The Manawatū Team is the Senior Leadership Team of our school. This team consists of the Principal, Deputy Principal, two Assistant Principals and 4 Team Leaders.
The Manawatū Awa (River) was named by an explorer called Hau who was travelling down the coast from Taranaki following his wife, Wairaka. Hau had crossed several rivers when he reached the Manawatū. Manawatū means ‘heart standing still’; an appropriate reference to Hau’s fear that he would not be able to get across this big, wide river.
Note: to view more on each person click the + on top of the photos below


Regan Orr
Tēnā Koutou katoa
Ko Taranaki te maunga
Ko Patea te awa
Ko Bolton te waka
Ko Whakaahurangi te marae
No Papaioea ahau
Ko Orr tōku whānau
Ko Regan tōku ingoa
I am immensely proud to be the Principal/Tumuaki of Central Normal School/Te Kura Tuatahi o Papaioea.
The enduring whakatauki, ‘He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata’ sits at the heart of our kura. We place great value and emphasis on our people and strive to have a kura where everyone - tamariki, kaiako and whānau, are at the forefront and heart of every decision. From this foundation, learning and teaching can flourish.
We develop our learning and teaching programmes to match the needs and wonderings of our tamariki, so that they can thrive in a rich and engaging curriculum.
I also have a great interest and passion in educational leadership and developing the capacity and capability of our emerging leaders.
I welcome your visit to our kura
Ngā Manaakitanga
REGAN ORR Principal

Elly Warnock
Kia ora koutou.
Ko Hartest te puke.
Ko Hartest tōku turangawaewae.
Ko Suffolk tōku rohe.
Ko Ingarangi tōku whenua.
Ko Warnock tōku whānau.
Ko Elly ahau.
Kia ora - my name is Elly Warnock and it is my absolute privilege to be the Deputy Principal of Central Normal School/Te Kura Tuatahi o Papaioea.
My passion lies in empowering students and staff to be the very best version of themselves. My role as Deputy Principal is incredibly diverse, but involves coaching and mentoring our staff to ensure the best outcomes for our students. I also work alongside our Massey Teachers as they begin their initial teacher education. Above all, I enjoy getting to know you - the students, whānau and wider community of Central Normal School.
ELLY WARNOCK DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

Natalie Cooper
Kia Ora, I am Natalie Cooper, Assistant Principal and Team Leader of Tararua Team.
Our team has the privilege of working with students who have been identified as needing a highly adapted learning and teaching programme.
Underpinning our practice is the belief that each child is a unique individual who needs a secure, caring and stimulating environment in which to grow and learn.
Our team at Central Normal School strives to remove barriers to learning, recognizes and responds to diversity and supports children to thrive as learners.
An important part of our process is developing collaborative relationships within our communities of practice. In order for our students to be the best they can be, we draw together knowledge from educators, specialist, parents and whanau.
He Waka Eke Noa – We’re all in this together.
NATALIE COOPER ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

Imogen Smith
Kia Ora Koutou
IMOGEN SMITH ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

Melissa Seumanu
Mauri ora ki te whānau o te kura nei, ā tēnā tātou.
Ki te taha o tōku kuia, he uri tēnei nō ngā iwi o Ngāti Raukawa te au ki te tonga me Ngāti Apa, nō ngā waka o Tainui me Kurahaupō.
I tipu ake au ki tō mātou ūkaipō, ko Ōhinepuhiawe, ki te taha o tō mātou whare tūpuna o Parewahawaha.
Ko te awa rā e whakairo ana i te whenua, hei tautīnei mō tō mātou hapū o Ngāti Parewahawaha, ko Rangitīkei.
Ki te taha o tōku koroua, he uri hoki ahau nō Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngai Tūhoe me Ngāti Kahungunu.
Ko Alefaio tōku hoa tāne. I ahu mai ia i te whenua tapu o Savai’i kei Hāmoa, ā, ko te ingoa tawhito, ko Hawaiki. Tokorima ā māua tamariki. Tēnā tātou.
I am so lucky to be working with our tamariki in Te Arawaru in the Whare with Year 3/4 this year. I am passionate about Māori achievement and empowering our tamariki to enter the world confident and proud of their Māoritanga. I enjoy being part of the journey watching our tamariki grow in their mātauranga Māori, creativity and most of all, in who they are.
Tēnā toutou.
MELISSA SEUMANU TEAM LEADER

Catherine Pallesen
Kia ora! I am Catherine Pallesen and I am the Team Leader of Whārite Team and also the Teacher of the wonderful New Entrants in Akomanga 11. I am a creative person and I Iove sharing these skills with the students I teach. I have been teaching at Central Normal for a very long time and I love being part of this amazing school.
CATHERINE PALLESEN TEAM LEADER

Rachel Mason
Ko Tararua ngā pae maunga
Ko Manawatu toku awa
Ko Papaioea toku wahi noho
He kaiako ahau kei te Kura Tuatahi o Papaioea toku kura
Ko Mason tōku ingoa whānau
Ko Warren tōku papa
Ko Geraldine tōku mama
Ko Rachel tōku ingoa
Ko Tyler tōku hoa rangatira
No reira ko ahau tēnei
Tena koutou, tena koutou
Tena koutou katoa
Kia Ora! I’m Rachel Mason and I am lucky enough to be the team leader of Māharahara - our middle school team full of amazing Year 3 and 4 students. This year you will find me in Akomanga 7. I really enjoy getting to know the students in my class, in our team and in our wider kura, along with their whānau, and seeing them thrive in their learning each and every day! In my spare time I enjoy playing netball, heading out along our beautiful river walks with my little Foxy dog Daisy, spending time with family and friends and trying my hand at DIY renovations in my home - if you have any handy hints, feel free to let me know!
RACHEL MASON TEAM LEADER

Emma Riley
Kia ora, my name is Whaea Emma and I am the team leader of Mātanginui (our senior team) for 2023. I am the kaiako of Akomanga 2 where I have an amazing group of Year 6 tamariki. I have a keen interest in teaching Music, Science (particularly New Zealand Wildlife), Fitness + Physical Education as well as Written language. I am passionate about students unlocking their own learning potential as well as growing themselves as people. Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my young family and getting out into the sunshine!