Our People
Board Chair
Wendy started her REAP journey in 1988 when Helen Tennant, the General Manager of Southern Hawkes Bay REAP (now Tararua REAP), offered her the Early Childhood Education Coordinator position but Wendy decided to decline due to pregnancy. In 2003, Wendy became the Strengthening Families Coordinator, and had roles as the Parent Education Support Coordinator, Incredible Years educator and started the first Autism Support Group. Wendy finished her time as a staff member in 2013 but returned to the Tararua REAP Board in 2017 and has been there ever since. Wendy is now our Chairwoman.
Wendy has always loved lifelong learning, which is why she is so passionate about REAP. It is a holistic service that supports families, which is especially important in our small community. Wendy has a passion for the community and a desire to be a part of something bigger. As Chairwoman, Wendy aims to flexibly and responsively support staff to deliver the services that Tararua REAP offers.
General Manager
After 22 years working for Primary (formally Agriculture) ITO Claire is thrilled to have the opportunity to lead Tararua REAP. Whilst her and her husband live “just over the hill” in the beautiful Pohangina Valley, Dannevirke is very much home and where lots of family and friends reside.
Claire enthusiastically leads her team of REAP staff with the aim to help build strong, confident and educated communities. She values this rewarding work as REAP continues to make a positive difference in peoples lives by supporting lifelong learning from early childhood though to adult education programmes. But that is not all! Claire ensures Tararua REAP is closely connected to the heart of the Tararua, through partnerships with other community organisations and an open door policy for general public to share ideas or ways REAP can further support them.
Financial Manager
Kerri supports the Tararua REAP team by making sure the financial matters are all taken care of including the wage payments. She performs Treasurer duties for the Tararua Community Youth Services. Kerri lives on a farm and looks after the administration and finances and is also the main calf rearer… just for some physical activity!
Strengthening Families Coordinator
As the Strengthening Families Coordinator, Alyshea helps families work through the ‘red tape’ stuff with government and community organisations so that they can sort through their concerns and life’s challenges with the right support they need. She doesn’t profess to know everything that’s available but makes it her mission to find out to learn and grow.
When Alyshea isn’t promoting the Strengthening Families process she enjoys spending time with family and friends, walking the dogs, 4×4 and discovering new spots especially within the Tararua District to explore.
Early Childhood Education Coordinator
Rose has a range of Education qualifications from Edith Cowan University, Perth Australia. This role offers Rose wonderful opportunities to support ECE and primary teachers, whānau/parent and other organisations throughout the Tararua community with professional development, opportunities to network and achieve personal and professional goals.
Receptionist
Lynley is our Receptionist who answers your phone calls and is the first person you see when you walk into REAP. She enjoys greeting everybody when they walk through the door and making them feel welcome and supporting the REAP team whenever needed.
Lynley enjoys the diversity of people and children who walk through the REAP doors and prides herself on making sure they leave knowing they have had a great experience, and are happy to return! Lynley grew up in Dannevirke, and has recently returned after 30 years, and is enjoying being part of a small, strong community again.
Lynley is a trained Budget Service Financial Mentor and helps the REAP team build our community’s financial capability.
Funding, Marketing, Communications Coordinator
Rebekah supports the Tararua REAP team with many back-office aspects of service delivery, from funding applications to course promotion. She performs Secretary duties for Tararua REAP Board, The Local Management Group and the Tararua Community Youth Services.
Rebekah and her husband live out of town on a little lifestyle block. They are the franchisees of the Wairarapa Just Cabins. Rebekah also operates Halcyon Wellness a space in town that delivers yoga, strength and balance classes for older adults and wellness coaching. She co-founded Club SuperCue Limited which delivers Strength and Balance Classes for older adults online and in the community along with instructor training.
Coordinator / Financial Mentor
Deanna is one of the Budget Service Financial Mentors and supports people who are in financial hardship or those who want to improve their financial situation. Deanna works one on one or in small groups and teaches the basics of competent money management.
Deanna is family orientated, she enjoys gardening and interior design. Deanna has a big heart and is the first female White Ribbon ambassador in the Tararua Region.
