Staff

Lavinia Manuopangai 
B.Ed, GradDip.TESOL
Centre Manager

Lavinia has worked at Ako Langimalie for three years and has led the team in her role as Centre Manager since 2021.

She has worked in education her whole life and has had a varied and rich career, teaching at tertiary, high school and primary levels. Teaching at ECE level is now her passion.

Lavinia’s strengths are leading and guiding the curriculum, and mathematics, and science. And her passion is for Ako Langimalie children to grow up confident and competent in their learning and development.

Her personal goal is to be the best at what she does and to continue learning to gain even more knowledge in education to the highest degree.

Lavinia is full Tongan. She loves working with the Tongan community and in particular seeing her people striving to be the best they can be.

Palavi Koloamatangi
Teacher

Palivi has worked at Ako Langimalie for eight years and works primarily with infants and toddlers under two.

Besides her passion for teaching and interacting with the children, Palavi enjoys singing with them, and especially before meals.

She places a lot of attention on communicating with children and their parents. This enables her to extend the childrens’ interests and plan the next stages of their learning.

Palavi is a mother of five and grandmother of nine and lives in Otahuhu. Attending church and helping in the community are important to Nanise, as is spending time with her grandchildren.

Fatafehi Bogun 
Teacher

Fatafehi has worked at Ako Langimalie for nine years and works primarily with infants and toddlers under two.

An important feature of Fatafehi’s approach is to identify each child’s individual abilities, which allows her to focus her teaching on their interests.  
She uses her love of music, through dance and song, to engage with her children. In addition, role playing and gardening activities are important teaching tools for Fatafehi.

Fatafehi lives close to Ako Langimalie with her handsome husband and beautiful son.

Lusitania Mafi 
Teacher

Lusitania has worked at Ako Langimalie Preschool for 18 months.  She loves the teaching moments that mat time provides.

Lusitania also incorporates role plays, music, movement and cultural activitiesinto her teaching.

Her strengths and passion is language and culture. Her vibrant and outgoing nature means we easily stimulates interest in the children so she can teach and share her learning during various activities throughout the school day. 

Lusitania is married, with children and grandkids, and particularly enjoys beach walks and eating out with the family.

Malia Viena Amato
Teacher

Malia has worked at Ako Langimalie Preschool for two years. She thrives on having direct contact with children. This applies particularly when they’re enjoying outdoor activities which allows her to fully participate with them. 

Malia has a particular interest and passion for art and crafts. She loves that she can bring that capability to Ako Langimalie for the benefit of all the children. 

Malia lives locally with her family and loves spending time at home with her children.

Lile Pahulu 
Teacher

Lile has an extensive educational background in English and Early Childhood Education. She is currently studying to complete a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education Teaching) Level 7.

Lile has worked at Ako Langimalie Preschool for two years. She loves outdoor free play, where ‘we let it all go, with lots of shouting, running, jumping and exploration’.

Lile counts her communication skills as a strength. They enable her to keep cool and calm in challenging situations, to build strong relationships with her learners and also advance her career in education.

Lile lives in Mangere and looks forward to the weekend to take her children with her to local church activities. She also loves singing and being able to travel as a family.

Losa Laumanu 
Teacher

Losa  has worked at Ako Langimalie Preschool for almost three years. Her strengths are in music, especially island music, and art and crafts.

One of Losa’s favourite activities with tamariki is gardening.

Losa has a family and enjoys sewing.

Epifania Halapio 
Centre Administrator

Epifania has worked at Ako Langimalie for six years. 

Epi’s primary responsibility is as the Centre Administrator. Many parents will interact with Epi’s work as she is responsible for managing and maintaining the Ako Langimalie parent portal, StoryPark.

She relishes meeting new families and their children, and loves giving babies a cuddle when extra help is needed. 

Epifania lives locally with her family of four and enjoys spending time out with them.