Our Team

Dr Todd Nachowitz, PhD, is the Founder and Executive Director of EarthDiverse. Todd is a Hamilton-based lecturer, anthropologist, environmentalist and diversity educator. He previously taught in Religious Studies at the University of Waikato, teaching courses on Comparative Religion and Religious Fundamentalism & Extremism. Todd holds a Masters Degree in Development Anthropology from Syracuse University in upstate New York (1991) and a PhD from the University of Waikato (2015) in Political Science and Public Policy where he completed his thesis on diversity governance and the Indian diaspora in New Zealand. Prior to settling in New Zealand in 1995, Todd lived and worked in the United States, India, Pakistan and Nepal. He spent 11 years in South Asia as the Academic Director for university study-abroad programmes in Varanasi, India (for the University of Wisconsin-Madison); Lahore, Pakistan (for the University of California-Berkeley); and Kathmandu, Nepal (for School for International Training, based in Brattleboro, Vermont, USA) focusing on language, culture and religion. Todd speaks Hindi and Urdu, and is a specialist in comparative world religions and the history, religions, languages and cultures of South Asia. He also currently teaches our Hindi and Urdu language courses and the Religious Diversity courses at EarthDiverse.

Nona Morris, MA, is a researcher and diversity educator for EarthDiverse. She has undergraduate degrees in Human Biology and Anthropology, and post-graduate degrees (MA) in Anthropology and Education. She has worked in the field of education for the last 30 years, working across all sectors from early childhood through university and adult mentoring, and has taught in a variety of fields including biology, ecology, social science, research methodology, and learning and assessment practice. She also teaches in the early childhood and primary school sectors. Prior to moving to New Zealand, Nona has lived, studied and worked in Kenya, Tanzania, Liberia, Pakistan, Nepal and the USA. She has experience in cross-cultural communication, facilitation, experiential education, service-based learning, and curriculum design and implementation.  Her passion for social and environmental justice and for working with youth has led to her involvement with various local community groups, including NZ Scouts, school parent groups, Playcentre, ethnic and arts groups, and ecological restoration projects. Nona comes from and lives in a multicultural family, is married, and is a mum to two talented Wellington-based university-aged sons. Nona currently runs our Teacher Training Professional Development programme in tandem with Amondi Ouko-Mowbray, and is a key member of our management team.

Hezekia Chege Mungai (Heze) is a self-taught front-end web developer who works with big or small organisations to design and develop user-friendly, accessible static as well as dynamic websites. After working in the hospitality industry, Hezekia knows that communication is vital. It is crucial to deliver the right message to the correct audience. With the current tools in the technology industry, a well-developed web application can achieve this goal. Hezekia started working in Kenya, his country of birth, as a tour leader. He was in charge of planning and executing different tailor-made itineraries for clients from all over the world. He has also worked at Hilton Hotel and FontSanta Hotel, both five-star hotels in Mallorca, Spain. He was in charge of various responsibilities from reservations, customer services, online community management to daily audits, as a shift leader. Hezekia has a passion for coding, but when not coding, mountain biking, camping, outdoor activities and cooking are what he likes. He is EarthDiverse’s new Web & Technical Support Specialist.

Frank Carter. Photo and bio coming soon.

Professor Duker is an expert in medieval and early modern Christianity. He was won numerous research and teaching prizes. He was a Fulbright Fellow in Switzerland, where he worked at the Institute for Reformation History at the University of Geneva. He spent over a year in France conducting research at the BnF and multiple other archives as a visiting research fellow at the Sorbonne. He taught a political science course at Berkeley and undergraduate courses in History, Theology, and Medieval Studies at the University of Notre Dame. After completing his doctorate, he became a professor at the American University in Cairo – where he held the largest university endowed chair in the Arabic-speaking world and where he served as the Director of the only non-sectarian Religious Studies program in any Muslim-majority country. He then became a Professor of History, Religion, and Jewish Studies at Mount Holyoke College before moving onto Alphacrucis College in Australia. He has held a visiting research fellowship at the University of Waikato and is currently a Research Fellow at Laidlaw College in Auckland.

Ahmad Sayadi, originally from Iran, is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering at Waikato University. Alongside his academic pursuits, Ahmad possesses a deep passion for teaching Farsi/Persian to those who have a genuine love for the language. Additionally, he harbors a keen interest in exploring and understanding the rich diversities that exist among various cultures and nations. Ahmad is deeply committed to teaching Persian, recognizing the power of language as a bridge that connects individuals and cultures. He is driven by the belief that language education is not just about communication, but also about fostering understanding, empathy, and appreciation for different cultures. Through his teaching, Ahmad aims to help his students develop a profound appreciation for the beauty and richness of Persian language and culture.

Ahmad’s love for studying the diversities between cultures and nations extends beyond the realm of language teaching. He actively engages in activities and research that allow him to explore the unique aspects that shape different societies. His interactions with people from diverse backgrounds inspire him to appreciate the richness and beauty found within the tapestry of global cultures.

