Branches

WAIKATO TESOL (Waikato)

2024–2026 Co-Chairs

• Rachel Kaur
• Joy Wang

Waikato TESOL Contacts 2026–2027 based on 2026 AGM

Anna Stephens
Email:

Esra Yaghi
Email:

Waikato TESOL – 2026 Summary

2026 has been a productive year for Waikato TESOL, with a strong focus on professional learning, networking, and supporting educators working with English language learners across the Waikato region.

Our membership grew from 32 members in November 2024 to 41 members in 2026, and we continued to strengthen connections across the tertiary, primary, and secondary sectors.

Throughout the year, we offered professional development opportunities covering Generative AI in language teaching and assessment, literacy and English language learning, and the wellbeing and belonging of culturally and linguistically diverse learners. Our events brought educators together to share practical ideas, develop professional connections, and learn from one another.

Waikato TESOL members also participated in CLESOL 2026 and wider TESOLANZ activities, maintaining strong links with the national ESOL community.

Our August AGM marked a change in leadership. Rachel Kaur and Joy Wang, Co-Chairs from 2024–2026, stepped down, with Anna Stephens and Esra Yaghi taking on leadership roles for 2026–2027.

We thank our committee, members, and presenters for their support and contributions throughout the year.

BOPTESOL (Bay of Plenty)

Contact: Julie Luxton

Toi Ohomai Tauranga
Private Bag 12001
Tauranga 3143

Areas covered include the Bay of Plenty, Tauranga and Rotorua.

MANATESOL (Manawatu)

Contact: Gwenna Finikin
Treasurer: Jess Yap
Secretary: Yuka Kobayashi

MANATESOL is the Manawatu Association of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages.

MANATESOL is actively involved in promoting second language teaching in the Manawatū. We do this through organising regular workshops and seminars featuring some of New Zealand’s premier second language educators.

PALMERSTON NORTH, the home city of MANATESOL, has a large non-native English speaking population and a number of centres for second language teaching, linguistics and TESL, including Massey University, Universal College Of Learning, Education Training Consultants (ETC), Queen Elizabeth College and International Pacific College. In addition, the Home Tutor Program and Open Learning Centre have a significant presence in the local TESOL environment. Primary and secondary schools provide support for many children whose parents are associated with these tertiary and PTE establishments.

MANATESOL extends from Taranaki in the north, down to Levin in the south.

BAYTESOL (Hawke’s Bay)

Areas covered include Napier, Hastings, Central Hawkes Bay and Dannevirke.

WATESOL (Wellington)

Contact: Nicky Riddiford

WATESOL supports ESOL teachers in the Wellington region by providing a number of opportunities each year to network and to attend professional development

events such as seminars, workshops and mini conferences. Branch activities are organised by a committee which is made up of representatives from the primary,

secondary, tertiary, PTE and NGO sectors.

Interests of WATESOL include

• suggestions and resources for teaching language skills at all levels;
• supporting ESOL students in schools;
• cross-cultural awareness;
• assessment;
• current issues in the TESOL area;
• innovations in language teaching; and
• using technology in language teaching.

Postal address:

Nicky Riddiford
School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies
Victoria University of Wellington
PO Box 600
Wellington

NATESOL (Nelson)

Committee Members:

• Annette Vartha (secretary), Nelson College for Girls
• Trish Standring, English Language Partners
• Sarah Thornton, NMIT
• Stephen Knoef, Nelson College
• Julie Bytheway, NMIT
• Joenne Mulvena, NMIT and ELP

NATESOL’s main area of activity is sharing TESOL resources and activities at within secondary and community sectors, particularly to support beginner learners who are recently arrived migrants.  An additional focus is fostering linkages between providers who support former refugees into work and successful settlement with English language a key to this.

CANTESOL

Chair: Navjot McCormack

Email Navjot:

The CANTESOL committee is highly committed to providing quality professional development opportunities for its members. Guided by TESOLANZ, we endeavour to meet the needs of all sectors in our broad membership demography. Representatives from all of the sectors on the CANTESOL Committee means that we can cater for the many different needs amongst our members.

Networking and learning are the main objectives in our branch. We make sure there is ample time to meet and talk in more informal situations at every event that we organise. The events often take place in the afternoon, so we provide refreshments, snacks and coffee or tea, to enjoy after a long day of work, whilst interacting with colleagues and friends in the CANTESOL branch.

Purpose of TESOLANZ and therefore also for CANTESOL:

• To promote the professional interests of its members and cater for their needs.
• To promote the interests of learners of English as an additional language and cater for their needs.
• To co-operate with community language groups in identifying and pursuing common goals.
• To publish research, material and other documents appropriate to the association’s aims.
• To affirm the maintenance of Te Reo Māori under the Treaty of Waitangi.