Our People

OUR PEOPLE

Featuring some of our valued tutors.........
click on a name to take you to the relevant page or go to
COURSES to view the full list of classes

Goldie Van Der Lee

Goldie our new tutor for 2025 comes with a wealth of knowledge and experience and you can expect a good laugh during all his classes!
Goldie and his wife Trish have recently moved from Auckland to Whangarei where they have run and continue to run a very successful upholstery business and have done for many years. We are delighted to welcome him to the CEW crew. Goldie's experience includes a wide range of furniture, from modern to antiques and whether your furniture needs to be completely or partially reupholstered we respect the original materials and techniques used in upholstery.
If it is something you have been considering, now is the time to enrol and learn all that you can with his weekend classes. Enrol early as these classes fill very quickly!

Aiko Fukumoto

I am Japanese and lived in Auckland for 30 years before moving to Whangarei in 2020. I am a qualified massage therapist since 2008. I am passionate about holistic ways of treatment with natural resources; I studied herbal medicine, nutrition, acupressure points therapy, qigong and reiki to be able to help people of all ages, from babies to the elderly. I enjoy sharing and passing my knowledge of holistic ways of massage and exercise (qigong). I have also been a Kintsugi artist. I believe arts/crafts are mindfulness meditation. I am very happy to share my experiences of wellbeing with others and encourage people to learn how to look after their health.

Sally McGunnigle

As a former professional photographer I have been involved with photography for well over 20 years. My portfolio includes weddings, family portraits, glamour and events. I enjoy sharing my passion with others and encourage people to learn how to use their camera to its full potential.

Jo Martin

It is my passion to help people gain confidence and learn how to use a computer! My favourite student is the one who knows very little to start and leaves my classes with more confidence and computer skills. I started computer teaching in 2002 and my passion has just grown with time.
I moved myself and my business to Whangarei in 2014 and love living here. Being a life-long learner myself, I enjoy sharing what I know with others! If you need to learn how to use a computer or up-skill, I hope that you will join me in one of my classes and I look forward to meeting you.

Elena Nikolaeva

I was born and grew up in a big city in the middle of Russia. I studied visual arts for five years at the Urals State University and upon completion of my studies received an appointment to teach painting at the same university – a position which I held for many years. In my artistic career I have participated in a number of exhibitions, both in Russia and abroad and my paintings are in private collections in New Zealand and overseas.
I became a full time artist when I moved to New Zealand in 2001. Now living in Mangawhai, I am actively involved in the Northland arts community. I run regular visual arts classes and workshops for adults in both Northland and Auckland. To learn more about my art and teaching you are welcome to visit my website http://art-of-elena-nikolaeva.info/

Raewyn Rouse

I first started learning skin care formulation about ten years ago. I had decided to plough up our front paddock and plant it in lavender. Of course, then I had to figure out something to do with it all. I learnt to distil the blossom to extract the oil and hydrosol (also known as lavender water). Then, using books from the library and some online sources, I began to teach myself how to make skincare products. In 2014 I started selling products at markets under my brand Summer Scents. This started ten years of product creation and learning. There was a lot of fun and frustration involved. My product range has changed and expanded over the time in response to the market and a bit of inspiration. In 2022 I completed a Diploma in Natural Skincare Formulation from the School of
Natural Skincare in England which finally rounded out the last couple of pieces of the puzzle for me. During this time, I started teaching basic classes on making skincare and discovered that it can be a lot of fun and that I enjoy the interaction with my groups. Recently I developed a more advanced course for those who want to learn just a little more.
Footnote: Raewyn has also been weaving for over eight years and is now tutoring an introductory flax weaving workshop

Melissa Thompson

In 2020 I made the move from my home in New Mexico/Texas to New Zealand with my husband, who is a native Kiwi, and our two boys. My journey into the world of yoga began in 2019 when I received my initial certifications and, since then, I have delved into a multitude of qualifications both in and out of the realm of yoga. These include specialties such as yin yoga, restorative yoga, chair yoga, aqua yoga, yoga Nidra, meditation, Tabata, Barre, and Reiki.
Wellness and health for the body, mind, and spirit are my passions, and I am dedicated to providing classes that are not only safe and fun but also transformative and accessible to everyone. It is my mission to create an inclusive space where individuals can embark on their own unique journey towards holistic wellbeing.