2019 Common Election results

Black Amy
Elected

Kia Ora My name is Amy, I live in Martinborough with my husband and four kids, the eldest of whom has just started at Kuranui, the other three will follow him over the next few years. My background is in health management; I am currently a Managing director / owner of 3 Wellington health companies (Wellington Sports Med, Willis Street Physiotherapy and The Physio Spot). My role is mostly focused on finance, business management, and looking after the teams who I work with. We are involved in everything from working with elite athletes, to those who put their backs out pegging out the washing. Our core vision to to ‘keep people active, and get our community back doing what they love’. Over the last few years we have also done a lot of work in the youth wellbeing and health space (which is a particular passion of mine). Last year, myself and my business partner set up a social enterprise (The Physio Spot) to ensure young people of all genders and backgrounds could access physiotherapy services. Since 2017 I have also been an independent director at the Cancer Society Welllington, I sit on their main board as well as their finance, audit and risk and and investment committees. I have done lots of governance training in recent times that will help me to be an effective School Board Member. I am a big communicator and approach everything I do in a collaborative way. I always want to know what the community thinks about an issue and who the key stakeholders are, and how we can ensure that every member of the school community is considered in the decision making process. As I get to know Kuranui College, I am already hugely impressed by the school vision and values, and the breath of opportunities provided to help each individual enjoy their time at college, and explore their own personal learning journeys. It seems like a really supportive, dynamic place to learn, where ‘success’ is not a generic concept - it looks and feels different for each child, and it would be a privilege to be part of the governance of that. Thanks for reading.

Belinda Jane Cordwell
Elected

I’m Belinda Cordwell. My husband Collier and I have one son, Henry, in year 12 and our other son, Will , is in year 10 at Kuranui College. We also have two year 12 international students, Oskar and Ramon, living with us and attending Kuranui in 2019. I have been on the Kuranui Board of Trustees for the last 3 years and would like to be considered for re-election.

So why choose me?

Over the past 6 years, (prior to Kuranui I was on the Board of Trustees at Greytown School) I have developed my governance skills by on the job experience and through the numerous courses offered to trustees by the NZSTA. I have been on the board of Tennis NZ twice since the late 1990s and I feel confident I can offer sound governance advice to, and in support of, the principal, Simon Fuller, who in turn leads the management team at Kuranui . I am also aware of the time and commitment required to be a school trustee and I am prepared to put in the effort required to do the job well. I firmly believe the mantra of “ the local college for local kids” and, in my opinion, this is where the education effort should be focussed. I think Kuranui has grown enormously in the last couple of years and we have also seen a real shift in the community’s perception of the college, particularly in the last 18 months. At present, there is real energy at Kuranui and huge scope to develop our community/ college partnership, which I would like to continue to lend my support to. Lastly, I’m passionate about Kuranui. It’s the college of our community, the staff and personnel are first rate and holistic student learning is the central focus. I like seeing the 4 teenagers leave our house each morning to bike to the school bus and it has felt good to help the waka go faster by playing my part as a trustee since 2016. I gained valuable skills in my Athletes Services role for the NZ Olympic team in Sydney 2000 and in Manchester in 2002 when our simple motto was “one team” and I would welcome the opportunity, with your vote, to be part of the one team at Kuranui College for the next 3 years.

I am keen to support Kuranui College as it goes from strength to strength. The college is a place for our young people to learn, grow and be the best they can be. I have a son in year 12 and another son at primary school who will go to Kuranui in 2021. I bring skills learned from life and being a parent, and also from working in areas of community development and public health. I currently work in emergency management, and my original qualificaiton was a law degree. I have lived in the Wairarapa for the last 12 years, after moving from Wellington, I grew up in Hastings. I have been involved in the community having managed or coached football teams, a basket ball team and I'm on the Greytown swim club committee. I believe some of the skills and experience I bring will be valuable as a board of trustee member. I will strive to work with the community, parents and college to help our young people flourish.

John O'Connell
Elected

I joined the Kuranui Board at the last elections three years ago and chair the Finance and Facilities Committee. Those three years have been quite a journey as we steered through the appointment of a new Principal and adopted a new junior curriculum and we've seen roll growth as a result. I’ve enjoyed being part of a forward looking approach at the Board table, ably led by our Board Chair, which the Board appoint at the start of each year.

I’m putting my name forward again because this forward looking approach continues to offer Kuranui a very bright future. Creating the Community gym facility has untapped potential to cement Kuranui in the South Wairarapa Community. Our arts and theatre success for a small school is outstanding and we continue to do well in in academic achievements. Our focus now is to see the sport plan implemented and improve our sports outcomes.

My eldest son Lachlan finished Year 13 last year and my daughter Amelia (Year 12) and son Charlie (Year 10) are current students. From my children’s experiences and successes in all that Kuranui offers, I continue to proudly say I backed my local school as the best opportunity available to them.

In my day job I am the Chief Executive of Life Education Trust NZ, an organisation employing 45+ teachers, providing a range of health education initiatives in primary, intermediate and secondary schools. I have a Bachelor of Commerce and Management, am a member of the Institute of Directors, Human Resources Institute of NZ and Australasian Society of Executives. I have a solid understanding of governance – and creating an environment to let the management team excel.

In my wider community roles I am the Chair of the Wellington/Wairarapa NZ Lottery Grants Board Committee distributing approx. $3.4m to local community groups each year.

Dennis Wiegman
Elected

Dennis Wiegman (45) is a Cross Media Designer and part owner of BluddyBrilliant Advertising & Design, with a degree in Graphic Arts and more than 20 years of experience in on and offline media.

Having moved to New Zealand two years ago, from the Netherlands with not only the family but also the business, he is now settled within the beautiful Wairarapa.

Dennis is married and has two sons, the eldest of which, Joshua Wiegman attends Kuranui College with great enjoyment. In his spare time Dennis enjoys fly fishing and the great NZ outdoors.

He’s easy going and not afraid to roll up his sleeves, so keen to get stuck in and help keep ‘the Kuranui momentum’ going.