Mr Cunliffe has been teaching for 16 years and said he loved the lifestyle and challenge of working with children.
"No day is the same in teaching and I enjoy the challenge of being a positive role model for the children.
"I love how you can ask the whole class a question and get 31 individual responses from the pupils. It challenges the way you think and how you tailor your lessons to the children's needs."
Mr Cunliffe said he wished more males were entering the profession.
"It is important for schools to have a balance between male and female teachers as each provides different dynamics in the classroom.
"Ideally the ratio of male to female teachers should be 50/50 in schools as males bring a different dimension to teaching."
Ministry of Education head of student achievement Dr Graham Stoop said the most important factor in lifting student achievement was the quality of teaching.
"We recognise it's really important to have more men in teaching, and for children to have positive male role models in their lives. We are very aware of the gender disparity and where we can influence teacher supply, for example when we offer scholarships, we actively promote a balanced view in the marketing materials we produce."
Mr Stoop said men made up a quarter of teaching staff across the country and that had been "steady for some time".
"There is some indication that the status of the profession is an inhibiting factor for some men, leading them to choose other professions.
"We are focused on raising the profile and status of the teaching profession so that we continue to attract the best talent, including more men."