Coordinator / Financial Mentor
Rozanne is one of the Budget Service Financial Mentors and works one on one or in small groups teaching the basics of competent money management.
Rozanne has been around Dannevirke all her life and after 15 years in the banking sector joined Tararua REAP at the end of 2020 as a Financial Mentor. Rozanne’s passion is working with people especially educating them to understand and manage their money. Joining the Budget Service team gives her the opportunity not only to assists people in financial difficulty but educate the ones that want to better themselves for the future.
Outside of work Rozanne love spending time with family and friends creating lifelong memories.
Employment Liaison Cooridinator
Jaron is the Employment Liaison for North Tararua - encompassing Dannevirke, Norsewood, Ormondville, Weber, out to Herbertville. Jaron has a wealth of experience working in different industries, for many different employers both in NZ and overseas and his mission is to help local people get into local jobs and training.
Offering support for employers, training providers, employees and job seekers it is Jaron’s mission to help Tararua REAP build community resilience through education, employment and industry training.
Jaron is a trained Budget Service Financial Mentor and helps the REAP team build our community’s financial capability.
Financial Mentor and Office Support
Julie Walker is Tararua REAP's Office Support and Trained Financial Mentor.
Julie joined Tararua Reap for one day a week in September 2021 working as a backup for reception. She then left 28 years in the banking sector behind her and is now working at Reap four days a week and loving it. She has a passion for helping people along with the community which she can do in so many ways while working at REAP.
Julie has lived in Dannevirke over 27 years so thinks she is a local now! Julie is married with two teenage children. When she is not working at Reap Julie enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Coordinator
Ko Ruahine tōku maunga
Ko Manawatū tōku awa
Ko Takitimu tōku waka
Ko Ngāti Kahungunu tōku iwi
Ko Ngāti Pakapaka tōku hapu
Ko Kaitoki tōku Marae
Ko Papakura Kaa tōku ingoa.
Papakura supports the Employment Liaison Coordinators, and assists with marketing, administration and reception.
Papakura grew up in Dannevirke and recently returned after 13 years away. She is passionate about developing and helping people realise their potential.
Papakura loves a challenge, a quick learner who can adapt to any situation. She is a bubbly, happy person who is very capable and helps the wider team in many different ways.
Admin Coordinator
Shelly is Tararua REAP’s capable allrounder, she is a valued support person for the whole REAP team helping with ECE, and the Science Lab Library. Shelly is the main Administrator for all course related data management plus she helps cover reception.
Shelly recently moved back to Dannevirke late 2020 with her husband and she is excited to be working at the heart of the Tararua community. She has two sons who have left home to follow their passions. Shelly and her husband have brought a dry stock farm that keeps her busy when she is not at REAP.
I.T Support
Tiaki is the I.T Support person at the Tararua REAP. His role is to support the team with IT related issues, but predominately he teaches individuals the basics of using their digital devices.
Tiaki has been living in Dannevirke all of his life. He joined the Tararua REAP in 2022 after his final year at high school in 2021 under working experience and a couple weeks later, the new IT support person. He has a passion working with technology and helping out the wider community when he gets the chance to. Becoming the IT support person for Tararua REAP will allowed him to continue to expand his knowledge of technology and share that with our community. It satisfies Tiaki to see how he can help out when people get stuck with technology including in the office. Outside of work, Tiaki loves planning and organising events for the community and really likes playing the guitar in his free time.
Current Board Members are (from left): Rebekah Charlton (Secretary), Liz Gunson (Resigned 6/21, replaced by Lee Beetles), Donna Milner, Wendy Lansdown (Board Chair), Sue Berry (resigned 6/21, replaced by Aroha Peakman-Walker), Sharyne Wimsett (resigned late 21), Stephen Paewai (Deputy Chair)
CONTACT DETAILS
Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm
Address: 15 Gordon Street, PO Box 18 Dannevirke, Tararua 4930
Phone: 06 374 6565
Mobile: 027 230 8954
Email: office@tararuareap.co.nz
