About Us
Lili Kuchar
Ki te taha o tōku Pāpā, he uri tēnei nō Ngāpuhi, Te Roroa me Ngāti Whātua ki Kaipara. Ki te taha o tōku Māmā, he Pākehā ahau, nō Kōtirana ōku tūpuna.
My name is Kelly Te Paa and I am a descendant of the the Tribes of Ngāpuhi, Te Roroa and Ngāti Whātua ki Kaipara, with Scottish ancestry.
I am currently a Lecturer in the Faculty of Education at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington, where I teach te reo Māori across undergraduate and postgraduate initial teacher education programmes. I also work as a Principal Māori Researcher, engaging in kaupapa Māori research that centre's identity, relationality, and lived experience within education.
My work is grounded in a kaupapa Māori approach to teaching and learning, where relationships, whakapapa, and identity sit at the centre. I am especially interested in how education can affirm who learners are, where they come from, and how they connect to others. This shapes the way I teach and research, as I work to create spaces where mana is upheld and where students feel a genuine sense of belonging.
Lili Kuchar is the 2025-2026 recipient of the Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching Research in New Zealand. She has over 15 years of experience as a teacher and reading interventionist. Lili currently teaches at Carolyn Hobbs Academy for Pregnant and Parenting Teens in Oakland, California. She is always trying to think of new ways to challenge her students, forge strong relationships, and utilize culturally sustaining practices to inspire lifelong learning.
Feel free to contact Lili with any questions or ideas about this project! lili.nelson@gmail.com
Kelly Te Paa
Disclaimer: The author of this website is a participant of the 2025-2026 Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Research Program, a program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX. The views and information presented are the grantee's own and do not represent the U.S. Department of State, the Fulbright Program, or IREX.