Ko Maungakawa raua ko Maungatautari tooku Maunga
Ko Topehaehae tooku Awa
Ko Tainui te Waka
Ko Ngāti Hauā tooku Iwi
Ko Ngāti Werewere tooku Hāpu
Ko Rukumoana Pā tooku Marae
Ko Wiremu Tarapipipi Tamihana oku Rangatira Tūpuna
Ko Kuini Wahi Te Raumako Heta Kuia
Ko Tira (Pinto) Moana Rapata taaku Whaea
Ko Takirau Ricky Rapata taaku papa
Ko Shona Ua-Marsh tooku ingoa
Her whakapapa is where we must begin the story of Shona Ua-Marsh, whom I have come to know as an educator and entrepreneur, but who describes herself firstly as wife, mother and grandmother. She is also an Early Childhood Kaiako, and the founder of Giggles Te Puke Early Learning Centre, and a Māori cultural advocate in all that she is and all that she does.
I met Shona at a creativity workshop in Maketu, run by well-known Bay of Plenty writer Angie Belcher. She was there to introduce us to her latest venture, Whatu+Co, set up to produce educational resources for early learning centres, or Te Kōhanga Reo. This term translates to ‘the language nest’ and signifies a place where children are immersed in te reo Māori and in the Māori culture. Such early learning centres use a holistic approach that recognises the interconnection of learning, well-being and cultural identity.
Wanting to hear more, I sat down with Shona and began asking questions. Where did her own, deeply personal journey begin?
“I’ve spent more than two decades working in early childhood education,” she tells me, “weaving mātauranga Māori, aroha and whānau values into learning environments. And my journey started at home. I was raised in a large, close-knit whānau with seven sisters and a younger brother. Our home was full of aroha, laughter and shared responsibility. My mother was my first teacher. She role-modelled manaakitanga in everything she did. From her, I learned that caring for others, offering kindness and serving with love were not only acts, they were a way of living.
“My father, on the other hand, was strong, hardworking and firm. He believed in discipline and structure, but he also had a big, loving heart. He taught me the importance of showing up for your whānau, working hard without complaint and never giving up. Both of my parents influenced how I lead and how I live. Mum taught me compassion, and Dad taught me commitment.”
Shona falls silent for a few minutes, lost in memories. Then she continues.
“By the time I was nineteen, my world had changed. Mum passed away from cancer at just 45 years old. I had the honour of caring for her alongside my father, and later, I cared for him, too, as he also passed from cancer. I became the adult caregiver of my younger siblings. It was a time of deep and painful loss, but also a time that revealed my strength and set me on the path I walk today.”
“What else has given you purpose, Shona,” I asked, “and given you such dedication?”
Her answer came straight away.
“Challenges. I have had many, and each has only strengthened my purpose. I have survived breast cancer, undergoing both chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Three years’ prior, my two youngest children were both born prematurely at only 24 weeks into pregnancy, and eight months apart. Those early years of motherhood were filled with uncertainty, hospital stays and worry, but also with faith and a fierce determination. With love. Such experiences helped shape the kaiako – leader – and businesswoman I am today. They taught me about resilience, compassion and the strength that comes from within my community.”
For her, she explains, community begins within the heart of her whanau.
“My greatest support has always been my husband. He is my best friend and biggest believer. Whenever I’ve been studying, designing, creating or serving in the community, he’s held down the fort, taking care of our home and our tamariki. He encourages most of my ideas and has walked beside me through every high and low.
“Our six children have also stood with me through it all, helping on weekends, attending community events and offering much love and their full support. And my mokopuna are my everyday inspiration. They teach me through their wonder, their questions and their joy. They remind me that our future is worth investing in.”
I nodded agreement and Shona went on, “I started Giggles Te Puke over twenty years ago, with a vision to create a loving, inclusive centre where tamariki could thrive. At one point, I owned three centres in Te Puke, but after the Covid-19 pandemic, I made a big decision to bring them all together and form one Whānau Centre. This wasn’t only a business decision; it was also a philosophy. I asked myself, how do we really live as whānau? At home, we don’t separate babies from toddlers, or younger children from the older ones. We live together and we learn from each other. We support each other. That’s what I wanted for our learning space. And that’s what I’ve created.”
