Rach McDonell
Tumuaki Tuarua
Deputy Principal
Contact: [email protected]
About Rach
Kia ora koutou katoa, ko Rach McDonell toku ingoa.
I am excited to be joining Te Pae School as an experienced Deputy Principal and to help establish a new kura in this growing community. It is a privilege to shape a school from the ground up and contribute to building something special for our tamariki and whānau.
Every parent wants their child to feel safe, connected, and excited about coming to school. I am passionate about creating an environment where this is a reality — where strong relationships, rich opportunities, and meaningful learning sit at the heart of everything we do. I value working closely with whānau and alongside staff to ensure learning is relevant, inclusive, and future-focused.
I have a strong interest in learning beyond the classroom, particularly through outdoor experiences, the arts, design, science, and gardening — creating opportunities for tamariki to explore, create, and succeed in meaningful ways.
Outside of school, I live locally with my partner Ash and our two boys, Mako and Jet. We love spending time outdoors, going on adventures, watching F1, and enjoying live music.
I look forward to welcoming you and your tamariki to Te Pae and working together to create a positive and thriving school community.
Nau mai, haere mai.
Together we rise – Kōkiritia ki uta.
John Hunte
Tumuaki
Principal
Contact: [email protected]
About John
Tēnā koutou e te whānau o Te Pae, ko John Hunte toku ingoa.
I am incredibly excited and honoured to be the Tumuaki of Te Pae School and to be part of this foundation journey, establishing a kura from the ground up. This is a unique opportunity to create a school that serves the local community and provides meaningful, future-focused opportunities for our tamariki. In my previous role, I spent seven years as the Principal of a Year 1–8 primary school, which was an exciting season of growth and development.
Te Pae School will be a place where relationships matter, where learning is engaging and purposeful, and where every child is supported to thrive. Our vision, Together we rise – Kōkiritia ki uta, reflects our commitment to working collectively as a community to lift each other up and move forward with strength and purpose.
I am passionate about creating a school environment where every student experiences a rich, action-packed journey of learning, discovery, and creativity, while also having a lot of fun along the way. It is my role to ensure this journey is positive, with high-quality teaching and strong systems that support our learners to succeed, develop a love of learning, and build the confidence to try new things.
I feel very fortunate to be working alongside Mana Whenua, Te Kawerau ā Maki, as we begin to build our staff team and welcome whānau and tamariki into the Te Pae School community, creating something special for generations to come.
Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my family. My wife is a teacher, and we have a 9-year-old daughter and a 7-year-old son. I love playing the drums whenever I can and being involved in sport, both playing and watching. I currently play football twice a week, golf as often as possible, and enjoy a bit of tennis when I can, while keeping up with running and cycling. I also passionately support Auckland FC and the Warriors.
Nau mai, haere mai ki Te Pae School.
Stevey Taylor
Tumuaki Tuarua
Deputy Principal
Contact: [email protected]
About Stevey
Ko Stevey Taylor toku ingoa. He uri ahau no Te Taitokerau whānui, Ko Ngāpuhi, ko Te Rarawa ko Ngāti Kahu ngā iwi.
I am a descendant of the North, hailing from the mighty Hokianga Harbour and Ngāti Kahu on the East Coast. With over a decade in education and five years in educational leadership, my mahi is grounded in kaupapa Māori and culturally sustaining approaches to learning.
Relationships sit at the centre of everything I do – I believe that’s where real change begins. Manaakitanga guides how I show up, both in giving and receiving, and I value creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and empowered.
I am incredibly excited to be part of this new journey and to join the establishment leadership team at Te Pae School. We are in a unique position to become a strong focal point for our community – bringing people together and creating a space where our tamariki can thrive academically, socially, and culturally.
Te Pae School presents a powerful opportunity to think boldly and do things differently. I’m looking forward to helping shape innovative approaches to teaching and learning, embedding mātauranga Māori in authentic ways, and building a kura environment where both kaiako and ākonga can truly flourish.
Outside of work, I’m all about whānau, good kai, and even better conversations. You’ll often find me hyping up my mates, bringing energy into every space, and enjoying a good laugh. My passions are wide-ranging—from kapa haka and NRL (Up the WAHS!) to travelling, cooking, learning, and getting stuck into a good book.
A few fun facts about me:
- I’ve performed with Six60 at the Roundhouse in London
- Kaimoana is my all-time favourite kai
- I love a good festival
- Savoury always wins over sweets
- Being authentically Māori has paid for me to travel the world!
If you see me around, don’t hesitate to come and say hi!