Cath Runga

Curriculum and Assessment Manager

Based in Taupō and working across the Bay of Plenty and Waikato regions, Cath is an experienced PLD consultant, team leader, and project manager. 

She is approved to deliver Ministry of Education PLD in: 

  • structured literacy approaches 

  • assessment. 

Cath also supports schools with:

  • literacy content and pedagogical knowledge  

  • leadership 

  • acceleration strategies - literacy 

  • assessment for learning 

  • implementation of NZC: English. 

Cath has deep knowledge and expertise in facilitation. She has worked as a literacy facilitator in a range of national projects, including Accelerating Learning in Literacy (ALL), and she has written teacher support materials for the School Journals and the Reading and Writing Standards.  

As a skilled structured literacy approaches facilitator, Cath helps teachers build confidence and expertise in explicit, systematic teaching that develops strong oral language, reading, and writing skills. Her facilitation draws on the latest cognitive science and is practical, culturally responsive, connects to the curriculum and tailored to each school’s context. She partners with leaders and kaiako to embed consistent, school-wide literacy practices that strengthen collaboration, ensure coherence across year levels, and deliver lasting gains in learner achievement. 

Cath brings expertise in assessment, supporting schools to design purposeful systems that give clear insights into learner progress and achievement. She helps leaders and teachers use assessment as a tool for learning, guiding them to interpret evidence, moderate with dependability, and evaluate impact with confidence. Her facilitation ensures that assessment is connected to curriculum and pedagogy, and focused on equity - enabling kaiako, ākonga, and whānau to understand what has been learned, what matters next, and how best to get there.  

As a team leader and project manager, Cath is known for her ability to design and deliver complex PLD programmes, build strong professional relationships, and ensure projects achieve high-quality outcomes for ākonga, kaiako, and leaders. Her collaborative approach is a hallmark of her work, as she partners with schools to promote learner, teacher, and leader agency, and to develop sustainable systems and practices that lift student achievement. 

In her spare time Cath loves to spend time with her family, doing puzzles, and catching up on her reading for book club.