Korihi te pō, korihi te pō, korihi te ao, korihi te ao
Ka rongo i runga ki te matahau o Tū
Tū te winiwini, Tū te wanawana
Tū kia whakaputaina, ki te whai ao ki te ao mārama
Tihei mauri ora
Can you share a bit about your professional journey leading up to your current position?
I first worked in the forestry sector during my school holiday periods. Leaving school at 18 with no qualifications and getting married at 19 saw me entering the workforce as a full-time worker in a manufacturing mill for 13 years as a millhand from 1978 to 1992. Over those years, I was introduced to a number of skill sets such as driving heavy machinery, grading timber and making paper.
In 1993, I was offered a position as a Truancy officer for the local high school. This position helped me learn new ways of communicating with families and their children. I became a case manager for the Department of Labour in 1994, later becoming the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), where I would spend the next 28 years as a public servant. I worked in several roles, starting as Case Manager and regional Iwi Relationship Manager and ending my service as Regional Labour Market Manager (RLMM), a position I held for 18 years. During my time with MSD, I gained the qualifications of Diploma in Māori Management & Degree in Masters Public Management.
What attracted you to this role? What are your responsibilities?
I saw an alignment of my work as an RLMM with the mahi that Ringa Hora does – providing a better pathway to independence through training and education for Iwi Māori, Pacific Peoples, Tāngata Whaikaha and those underserved in the education system. I felt my knowledge of the labour market, industry, and sector would benefit those who needed to enter the workforce and gain qualifications.
As a Tāngata Whaikaha Lead, I see my role as a connector and relationship builder for those looking to enter into the workforce in the Service industry. Ringa Hora covers 11 industries and each of those have their workforce challenges. Helping to identify what those challenges are and how we can close the gaps of participation in the labour force for our priority groups mentioned above will be significant.
What role can Ringa Hora play in making the industry better? What achievements of Ringa Hora are you most proud of?
Ringa Hora can help encourage employers to understand the skills sets that Tāngata Whaikaha communities, and those with disabilities and neurodiversity offer to their businesses, as these skills could be the answer to their workforce needs. Also, an area which I think Ringa Hora is leading within the Workforce Development Councils, is a better understanding of Māori and Pacific cultural needs. Ringa Hora can be proud of the work we are doing with our industries and sector, as the support we offer the Service sector with these two vital components has the capability to transform our workforce and education system.
