Matua Marcus

Yá'át'ééh, Osiyo, Tēnā koutou​

Ko Ma'iitosoh sizį́ te maunga​

Ko Tó Łichíí' te awa​

Ko Lók'aa' tso te waka​

Nō Na’neelzhiin ōku tīpuna​

I tipu ake au i Na’neelzhiin​

Ko Rotorua tōku kāinga ināianei​

Ko Diné rātou ko Tsalagi, ko Hopi ōku Iwi​

Ko Te Kānuka tāku tama​

Ko Sequoia tāku tamāhine​

Ko Marcus Ridge tōku ingoa​

Nō reira tēnā koutou tēnā koutou tēnā tatau katoa

Hello, my name is Matua Marcus. I am from from Navajo, Cherokee and Hopi tribes. I was raised on the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico connected to my whenua, whānau and culture. In 2008, I gained a Bachelors in Sociology and a Bachelors in Philosophy Pre-Law from the University of New Mexico with a desire to go into Law School until coming to Aotearoa. I am now the father of two tamariki and married to a wāhine Māori. I have been in Rotorua for nearly a decade working in the Social Sector. I have studied Te Reo Māori and use Te Reo in the home and with whānau over the years. I always considered changing careers to go into teaching when the time was right and I am now honoured to be able to teach at Western Heights Primary School alongside all the amazing staff and students.

Ngā mihi nui