Meet Ripeka

Ripeka Price

Kaimahi | Facilitator

Ripeka has the fabulous ability as a facilitator to deliver Cultural Capability and does so with humility and confidence while maintaining and enhancing the mana of others. She leads by example and collaborates with others through manaakitanga and aroha. With 24 years of teaching experience, primarily in the secondary school sector, Ripeka credits her professional growth to her tupuna, her hapu and her iwi.

Ripeka lives her commitment to cultural partnerships between Māori and non-Māori through her mahi as a Trustee on the Piopio College Board of Trustees (marae endorsed), her role as Chairperson on the Iwi Regional Management Committee (Maniapoto) as Chairperson, her role as Trustee for Mōkau Kohunui Marae, and her role as a kaumatua and Teacher. Her representation within the community strengthens relationships as mana whenua as she embraces teaching others tikanga, reo and mātauranga Māori.

She advocates for the implementation and consideration of te reo, tikanga and an inclusive approach in all her interactions. She builds strong, trusting relationships with those she works with, so the learning is reciprocal, safe and with an intention to support others to consider their own worldviews alongside a Māori world view.

One of Ripeka's strengths is her patience to allow others to voice their opinion or views, encouraging them to reflect on the views of others, using her own experiences as examples and her openness to challenge her own values, beliefs and perspectives. She treats everyone with the same respect and affords them the same opportunities no matter their age, ethnicity, gender or ability. She is able to lead by example and mana enhancing practices, and collaborate with others through manaakitanga and aroha.