In Shona’s Whānau Centre, tamariki of all ages learn alongside one another. They grow together, form tuakana-teina relationships, and are surrounded by kaiako who lead with love, patience, and cultural depth. Such learning is holistic, natural and full of heart. So this is where Whatu+Co was born, a kaupapa Māori business that designs taonga to support cultural learning across Aotearoa. Whatu+Co resources are made to help tamariki, whanau and kaiako engage meaningfully with te ao Māori.
“But these resources don’t just teach,” Shona tells me. “They connect. They help us learn where we come from and our connection to the whenua, who we are and what we learn from our tūpuna, and what we value within the Māori culture. They support cultural identity, build mana and bring people together. For me, they’re part of a bigger picture ensuring that Māori knowledge, language and how we’re seen, heard and celebrated alongside other cultures. Honouring diversity, and normalising te ao Māori.
“At Giggles Te Puke, our teaching team works in partnership with tamariki, whānau, local iwi, hapū and the wider community to celebrate the rich, cultural identities of all children. We strive to create spaces where every child feels seen, heard and valued, no matter where they come from. Our approach is holistic and inclusive. We honour and welcome the diverse cultures of all tamariki and their whānau. Te reo Māori, tikanga and kawa are gently and naturally woven into our daily practices, as part of the shared story of Aotearoa. This is how we build confidence, and a sense of belonging and unity.”
Such work is grounded in Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mō ngā mokopuna o, the Aotearoa early childhood curriculum, which supports and empowers the educators. These dedicated men and women follow closely its principles of partnership, protection and participation, ensuring that every child and whānau is respected, included and celebrated.
By now I am in awe of Shona Ua-Marsh, recognising her as a lifelong learner with big dreams. She is a role model for what any woman can become if committed to a fulfilling purpose. Myself a mature student, gaining a degree while a working mother, I understand her when she fills me in on how it was for her.
“I started my formal study late in life. I have completed a degree course as a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education, and I’m now working towards becoming a Master of Applied Indigenous Knowledge. And I’m not stopping there: my intention is to move straight into doctoral study. Lifelong learning is part of who I am, and I believe that the more I grow, the more I can give back. And I believe that when wāhine Māori and educators lead with intention and aroha, powerful things happen for our whānau, our tamariki and our communities.
“Everything I do is guided by values woven into my being through lived experience, whānau and the wisdom of my tūpuna. These values are more than concepts: they are lived daily in how I lead, teach, nurture and serve and are at the heart of everything I do. They are present in my whānau, in my businesses, in my learning journey and in my advocacy. They remind me that leadership is not only about strategy or status; it’s also about heart, unity and service. I believe true change happens when we honour all voices, walk together in partnership, and create spaces where every child feels safe, respected, and deeply valued.”
I am silent. I am listening and learning. Shona smiles and leans back in her chair.
“When I look at what I’ve created alongside my husband, tamariki, mokopuna, kaiako, whānau and community, I am proud. This is not just a career; it’s a life of purpose. It’s about honouring the past, responding to the present and preparing a way forward into the future. Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini – My strength is not mine alone but comes from the many. Together, we are making a difference. Together, we are creating a legacy.”
Is there anybody who can argue with that?
THE VALUES
- Manaakitanga: to offer genuine care and respect to others, uplifting their mana through kindness, generosity and support.
- Whanaungatanga: to value deep, meaningful relationships with tamariki, whānau, kaiako and the wider community.
- Aroha: to lead with love and compassion in every interaction.
- Manawaroa: to hold steady through challenge and change and continue forward with strength and purpose.
- Wairua: to remain spiritually grounded, trusting in the guidance of our tūpuna, and staying connected to an inner sense of purpose and peace.
- Kotahitanga: to work together with unity in action together towards shared goals and to nurture a collective spirit of inclusion, respect and shared responsibility.