HERALD WEEKLY ISSUE 608: 21 March 2012

High achiever an example to all
New Zealand based Cook Islander Taime Pareanga Samuel QSM is a high achiever and role model for younger Cook Islanders with leadership aspirations.
A dedicated educator, Samuel is now at that level within the community where she is part of a number of decision making teams which influence NZ government policy in early childhood education and sets future directions. The Herald spoke with her on Monday morning.
She is an early childhood teacher by profession, in Flaxmere, Hastings where she has lived since 1971.
She has served on various Boards and Panels advising on Early Childhood Education (ECE).
In 2001 she was invited to be part of then Prime Minister Helen Clarke’s delegation to the Cook Islands.
For some six years she was on the ECE Advisory Group to the NZ Ministry for Pacific Island Affairs when the Minister was Doug McKinnon.
Since 2003 to date, she has been on the Pacific Advisory Group for the Ministry of Education in NZ.
In 2009 she was awarded the QSM-Queen’s Service Medal.
She is also National Secretary for the Cook Islands Sports, Church and Culture Federation Inc.
Samuel is also a member of the Community Organisations Grants Scheme which is part of NZ Internal Affairs and which funds community organizations.
She regularly runs workshops in NZ on Early Childhood Education.
She was part of the group which drafted the Pacific Education Plan and in October 2012 the Plan will be launched. It covers the period from early childhood education to tertiary education.
Last week, she received the “2012 Education Award” at an Awards Evening in Auckland to celebrate and recognise achievements by Cook Islanders in various fields. The eight Award categories highlighted the positive roles that Cook Islanders have played in Community, Sports, Health, Education, Youth, Volunteers, Cultural and Business.
The Cook Islands Taokotaianga Charitable Trust, operating as Cook Islands Development Agency New Zealand (CIDANZ) organised this inaugural event called the “oneCOOKISLANDS Celebration.”
The event was sponsored by the Manukau Institute of Technology.
Prime Minister Hon Henry Puna and the Cook Islands High Commissioner Tiki Matapo attended the event.
Samuel was the only winner from outside the Auckland area.
She has been in Rarotonga for family reasons and returned to NZ on Monday evening.
Growing up on Rarotonga, her pre-school teacher was Kati Heather and her subsequent teacher was William Heather Snr. She paid William a visit while she was on Rarotonga and left us with this quote,” If you succeed, remember where you came from.” -Charles Pitt

Herald Issue 608 21 March
- Terms of one China Policy document should be reviewed
- Pacific Media Assistance Scheme Seeks Innovation
- Successful NZ visit by PM
- Rerekura Teaurere New Climate Change Coordinator
- News Briefs

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