Kia ora e te whānau,

My name is Karen Amelia Soutar, and I am honoured to introduce myself as a member of the Homai School whānau. I am of Māori and Scottish descent and am 45 years old. I am the proud mother of two daughters — Katey (20) and Azela (7). Katey attended Homai School many years ago, and Azela is currently enrolled in Te Moana Nui a Kiwa, our bilingual unit here at Homai. I am also blessed with a handsome mokopuna named Milano.

I was born and raised in Kawerau, in the Bay of Plenty, and moved to Manurewa when I was 18 years old. For the past 13 years, I have been part of the Homai Ngā Taonga Early Childhood Centre whānau, where I have worked as a student, reliever, and qualified teacher. This year marks my first year working at Homai School, and I am excited about the opportunities ahead — to connect with new people, learn new things, and continue supporting our tamariki in their learning journeys.

Outside of school, I enjoy gardening and travelling. In my spare time, I love spending quality time with my whānau. We often play cards (especially euchre), and when I am with friends, I enjoy exploring different restaurants and trying new cuisines.

I look forward to meeting you all and building strong relationships with our school community. Please feel free to visit me in Room 4 for a chat at any time.

Nāku i roto i ngā mihi manahau,
Nā Whaea Karen