Waikato in 2004.

I have taught in the following schools, Kowhai Intermediate, Manurewa Intermediate, Homai primary school, Manurewa High school, Mangere College, Aiwo primary school, Nauru secondary school, Mangere college again and then from there to Whangamata Area school.

My tertiary career began at the Christchurch, College of education, teaching a paper for the University of Canterbury in speech and language therapy for seven years. After stints at the Dunedin college of education, the university of Otago, Dunedin’s correction unit, and Nga toko Amo, a private school for unsettled teens, then saw me contracted as a consultant for Physical Education New Zealand in the realm of games and play Maori.

I toured the country for three and a half years running workshops and developing courses for professionals in school, tertiary institutions, DHB’s , some early childhood associations, and for some city councils. I finally took a break and headed back to Hawke’s Bay where I eventually ended up in Te Wananga o Aotearoa as a teacher of te ara reo maori and as a lecturer in their Bachelor of Teaching ( primary ) programme.

My final contract in teaching was a Head of Department of Health and Physical education at Wairoa College. I have spent the last two years in corrective surgery and rehabilitation, and am still to complete a physiotherapy course of exercise and orthotics.