Stacey was a student at Rosehill College from 2000 to 2004. After leaving College she went on to study to be a kaiako (teacher) and is currently working at Manurewa West Primary School as the bicultural kaiako. Stacey inspired her students to collaboratively create a mixed media mural of a taniwha during their study of textiles. She then drove a literacy unit based on students creating their own stories about creatures who live in the moana. The input, passion and mahi of Stacey Madden; South Auckland author, David Riley; and 17 talented Year Six authors resulted in a truly beautiful book. He Moana Kirikā (Ocean Fever) contains stories in both Te Reo and English, along with original illustrations by these young authors.