Dr. Thilo Govender

He mihi ki te atua

He honore he kororia kia koe

Ki te Kingi Māori a Tuheitia Paki, rire rire hou paimarire

Ki a ratou nga rei o te po,

moe mai moe mai ra

Ki a tatou nga kanohi ora, mauri ora ki a tatou katoa

Kō Drakensburg te maunga

Kō Umlazi te awa

Kō Truro te waka

Kō South Africa te iwi

Kō Durban te hapu

Kō toku Whare te marae

Kō Moodley-Govender te whānau

No reira

tena koutou

tena ra tatou katoa

Thilo Govender was appointed as the Principal of the new Mangakōtukutuku College in November 2022. Born in South Africa, Thilo comes from a strong legacy of both Gandhi and Mandela, and is a proud New Zealander.

Thilo completed a Bachelor of Music (Education) Degree at the University of Durban-Westville, South Africa, specialising in Music and English. In 2020, she was awarded a PhD based on research conducted in the Middle East after working there as an Education Advisor to Emirati, and both Western and Arabic-expatriate teachers and leaders.

Thilo was appointed to the position of Deputy Principal at Morrinsville College in 2015. In 2018, she was appointed as the Lead Principal of the Morrinsville Kāhui Ako-Community of Learning, a position that has enabled her to cultivate close connections between schools, Early Childhood Centres and the wider community.

Thilo has a range of expertise including primary, secondary and adult education. She has worked with both students with learning needs, and those who are considered gifted and talented. She has also taught English as a foreign language. She has held several portfolios after having worked in South Africa, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates.

Thilo is absolutely honoured to be working with the Melville community, staff and students, as well as our local Iwi, Ngaati Wairere and Ngaati Maahanga and the Ministry of Education. She is excited to be working alongside the Establishment Board who have a strong vision for education and success. Thilo’s aspiration is to shape an innovative, modern school together with a committed, talented and hard-working team of leaders and teachers so that every student will have the best educational opportunities that the community can be proud of. Thilo is looking forward to meeting you all personally.