Role

Tui oversees academic quality across the organisation. In this role, she works closely with people across all areas of Te Rito Maioha including the Academic Leaders, the Regional Education Leaders and the National Office staff.

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Education Background

During more than 25 years in Early Childhood Education and Teacher Education, Tui’s roles have included Lecturer, Policy and Evaluation roles, Director of Education and Academic Leader. She has taught a range of topics including child development, transition to school, inclusive education, and curriculum. As director and Academic Leader she understands the tertiary sector and its relationship with government agencies such as NZQA and the NZ Teaching Council. She joined Te Rito Maioha in 2015.

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Research Background

Tui’s Masters research focused on inclusive education in the tertiary sector. Her research led to the employment of an Inclusive Education Co-ordinator in the University where she studied. Her Doctoral research focused on exploring women’s social justice leadership. She is also interested in kauapapa Māori and Indigenous research.

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Teaching Interests

Tui enjoys building relationships and supporting her academic team to reach their goals. Her focus is to ensure graduate teachers are strong in bicultural understanding, all aspects of the curriculum, the NZ Teaching Councils standards and ethics to effectively support the learning of all tamariki.

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Recent Publications

Summers, T., & Tuhakaraina, S. (2024). Walking backwards into the future (Ka mua, Ka muri): Insights on Māori education leadership for primary and early childhood leaders. In T. Carlyon and R. Merry (Eds). Effective leadership in early childhood and primary school education in Aotearoa New Zealand (pp. 3–19). NZCER. ISBN 978-1-99-004096-2

Summers, T. ‘Walking backwards into the future: Insights on Education Leadership from Aotearoa New Zealand’ Presentation at the European Educational Research Association Conference (ECER). New University of Cyprus. Cyprus 27/8/2024-30/8/2024.

Summers, T. ‘Insights on early childhood education leadership in Aotearoa New Zealand’. Presentation at the China Early Childhood Education Symposium. University of Canterbury. Christchurch 3 December 2024.

Summers, T. & Kamp, A. (2023). Female Social Justice Leaders in the early childhood profession: A narrative inquiry on the origins of leadership. NZ International Journal in Early Childhood Education. 25, pp.29-43.