Annu Singh, a proud native of Jaipur, has been immersed in the world of Hindi language and culture from a young age. Growing up in Varanasi, she inherited a deep appreciation for her native tongue from her father and guru Mr. Virendra Singh, an internationally revered Hindi teacher and pioneer in teaching Hindi as a foreign language. Inspired by his teachings and fueled by her own passion, Annu pursued her academic journey, earning a Bachelor’s degree (BA) in vocal Music and her Master’s degree (MA) in Hindi from Kashi Hindu University in Varanasi. With over two decades of experience, Annu has taught Hindi to students of all levels, from beginners to advanced, honing her skills and expertise along the way. She has also worked as a research assistant and translator to many scholars. Alongside her dedication to her craft, Annu is also a devoted wife and mother to her 18-year-old daughter who is also an language enthusiast and a science student.

In Annu’s classes, learning is all about joining a vibrant community where warmth, laughter, and genuine connections thrive. Through her engaging teaching style, she creates a welcoming space where students feel empowered to explore the language at their own pace. With a focus on conversation, she encourages her students to embrace the language organically, fostering not only linguistic proficiency but also a sense of community and friendship. Her approach is practical and she tailors lessons based on students’ needs.

Beyond the classroom, Annu is deeply committed to promoting Hindi language and culture. Whether she’s organizing cultural events or sharing her knowledge with others, she works to preserve and celebrate the richness of Hindi heritage. With her enthusiasm and dedication, Annu inspires all learners and helps them delve into the beauty of the Hindi language. She strongly believes that language is the bridge to connecting cultures and guides us on our path to understand the food, culture, and lifestyles India.

Kia ora! My name is Ariana, and I am a descendant of Ngāti Hauā, Raukawa and Te Arawa iwi. While I cherish both Wellington and Tokoroa as my homes, I currently call Hamilton my base. I have a diploma in Te Reo Māori and work as a tutor for the full immersion Reo Māori course (Te Tohu Paetahi) at Waikato University. Additionally, I recently completed a term teaching at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

I love creating fun and comprehensive learning experiences. I also believe that through learning Te Reo Māori, we also immerse ourselves in Te Ao Māori, the Māori world—a beautiful aspect of holistic learning. With an interactive teaching style, I foster wānanga (conversations, discussions) to cultivate a safe learning space. My passion for Te Reo Māori is continually expanding, propelling me to seek new knowledge, embrace fresh experiences, and cultivate a deeper connection with Te Ao Māori.

Benny teaches EarthDiverse’s Hebrew courses. He was born in Israel and was raised as a fluent Hebrew speaker at Kibbutz Kinneret, located near the Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret) in the Jordan Valley. He also served as a Captain in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). Benny moved to New Zealand in 1982, becoming a New Zealand citizen in 1984. He graduated from the University of Waikato with an LLB degree in 1994 and an LLM in 2007. For many years he worked for the New Zealand Transport Agency, both in planning and in a legal capacity. Benny is now partly retired, keeping himself busy with Ellys Physio and teaching Hebrew in his spare time. He is married and has 3 children and 3 grandchildren, who reside in New Zealand, Israel and Italy.

Dennis holds a PhD from the University of Waikato, and is a graduate of the Oxford Center for Postgraduate Hebrew and Jewish Studies. He lectured for 16 years for the University of Waikato’s Religious Studies Department. He has special interests in the Archaeology and Anthropology of the southern Levant, Iron Age Israelite history and the Second Temple Period of Jewish history. Apart from ongoing research, he is employed doing archaeological excavations in the greater Waikato area.

Jillene Bydder’s long-term interest is in spy thrillers and what they can tell us about ourselves. An academic research librarian, she has read many thrillers unavailable in New Zealand during study periods spent at the British Library in London. She has walked the line marking the path of the Berlin Wall, crossed the Bridge of Spies, and visited Russia multiple times. She has been to Siberia and seen the bullet holes in the building used as the headquarters of the White Army during the Russian Revolution and to Stalin’s birthplace in Georgia. She has visited the island in the Baltic Sea from which British agents were infiltrated into the Soviet Union. She has presented many papers to international conferences and spends much time in second-hand bookshops here and overseas adding to her own collection of thrillers.

I was born and raised in Teluk Intan, Perak, Malaysía until I was 17. I studied my early education in an all girls Convent School (Malay & English Medium). I moved to NZ in 1989 to further my studies, and migrated for good in 2004 with my family. I’m now a single parent of 2 super handsome sons and 2 super gorgeous girls.

I studied Tamil as an extra curricular activity in school, POL (People’s Own Language), from the age of 9 till 17. I instantly fell in love with the
language so much that I decided to take up Tamil Language and Tamil Literature as two of my extra subjects for my Form 3 and Form 5 Government
Examinations. To help prepare for these, I took up Tamil tuition for 3 consecutive years, 2 hours a day, 5 days a week. With guidance from my teachers, I passed with Merit.

