Mō Mātou | Our Story

Established in 2021, Kia Kotahi Ako (Learning As One) is an alliance of Edmund Hillary Fellows, activating education initiatives that will have the biggest impact for Papatūānuku (mother earth).

WHY? We have a climate crisis and an inequitable education system. We’re working to tackle both of these issues - together. We’d love your help.

“I orea te tuatara ka patu ki waho.”
— A problem is solved by continuing to find solutions.

Founding Trustees are Joanne McEachen (Waitaha, Ngāti Māmoe, Ngāi Tahu), Nikora Ngaropo (Te Rarawa, Tuhoe, Ngāti Porou, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahungunu) and Andrew Boyd. Joanne has over 30 years experience in education in Aotearoa and globally as a teacher, principal, at the Ministry for Education and as a government advisor in systems change. They are joined by leaders, Huia Lambie (Ngāti Mutunga) and Sarah Grant, bringing their rich experience in iwi and hapū development and global education.

Informed by indigenous wisdom, we connect the dots to have a bigger impact ‘as one’. The two koru in our logo represent the spirit of collaboration, to emphasise the “smooth flow” and harmony necessary to work together.


To be involved with this mahi (work); email us at contact@kiakotahi.org

How we are working

  • The intrinsic knowledge system of Te Ao Māori as a base for solutions

    Student-designed solutions to tackle environmental challenges

    Equitable educational outcomes

  • Whakawhanaungatanga:  thoughtful connections with others

    Kaitiakitanga: intentional care in the way we work - for ourselves, others and the planet

    Ako: learning in the spirit of reciprocity 

    The secret sauce: alert to new possibilities

  • Accelerating education solutions for the environment

    Championing Te Ao Māori initiatives

    Weaving opportunities for policy system change

We are doing this through our contributions to three key projects. We see these projects as catalysts to wider impact in Aotearoa and driving the change needed at the system level.

Our Team

  • Joanne McEachen

    Founder

    Waitaha, Ngāti Māmoe, and Ngāi Tahu

    Joanne loves developing ways for students, teachers, and communities to learn about themselves, their place in the world, and how they may contribute their gifts to humanity. She has over 30 years of global education experience as a teacher, principal, Ministry of Education leader, renowned author, co-founder of New Pedagogies for Deep Learning (NPDL), a member of the Executive Committee for Karanga: The Global Alliance for Social Emotional Learning and Life Skills, an Edmund Hillary Fellow, a Salzburg Global Seminar Fellow, and a member of the Education New Zealand: North America Advisory Board.

  • Sarah Grant

    CEO

    Tauiwi

    Sarah loves making things happen by connecting amazing people for collective action. She brings experience across the education and the social impact sector; from the classroom, policy level, as a WISE (World Innovation Summit for Education) emerging leader, an Edmund Hillary Fellow and Director of an international teacher training start up.

  • Huia Lambie

    Strategic Advisor

    Ngati Mutunga, Te Atiawa

    Huia loves making connections between the strange and the spectacular - impactful connections. She leads and enables the integration of Te Ao Māori into the mahi she undertakes with a focus on strategic big thinking, change policy and equitable processes. She is passionate about growing global cultural capacity and confidence with regard to indigenous-led solutions, kaupapa Māori practices and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

  • Te Waiora Wanoa-Sundgren

    Kaituitui - Project Co-Ordinator

    Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Toa, Ngāpuhi

    Te Waiora loves seeing students explore and test new ideas and find solutions. She grew up in immersion Māori education (kohanga reo and kura kaupapa Aho Matua) and is excited to be back working with her former kura (school) to co-design an immersion Māori iteration of the We Share Solar programme.

Champions

  • Nikora Ngaropo

    Kia Kotahi Ako Trustee

    Te Rarawa, Tuhoe, Ngāti Porou, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahungunu

    Nikora loves working at the cross-section of technology, business, culture, and education to create systemic change in Aotearoa. He brings nearly 20 years of experience from creative and education roles ranging from Weta Studios, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, Young Animators and as an Edmund Hillary Fellow.

  • Andrew Boyd

    Kia Kotahi Ako Trustee

    Andrew loves motivating and enabling people so they can accomplish amazing things. He has over 30 years of experience in financial leadership across multiple industries and held his Certified Public Accountant License in the USA for 25 years (now inactive). Andrew is a soccer superfan. Not only does he play but he also knows the game inside and out as a referee and coach.

  • Barry Neal

    We Share Solar Champion

    Barry loves weaving together amazing people to support a better future for the planet. As an Edmund Hillary Fellow and We Share Solar board member with extensive experience in the renewable energy sector, Barry has been a key instigator and driver of the We Share Solar programme in Aotearoa.

  • Matthew Shribman

    AimHi Earth Champion

    Matthew loves enthusing and enthralling people with his amazing stories and images of nature so they have hope and take action on the climate and nature crisis. He is a scientist, environmentalist, futurist, teacher, systems-thinker, Edmund Hillary Fellow and co-founder of AimHi Earth.

  • Rangimarie Parata - Takurua

    He Pā Wānanga Champion

    Rangimarie loves bringing her intergenerational vision to life for the benefit of environmental and whānau wellbeing. She is chair of Nōku Te Ao and Te Pā O Rākaihautū, an Edmund Hillary Fellow and the driving force between Te Pā Wānanga (The Learning Village) with her unrelenting commitment to the kaupapapa.

Our Partners