ManaToa
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About ManaToa

Empowering NZ teachers with AI-powered tools to awaken the learning warrior within every ākonga.

Our Mission

Every student in New Zealand deserves the best education possible. We recognise that educational outcomes aren't always equitable, and our mission is clear: help teachers bridge that gap.

Starting with intuitive curriculum exploration and adaptive assessment tools, we empower kaiako (teachers) to awaken the learning warrior within every ākonga (student).

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Our Story

ManaToa began from a simple need—making sense of New Zealand's refreshed curriculum. When the new curriculum launched, founder Dr. Michael Walmsley discovered that the new curriculum documents weren't mobile-friendly.

What started as a mobile-friendly curriculum navigator is now expanding into much more...

What "ManaToa" Means

In Māori, ManaToa means "Powerful Warrior"—a symbol of strength and potential in each learner. Interestingly, "Mana" in Japanese also translates to "learning," reflecting our vision of fostering powerful, confident learners through technology-enhanced education.

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Core Values

  • Equity in Education: Quality education should be accessible to every child, regardless of background or ability.
  • Joyful Learning: Learning should be engaging, appropriately challenging, and clearly structured, fostering a love for education.
  • Innovation and Impact: Leveraging technology and AI to continuously enhance teaching and learning experiences.

Why ManaToa?

Teachers today face overwhelming administrative workloads that drain their joy and effectiveness. Traditional educational resources are fragmented, cumbersome, and fail to cater effectively to diverse learners. At ManaToa, we're developing a unified solution:

  • Curriculum Exploration: Simple, mobile-friendly navigation of curriculum content.
  • Adaptive Assessments: Tailored assessments that highlight each learner's strengths and areas for growth.
  • Future Plans: Integration of comprehensive lesson planning, personalised practice exercises, and detailed reporting tools.

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Our Founder

Dr. Michael Walmsley brings decades of expertise in EdTech, software engineering, and online education innovation. A software engineer with a Ph.D. in "Computer-Assisted Language Learning," Michael founded Code Avengers in 2011, growing it into a global educational platform. For the past five years, Michael also led the development of the latest version of the NumberWorks'nWords tuition platform, further honing his expertise in impactful educational technology.

Michael and his wife come from large families of Māori, European, and Chinese heritage with over 30 teachers combined, and Michael has dedicated his career to developing educational software, from language-learning apps to comprehensive online curriculums. ManaToa is the culmination of his experience, passion, and unwavering commitment to equitable education.

Looking Forward

We envisage a future where every teacher in New Zealand feels supported, every student feels empowered, and education becomes a joyful, inclusive experience. Join us in reshaping education—one powerful learning warrior at a time.

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