Support Team

Trine came to Ararira from West Melton School, where she spent 6 years as part of the office administration team with a focus on school finance, communications and being that ‘go to’ person.

Originally from Nottingham, with a background in travel and conference management, Trine moved to New Zealand 25 years ago. 

Trine and her husband Paul can usually be found on the weekends at the West Coast, relaxing with friends, boating and taking part in an ongoing Dept of Conservation initiative to make Te Kinga predator-free for our native birds.

Email Trine via trine.spence@ararira.school.nz

Justine lives in Lincoln with her husband Tim and their twin boys who attend Ararira Springs Primary. She loves the warm, friendly atmosphere of the school and the local Lincoln community.

Justine’s began her working life in childcare. Her love of travel led her to the travel industry where she spent over a decade working as a long haul corporate travel consultant. Most recently, and prior to having her children, she enjoyed a long stint working as an office temp for various companies in Christchurch.

In her spare time, Justine loves going to the gym, cooking, spending time with her family, and travelling the world.

Justine is really looking forward to meeting and welcoming our new families and students to Ararira Springs. Email Justine via justine.hogan@ararira.school.nz

Debbie came to Ararira Springs as a teacher aide in term 1 of 2019. She studied and worked as a LA for the two years prior to that, at a school in Rolleston. Debbie lives in Rolleston with her husband and their two children who both attend Clearview primary.

Debbie grew up in Karamea and worked in Nelson at various food businesses before moving to London for two years of work followed by four months of travel before coming home to build a home & get married.

Debbie thoroughly enjoys being a TA and loves the one-on-one teaching with kids. A daily highlight for Debbie is knowing someone has learnt something small while being with her. Debbie enjoys doing online courses to learn more to help our tamariki. Debbie has a cake decorating business which she runs from home and keen to teach the basic baking/cooking to the younger generation. In her spare time, she loves to visit family, have coffee dates with friends, go for walks and plan holidays with her family.

You can contact Debbie via debbie.david@ararira.school.nz

Charlotte has three girls, Lucy, Phoebe and Ella at Ararira Springs Primary and joined the staff in July 2019 after two years at Lincoln Primary School. She loves being part of the Ararira school community and working one on one with our tamariki.

Charlotte grew up in Christchurch and graduated from Canterbury University and the Christchurch College of Education with a Bachelor of Education (Geography) and a Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning.

Her first teaching position was in Auckland before she decided to use her teaching skills and love of travel to work in the UK. After teaching in the West Midlands, Charlotte was offered a position recruiting teachers from around the world to teach in the UK. Charlotte and her husband Andrew returned to New Zealand in 2008 with their daughter Lucy and she continued to recruit during the next six years.

She has lived in the Lincoln community for the past five years. She is a Cub leader for the Lincoln Scout Group and enjoys coaching and managing junior netball teams in the winter.  In her spare time, Charlotte enjoys tramping, camping and skiing. She loves gardening and cooking for friends and family.

You can contact Charlotte via charlotte.mcmenamin@ararira.school.nz

Maree joined the Ararira Team in May 2023.

Growing up in Oamaru, then training at the Dunedin College of Education, Maree started her teaching career in Blenheim. From here like many New Zealanders overseas beckoned and Maree spent time in the USA, London, and Singapore. During this time, she was fortunate to combine her passion of teaching withher lifelong love and passion for sport, progressing into secondary school teaching of Physical Education.

Maree has had the privilege of working with many students from all walks of life and is honored to have on many occasions not only been the teacher but the learner. Maree believes being open to seeing and being shown there is more than one way to
learn and finding what ignites that passion in a child is what makes this job special.

Maree and her family now call Lincoln home and are always looking for that next exciting adventure that life brings.

Email Maree via maree.cronin@ararira.school.nz

Carissa grew up in Golden Bay and has experience in a variety of roles. Carissa & her husband Mat have recently moved to Lincoln together with their two children.

Carissa and her famlly enjoy spending time together walking, biking, camping and watersports . She also enjoys playing netball and was part of the Lincoln junior netball coaching staff this year.

Email Carissa via: carissa.fraser@ararira.school.nz

Kathryn and her husband moved to New Zealand in April ‘23 having decided to combine their careers and love of travel. She has two grown up children who live and work in the UK, and who plan to visit while she is here.

During the next two years she plans to enjoy the beauty of New Zealand’s countryside, its travel opportunities and friendly residents.She gained her degree and then a teaching qualification from The University of Sheffield in the UK and spent the majority of her career teaching GCSE and A level English language and literature to 11-18 year olds at Torquay Girls’ Grammar School. Kathryn is enjoying living in the city as a contrast to her house in the UK as she lives in a small village on the edge of Dartmoor National Park.
Spare time is spent running, travelling and doing yoga. She has also joined a book club in Christchurch as she loves reading and hopes to foster a love of reading in her role as a teacher aide.

Email Kathy via kathy.kember@ararira.school.nz

Email Kim via kim.parkes@ararira.school.nz

Jeni joined the Ararira team in 2023 with more than 20 years of experience in the role of learning assistant. She feels honoured to be able to help students on their pathway to become lifelong learners.

Jeni has recently moved to Lincoln with her husband and has 3 grown up children.

She grew up in Nelson and has lived and worked in Hawkes Bay, Great Barrier Island and Nelson.

Jeni is an avid op-shopper, collector of Crown Lynn pottery (she has her own china cup in the staffroom), and also collects Depression era glass.

Outside of school, you can find her enjoying local walks, riding her pink and green BMX bike or down at the gym.

She volunteers at a support group for young people with disabilities which allows them to explore their full potential through music and dance.

Email Jenny via jeni.seek@ararira.school.nz