
Ko Waitakere te maunga kei tōku taha
Ko Waipareira te awa kei tōku taha
Ko Hāmoa raua ko Ngāti Pakeha oku iwi
No Glen Eden toku kainga noho
Ko Richard Bennett tōku ingoa
No reira tena kotou, tena koutou, tena tatou katoa
Talofa lava and warm greetings to you all. My name is Richard Bennett and I feel extremely humbled and honoured to be the Principal at Helensville Primary School.
I have been involved in education for around 20 years, and have worked at a few schools out West Auckland prior to coming here. I have held a variety of middle and senior management roles throughout my time, and have had the privilege to collaborate and work with many special people. I love my job and thoroughly enjoy coming into school every day.
A bit about me, I am of English (Father, Blackpool) and Samoan (Mother, Fa’atoia) descent, and was born and have lived in West Auckland most of my life. When I was young my family migrated to Samoa where we lived for around 7 years. I currently reside in Glen Eden with my loving and supportive partner Terri, and four young children Maia, Iain, Zane and Blake.
I am really looking forward to building some strong connections and relationships with the Helensville School community, and extended community over my time here.
“A fia vave oo lou va’a, alo na o ‘oe, ae a fia tuli mamao, le
taunu’uga tatou ‘alo’alo faatasi.”
If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together
Samoan Proverb

Arohia Ake - Aim High