Glenbervie School has been fortunate to have a relationship with Joby Hopa for more than 10 years. He has been generous with his time and sharing his knowledge with us. He has worked with children, staff and whānaau over more than 10 years. Joby works works with ākonga and kaiako and he does this with talent that many are in awe of. Having Joby and his knowledge is essential for our school to feel like we belong in our marae community.

Working alongside Joby Kopa is a humbling experience. He epitomizes mana, wairua, manaaki and aroha, by the way he empowers all in front of him, to embrace their own cultural capability, and then helps them to gain more skills and confidence to walk the journey we are all on. His natural style of manaaki makes everyone feel like they will be part of the whanau and not be left behind. These gifts and his immense knowledge as tangata whenua, and personal education development, are what makes him a valuable facilitator in our team.

I have had the privilege of observing Joby over several years working alongside teachers to improve their cultural competency. His drive, dedication and commitment towards ensuring te ao Maori is embedded in schools is embraced across many schools in Te Taitokerau. He is able to draw on his extensive knowledge of te ao haka to impart knowledge in an exciting, innovative and interactive way. Joby is always open and willing to share his skills with others and is able to connect with students, staff and whānau alike in an inclusive and empowering way.