As an integrated school, Raphael House is governed by the Board of Trustees and the Proprietors Trust.
The Board provides strategic leadership and governance for Raphael House. Working in conjunction with the principal our role is to ensure the best possible outcomes (achievement and wellbeing) for all our students. It is an honour to be a Trustee and a role we take seriously.
The Board develops and is guided by the school’s strategic and annual plan. Our current focus is on strengthening our financial position, leadership and culture within the school.
This page will be updated regularly with Board meeting updates and minutes. Updates will also be posted in the Bush Telegraph.
Thank you for trusting us to govern Raphael House.
2026 Board Meetings
All Board meetings begin at 6.30pm in Tirohanga Nui (upstairs)
| Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4 |
| February 23 | May 18 | August 17 | |
| March 30 | June 29 | September 21 | November 23 |
Board Minutes
| MInutes 2026 | Minutes 2025 | Minutes 2024 | Minutes 2023 | Minutes 2022 | Minutes 2021 |
| November 2026 | November 2025 | November 2024 | November 2023 | November 2022 | |
| September 2026 | October 2025 | October 2024 | September 2023 | October 2022 | 2 November 2021 |
| August 2026 | September 2025 | August 2024 | August 2023 | August 2022 | Monday 30 August 2021 |
| June 2026 | July 2025 | June 2024 | June 2023 | July 2022 | Monday 28 June 2021 |
| May 2026 | May 2025 | May 2024 | May 2023 | May 2022 | Monday 24 May 2021 |
| Mar 2026 | March 2025 | March 2024 | March 2023 | April 2022 | Monday 29 March 2021 |
| Feb 2026 | February 2025 | February 2024 | February 2023 | 28 February 2022 | 22 February 2021 |
Board Members
I have two children at the school, Sol in Class Eight and Zac in Class Six.
My wife Angie and most of her extended family are also part of the school community. I have worked in information security and privacy for longer than I care to admit, 11 years of which I ran my own companies. I’m a member of the Institute of Directors and enjoy the opportunity to use what I have learnt through their board training programs to make a positive contribution to the school and community.
Out of work I spend time with Angie and our boys, extended family and friends. When I’m not socializing or working round the house, I enjoy brewing, sustainability technologies, home automation and permaculture agriculture. Weather and time permitting, I love to get out for a ride on my ebike.
Matthias Vest
DEPUTY PRESIDING MEMBER
Karen Thrumble
Parent Representative
I live in Moonshine Valley with Francis my lovely partner, my twin daughters Anya and Esme (Class 7) our chickens, dog and occasional sheep.
We have been part of the school community since we moved to Lower Hutt in 2018. Prior to that the girls had attended the Edinburgh Steiner School kindergarten.
After graduating in Psychology, specializing in monkeys I followed the natural career path into finance. I have worked in investments for my entire career, advising major institutions on pension fund strategy. In recent years my work has focused more on engagement – representing those institutions in negotiations with the companies they invest in – to attempt to improve environmental, social and governance outcomes.
I feel strongly about Steiner education and the importance of a strong community to support it. To those ends I have been the Treasurer of the PTFA for the last seven years and I joined the Board in the middle of 2022. I feel that this has strengthened the bonds between the groups; both committed to the special character and to making the school the best it can be for our children.
Niels Hunefeld
Parent Representative
Originally from The Netherlands I have been calling New Zealand my home since 2007, and my daughter and son were born here. Both are Raphael House students, and attended Steiner Cottage and Kindergarten before that. I’m a strong supporter of the Waldorf curriculum, and the wonderful community surrounding it.
I bring over 20 years of professional experience as a creative, designer, and brand strategist to the board to help support a bright and healthy future for our school.
Outside of work you can find me running trails, playing my instruments, or tinkering on one of my other crafty projects.
Christine Nicholls
Proprietors Representative
I am a Raphael House parent and ex-pupil (Class 12, 1999). My daughter Zoe is in Class 5 and my son Eli is in Class 3.
I’ve been on the Trust and Board since 2019 and bring over 15 years’ experience in Communications with me. I am excited to be part of creating a strong and sustainable Raphael House for our children and our grandchildren.
Janet Molloy
Proprietors Representative
I am honoured to serve the Raphael House community on two governing bodies; as a Trust member and Trust Representative on the Board.
I am a state and Steiner qualified teacher and, although now retired from the classroom, I have had a successful teaching career in both lower and upper schools.
I have also had the privilege of leading four different Steiner schools as Principal in both Aotearoa New Zealand and three Australian states.
I have a deep and ongoing involvement in the study of anthroposophy and contemporary education as well as helping to further Steiner/Waldorf education in Aotearoa and the world.
I have had several of my four children attend Raphael House and other Steiner schools as well as two grandchildren, so the family has had a long association with Raphael House.
My experience in leading schools has led me to an acute awareness that the three areas of leadership – governance (Boards), teaching faculty, management structures – all need to have a sound understanding of their roles and to be working to support, check, balance and correct one another in order for the whole school system to function healthily.
Merlin Fuhrohop
Staff Representative
Ivo Vest
Student Representative
BOT Annual Reports and Audited Financial Statements