The Conscious Kids Team
Maria Mariotti
Co-Founder and Director
Maria is an Italian mum who has been traveling around the world with her family (her 3 kids were born on 3 different continents!) to study and learn from indigenous cultures, different philosophies, and natural therapies.
As well as being one of our amazing co-founders, Maria is our Business Developer & Project Manager. Her knowledge and experience combined with her playful soul allow her to see the bigger picture of Conscious Kids and its future. Maria is the epitome of a free spirit and can-do attitude!
Rita Pontes
Co-Founder and Director
Rita is a Brazilian mum of two girls and a qualified Graphic and Interior Designer. After visiting different countries with her family, they have found New Zealand the best place to live a conscious life, connecting future and past, nature and development, love and respect.
As a designer, Rita is passionate about making the world a better place for everyone, full of colours and happiness. She believes that every new day is a miracle and small changes make big transformations.
Dani & Alex Sheire
Holiday Programmes Directors
Kia ora! We’re Alex and Dani.
We are the husband-and-wife team behind Nature’s Den Forest School, passionate about outdoor education and child-led learning. Our journey has been dedicated to creating meaningful nature-based experiences where tamariki can explore, play, and develop confidence in the outdoors.
Alex, a qualified early childhood educator, has a hands-on approach that nurtures curiosity and a deep connection with te taiao (the natural world). Dani brings strong organizational skills to ensure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes.
We are thrilled to continue Conscious Kids' legacy and bring our passion for outdoor adventure into the holiday programmes. With Alex’s prior experience at Conscious Kids and our shared love for nature-based play, we are committed to providing a safe, enriching, and fun-filled space where tamariki can thrive.
We look forward to welcoming your children to the upcoming school holiday sessions and sharing their outdoor adventures!
Harriet Brown
Conscious Kids Co-Founder
Harriet Brown Co-Founder of Conscious Kids Harriet is a mother of two daughters and a qualified teacher with a degree in Sports and Exercise Science.
During the school term, she could be found exploring Long Bay Regional Park with a group adventurous preschoolers from the Nature Kindergarten she previously. With a strong passion for encouraging children to play outdoors, regardless of the weather, Harriet was continually inspired by the significant growth she witnessed in her Nature Kindergarten students.
Together with Maria and Rita, she founded CONSCIOUS KIDS to extend these benefits to school-age children.
In Memoriam
Tref Turner
Conscious Kids Lead Educator
Kia Ora team! I’m Tref Turner, also known as Treffy T, and I am a registered teacher for Kindergarten and Primary school.
My journey into the outdoor environment as a third teacher brought me to the amazing Conscious Kids team, and seven years later, I’m here. During my time with CK, I have trained staff, provided curriculum advice, and developed individual plans for families needing extra support. My approach emphasizes autonomy, self-esteem, and a child-led philosophy.
I look forward to meeting all of you and the incredible ‘Conscious Kids’!