I’m very happy and grateful for having been given an opportunity to be part of the EarthDiverse Team. I believe that learning is a lifetime process and I am as eager too, to share and extend my knowledge together with my online students.

Born to a Kiwi father and a Samoan mother, Matt Ferri is something of a cookies-and-cream milkshake. It explains why his childhood was divided between two rather distinctly-sized islands, and, more importantly, why cookies and cream is his favourite flavour. At some stage he grew up, got a degree, and moved to a third island, Japan, where he spent five years teaching English and studying Japanese. His BA in English has a ‘First Class Honours’ suffix, which may have helped him get there; and his Diploma in Creative Writing has also proven invaluable – as filler content for his CV. Back in Hamilton now, Matt tutors NCEA English and proofreads university reports. And now and then he ponders, as he reflects on those three islands, how the phrase ‘home is where the heart is’ applies if your heart feels split.

Norman is a Hamilton-based poet, scholar, artist and film maker (MA, Hamburg University; Ph.D. Humboldt University, Berlin). He has published widely about 18th century literature, German-speaking exile literature (Albert Einstein, Ernst H. Kantorowicz, Else Lasker-Schüler, Karl Wolfskehl) eco-poetics and at the intersection of religion and poetry. Norman’s poetry has been broadcast on radio and published in anthologies in Austria, Germany, New Zealand, Switzerland, the UK, and the USA. He was a Senior Lecturer at the University of Waikato for 22 years before his department was disestablished. He is currently a Conjoint Senior Lecturer & Research Fellow in the School of Humanities and Social Science at the University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. He also teaches the “Grand Narratives and Mythologies in the Western Traditions” and the “Introduction to European Art and Architecture” courses and convenes our new Philosophy discussion group ʻThe Big Questions” for EarthDiverse. Norman also teaches our German language programme from time to time/

Peter has taught in secondary schools, Wintec and Waikato University collectively for over 25 years. He is a well known Waikato artist, art critic and a writer of poetry, fiction and non-fiction. He currently teaches course for EarthDiverse in the fields of Art & Architecture, History and Philosophy. His book Days of Our Deaths serves as the basis for his “A Cultural History of Death” course, which is also offered in Term 3 this year. Peter also teaches “The Spiritual in Modern Art” course, an “Introduction  to Western Philosophy,” and his newest course, “Understanding the Classical World and its Impact on Modern Life” is offered in Term 3.

For the last five years, Shifra has been teaching a class called Earth Space Science to high school students in Iowa, USA. During this time she has honed in on what exactly a person needs in order to understand what is happening in the world right now in terms of global climate change. Many adults have asked about the subject matter she teaches. Only recently has Earth science been taught at a high school level and a person may or may not have taken an Earth science class while at University. What Shifra teaches is what a lot of people missed along the way during their formal education years. She feels strongly that with knowledge comes power and the motivation to act. She has taught many different levels and subjects over the past 20 years. She loves teaching science, especially the nature and process of science. and loves nature. She spends a lot of her time outdoors painting landscapes whenever she can.

Hello! My name is Thais, and I just moved from Brazil to New Zealand. I was born in São Paulo, the largest city in the country, where I studied Textile and Fashion. After a few years, I decided to transition my career to Marketing. I have worked in large companies and have a huge passion for Brazilian culture. I hope to share a bit with you and add some knowledge from such a different culture! Besides loving music, literature, cinema, and the arts in general, I also love traveling, getting to know new cultures, and something quite peculiar, board games!

Todd is the Founder and Executive Director of EarthDiverse. He previously taught in Religious Studies at the University of Waikato, teaching courses on Comparative Religion and Religious Fundamentalism & Extremism. Todd holds a Masters Degree in Development Anthropology from Syracuse University in upstate New York (1991) and a PhD from the University of Waikato (2015) in Political Science and Public Policy where he completed his thesis on diversity governance and the Indian diaspora in New Zealand. Prior to settling in New Zealand in 1995, Todd lived and worked in the United States, India, Pakistan and Nepal. He spent 11 years in South Asia as the Academic Director for university study-abroad programmes in Varanasi, India (for the University of Wisconsin-Madison); Lahore, Pakistan (for the University of California-Berkeley); and Kathmandu, Nepal (for School for International Training, based in Brattleboro, Vermont, USA) focusing on language, culture and religion. Todd speaks Hindi and Urdu, and is a specialist in comparative world religions and the history, religions, languages and cultures of South Asia. He also currently teaches our Hindi and Urdu language courses and the Religious Diversity courses at EarthDiverse.

Yurika Arai is our Japanese instructor. She was born in Japan and has been living in Hamilton for nearly 30 years. She has both an M Phil (English) and a Masters Degree in Professional Studies. She taught Japanese at the University of Waikato for 15 years and currently works as an early childhood education teacher and a freelance translator. In 2022 Term 1 Yurika will also be teaching our new course in World Cinema on Japanese Anime.