Dr. Will Flavell
Educational, Governance, and Mātauranga Māori Consulting
Education
Poipoia te kakano kia puāwai
Youth Empowerment
Mā te huruhuru ka rere te manu
Research
Mā te kimi ka kite, mā te kite ka mōhio, mā te mōhio ka mārama
Ko Wai Au | About Me
Kia ora. My name is Will Flavell. I am an experienced secondary school head teacher, youth advocate, researcher, school reviewer and evaluator, and I have governance experience.
I have taught te reo Māori and Japanese at large secondary schools. I have served on local and national governance boards, including being appointed by the former Minister of Education, Chris Hipkins, to the board of the largest school in Aotearoa, Te Kura.
I have international experience, having won a Fulbright Scholar award in Boston, where I studied the learning experiences of indigenous youth in Massachusetts.
I have presented my research at conferences around the world, including in Australia, the United States, Peru, Japan, and America.
Professional Community Service
2019 – 2025: Tribunal member, New Zealand Teachers Council Disciplinary Tribunal
2024 – 2025: Chairperson, Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) Cultural Committee
Board Service
2013 – 2025: Elected to Henderson Massey Local Board (Auckland Council)
2022 – 2025: Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu Trustee
2015 – 2025: Deputy Chairperson, Literacy Waitākere
2023 – 2025: Last Chance Project
Awards
2025 – Representing Aotearoa at the We are Pacific Young Leaders Forum in Palau.
2024 – Local Government New Zealand Young Elected Member (YEM) of the year
2022 – Fulbright Scholar Award to University of Massachusetts Boston
Press
We are strongest when we walk together. E-Tangata, April, 2025
Beacon of Leadership: Young politician hopes award will inspire youth. RNZ, October 2024
A New Zealander in New England. UMass Magazine, 2023
School has the power to deter rangatahi Māori from crime, research finds. Stuff, May 2023
Whakarongo ki te reo mātātahi. Glenn Innes Tamariki Writer's Group, October 2022
How non-Māori students play a part on te reo revitalisation. The Spinoff, February 2021
