Kia ora, I'm Maria, a student teacher from Napier.

Tēnā koutou katoa

Nō Aotearoa, nō Amerika, nō Malta hoki ōku tīpuna

Nō Ahuriri tōku whaea

Nō Amerika tōku pāpā

I whānau mai au i Ōtautahi

I tipu ake au i Ahuriri

Ko Maria tōku ingoa

Ko Bush te ingoa o tōku whānau

I tēnei wā kei Ahuriri

My name is Maria Bush, and I am a student teacher based in Napier. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Education and a minor in Spanish. I also have a Certificate in Christian Ministry majoring in Singing, with a strand of Internship. I come from a family of teachers as my mum is an ECE teacher, and my grandma was a Secondary school teacher in New Zealand. It has been an aspiration of mine to become a primary school teacher ever since I attended Port Ahuriri Primary School in Napier. I want to be a positive role model for children and help our future generation to be the best they can be. I have had many opportunities where I have visited schools to observe and lend a helping hand. I’ve had the opportunity to coach basketball at children’s holiday camps and volunteer as an Equip Kids holiday program leader, taking care of primary school-aged children. 

I thoroughly enjoy keeping active. I have represented Hawke’s Bay in basketball from the ages of 12-17 and continue to play socially. Modelling/acting has been an interest of mine ever since I can remember. I recently represented Hawke’s Bay in the Miss New Zealand Pageant last year and placed in the Top 10. Also, I have been featured as the face and voice behind a New Zealand Samsung social media campaign. I believe in never giving up and always chasing your dream. One of my top strengths that I will bring to education is that I always see the potential in people. I strive to help others succeed. Noticing small improvements that may be invisible to some are clear signs of potential being realised which is extremely fulfilling. I have a passion for the educational success of our tamariki, as they are our future. Ngā mihi, Maria.