Liz Raikes

Manu Class Teacher
liz@kingsview.school.nz

I graduated the Auckland College of Education with a Bachelor of Primary Education in 2000 and have been teaching for the past 26 years across every level of primary and intermediate school. I trained as a Reading Recovery Teacher (remedial literacy) early and my career and more recently gained a National Certificate in Outdoor Recreation Leadership while living on Great Barrier Island - firmly cementing my love of all things active. I am currently in my 2nd year of teaching Year 4 and 5 at KingsView School.

I was bought up in a committed Christian home with a strong heart for evangelism and mission. As an adult my Christian faith is central to all that I am and all that I do. I attended a Christian school as a child and, while I have taught in a wide variety of settings as a teacher, I have always been passionate about Christian education. I highly value being able to bring 'my whole self' to my workplace and teach children about their God given identity - who God says they are and has created them to be.

I was born in Auckland as the youngest of 6 children in a close knit family with strong Christian heritage. My husband, Kerry, and I married 25 years ago and have 4 amazing sons who love adventure and the great outdoors. After living on Great Barrier Island for 4 years we felt called to Queenstown and made the move the this beautiful town at the start of 2025.

'God can do ANYTHING, you know - far more than you could ever IMAGINE or GUESS or REQUEST in your WILDEST DREAMS! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.' Ephesians 3 v 20 (MSG) I love this translation because it fills me with awe and anticipation about how big out God is and reminds me to not limit Him to my guessing and imagining. We are encouraged to dream big, wild dreams and be excited by the limitless possibilities of doing life with Him.