DATE: Tuesday 2nd December 2025
VENUE: Christ’s College
KEYNOTE: Juanita Hepi
Juanita Hepi (Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngātiwai, Ngāpuhi) is an artivist, haututū and multi-disciplinary storyteller. She holds a Masters of Māori and Indigenous Leadership, a Graduate Diploma of teaching and Learning and a Bachelor of Arts from Toi Whakaari. Juanita currently manages Te Whare Tapere gallery, lectures at Toi Whakaari part time and can be seen gracing the stages of events all across Ōtautahi, from WORD festival to OPEN Chch to guest lecturing and running workshops at UC and ARA. Juanita is a self professed plant nerd, and māmā to three.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Waitaha English Big Day out for 2025. As we come together at BDO after as number of year we are eager to celebrate connection, and reconnection, to our colleagues, community and subject.
As well as a morning and afternoon workshop session, the BDO will feature Juanita Hepi (Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngātiwai, Ngāpuhi) as our keynote speaker. A poet, activist and performer, Juanita will speak to us about the taonga we find in English, the things that remain consistent and significant, even in the face of change.
Our most valuable learning has always come from within our community and we hope to offer a range of workshops to continue this tradition. What discoveries have you made through your practice this year? What is making a difference for you and your students? Your colleagues will thank you for it!
Ngā mihi nui,
The Waitaha English committee
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