Maatamarie Pokai-Marks, Training Facilitator for JNP Aviation and Safety Manager at Whakatane Airport, has achieved a lot in just over eight years in the aviation industry.
As a young person, Maata set her sights on a career in aviation, but she also needed an income to support her elderly parents. After working on an orchard and falling pregnant at the age of 16 with her son, Maata started thinking about financial stability and how to achieve it long-term. She also had a dream she wanted to pursue. “I always had it hidden in my mind that I wanted to be a flight attendant, but didn’t think I met the requirements.”
At a young course she was attending, Teen Parent Education Course Kawerau studying tourism, Maata received a scholarship for tertiary education, and she enrolled at the New Zealand School of Tourism. “If I had known that you didn’t need qualifications to become a flight attendant, my mind might have gone somewhere else – but I don’t regret going and getting my tertiary qualification. I was proud of my qualifications, it showed dedication and hard work.”
After a year at New Zealand School of Tourism – where she was named top flight attendant student – Maata got offered a job. “Unfortunately, I couldn’t attend to my graduation because I had an interview with JNP Aviation and wanted to show my commitment and dedication to the job.”
The aviation sector provided a visible career pathway to Maata at a young age, and one she could grow with. JNP and Air NZ have enabled her to work across 16 airports and create countless connections with people in these environments. The industry provided Maata opportunities not only for her to succeed, but also for her whānau to enter the aviation workforce, through the relationships she cultivated. “Sharing my stories and aspirations, I wanted to inspire those around me, Family, Friends, young parents”.
Maata has consistently excelled in training and development, which set her up to quickly step into a management role. She shared the value of having employers and mentors who prioritise growth and focus on bringing your full self to learning and your career pathway. “They respect me as a Māori, as a woman, I’m proud of that. JNP gave me confidence in myself [and now] I am able to showcase that to our workers.”
Maata has now set her sights on another dream – continuing to flourish in aviation by pursuing a pilot’s license. “You don’t see many Māori or Pacific female pilots. I probably only know one other. So, I gave myself five years to go for my pilot license [and so far] three years have gone by. I have two years to get something started. You can still do it if you put your mind to it. My son is my drive. He is everything. I want to make him and my family proud.”
