Executive Committee

Nadia Sole (Waitaha)
Co-ordinator
Unschooling approach
The Sole family live in Christchurch in a certified passivhaus which Nadia blogs about on Instagram @sustainable_soles. Nadia and Gavin have three children and they were always aware that they would probably home educate. Meeting regularly with other unschoolers to create a community of like-minded people has been the most important aspect of the family’s home education journey. With her oldest now 16 and determined to study engineering at Canterbury University, Nadia is delving into the complex world of Te Kura.

Debbie Thomas (Taamaki-makau-rau)
Correspondence Secretary
School-At-Home approach
Debbie and her husband, Martin, live in Auckland and have been home educating their six children for a number of years now. They currently use ACE curriculum for their youngest child but have used a variety of curriculum over the years including Abeka, NZ Curriculum, Unit Studies and Te Kura. They live on Auckland’s North Shore.

Cynthia Hancox (Manawatuu-Whanganui)
Government Liaison Team
Eclectic approach
Cynthia home educated her five children for over 20 years. She has been involved in supporting home educators with their exemption applications for the last 14 years, and is passionate about encouraging home educators and protecting their rights. Cynthia has a broad knowledge of home education in NZ. The Hancox family live on a small lifestyle block in the Horowhenua, and enjoy growing as much of their own food as possible. Cynthia also writes for her various blogs when she has time.

Sheena Harris (Waikato)
Government Liaison Team
Eclectic approach
Sheena lives west of Hamilton with her husband Nathan and their three sons. She has woven Charlotte Mason, Classical and unschooling into the tapestry of learning for her children. Sheena has launched many new home educators off the starting blocks by hosting information evenings and assisting with exemption applications. She comes to the NCHENZ committee with a passion to help and support any family who wishes to provide a tailored education in their home and community, ensuring that they enjoy the journey along the way.

Mary Parks (Te Moana-a-Toi)
Website Administrator
Eclectic approach
Mary and her husband live in Tauranga with their 13 year old son. After a challenging year of school in 2021, they decided to give homeschooling a go and quickly they saw the positive impacts as their son re-discovered his love of learning. Together the family also enjoys movie nights and board games, a bit of gaming and mountain biking.

Gin Taylor (Waikato)
Member Offers Co-ordinator
Unschooling approach
Gin has two teenagers – she says she thought she was busy when they were toddlers, but if only she knew! Gin has unschooled from the beginning and continues to do so. She passionately advocates for her youngest teen who has dyslexia, OCD and social anxiety, and Gin is currently navigating a way forward for her daughter to start a part time job. In the Taylor household life ls busy, beautiful, and at times utterly bonkers trying to manage everyone’s commitments into one short week!

Jess Corbett (Ootaakou)
Treasurer
Eclectic approach
Jess lives in Dunedin and has been homeschooling her neurodiverse son since December 2019 due to increasing issues within the mainstream school system. With a passion for self-sufficiency and living a car-free lifestyle, Jess spends her time birdwatching, gardening and keeping her three Pekin bantams in line. Focusing on the importance of positive mental health has been a key feature in decisions around homeschooling for Jess and her family.

Dee Kelly (Taamaki-makau-rau)
Membership Secretary
Eclectic approach
As a teenage parent, Dee has devoted her life to her children’s education and wellbeing. With kids now aged 18yrs, 14yrs and 8yrs, Dee and her husband enjoy using the natural environment as their classroom. Their youngest child has a range of significant needs and had a short stint at school until he lost all of his teacher aide funding. He is now thriving again at home with his older siblings.

Maharookh Sidhwa (Taamaki-makau-rau)
ID Cards Co-ordinator
Eclectic approach
Maharookh is a qualified child psychologist and teacher, with degrees in both. She lives with her family in Auckland. Maharookh is currently homeschooling her two youngest children, with one accessing classes via Te Kura. Maharookh is also on the Auckland Home Educators Committee, where she helps with exemptions and meets regularly with the local Ministry of Education staff.

Kylie Marshall (Manawatuu-Whanganui)
Meetings Secretary
Eclectic approach
Kylie began home educating to support her autistic children whose learning and support needs weren’t being met in the mainstream school environment. Due to this she has experience in modifying curriculum and learning opportunities to meet the diverse needs of her children. Her youngest has just started Te Kura and she has been homeschooling her eldest for three years. She mainly uses free curriculum and occasionally stays up until the early hours to create her own unit studies.