AGWN Seminar: Mana wāhine and mentoring – believing in yourself and others
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- 12:00 pm - 01:00 pm
Hosts: Te Aka Wāhine o Tāmaki - Auckland Government Women’s Network (AGWN)
Speakers:
- Janine Parsons, Operations Director Northern/Pacific, Immigration NZ
- Rema Erueti, Head of Operations - Manukau, Immigration NZ
- La’a Tamarau, Head of Operations – Christchurch, Immigration NZ
Register: Eventsair
Auckland GWN are pleased to present this online seminar where three wāhine Māori leaders from Te Rōpū Manene Immigration New Zealand share their leadership journeys and thoughts on believing in yourself and others.
Our speakers will cover their start in grassroots roles before being māia/bold and making the leap into leadership, balancing their commitments to their whānau, hapori/community and mahi. Janine, Rema and La'a will kōrero about the value of authentic and instinctive leadership and how they have been supported, mentored and sponsored throughout their journeys and how they now do the same for others.
Janine Parsons, Rema Erueti and La’a Tamarau
Janine Parsons
Janine Parsons is one of two Operations Directors responsible for overseeing Visa Operations. Visa Operations deploys over 1,400 kaimahi across New Zealand and the Pacific and is accountable for the delivery of high quality and timely visa entry decisions.
Janine has enjoyed a 37 plus year career with INZ working in numerous operational and leadership roles both in New Zealand and overseas. Janine’s experience with INZ has been extensive having worked as a Support Officer, Immigration Officer, Border Officer, Airline Liaison Officer, Refugee Status Determination Officer, Service Manager, Branch Manager, Border and Investigations Manager, Area Manager, Head of Operations, National Manager Investigations and now working as Operations Director (Northern and Pacific). People Leadership is Janine’s preferred role as it offers her the privilege of being able to support others through their own career development journey within INZ.
Janine is of Waikato Tainui descent and Ngāti Wairere is her hapū.
Rema Erueti
Rema is one of two Head of Operations in Manukau responsible for overseeing Skilled Residence Applications for Visa Operations, INZ. Rema has enjoyed a 24 year career in the public service with MSD, with INZ working in operational roles both in New Zealand and South East/South Asia, MBIE’s Kānoa, Regional Economic Development and Investment Unit, and MIQ . Rema started her public service career as a Customer Service Representative on a temporary contract in the StudyLink Contact Centre working spilt shifts to accommodate being in the workforce whilst caring for her 3 month old son. After gaining a permanent position she moved in a Team Leader role and then also held Service Manager roles in Lower Hutt and Palmerston North. 9 years later Rema joined INZ, MBIE (then the Dept of Labour) as an Immigration Manager then Branch Manager in Palmerston North before taking her first offshore posting as a Market Manager in Bangkok, Thailand. This was followed by a posting as Operations Manager to Auckland briefly before returning to Bangkok as an Area Manager followed by a short post to New Delhi, India and then a return to the Auckland. This provided the opportunity for Rema to move to another group in MBIE where, as Operations Manager, she established a Jobs & Skills Hub in Manukau focused on encouraging more youth, Māori, Pasifika and women into the Trades. Her team worked within the communities, schools and marae as well as major construction employers in South Auckland.
When Aotearoa went into lockdown Rema moved in MIQ and had operational responsibility for Logistics, Transport (coach & air), Hotel Planning, Security (site & personnel), Suppliers, Assurance, Workforce Testing, Change Management, Welfare and onsite facility operations. Once MIQ finished Rema took a well deserved break and returned to INZ now working as a Head of Operations in Manukau. People Leadership roles in Service Delivery and Operations is where Rema finds it most rewarding and challenging as she enjoys working with and for people.
Rema is of Taranaki and Ngati Porou descent and a proud mum to Jackson and Roman.
La’a Tamarau
Ko Maatatua te waka, Ko te Haokitaha te maunga, Ko Oruakorau te awa, Ko Ngāi Tūhoe te iwi, Ko Ngāti Koura te hapu, Ko Ōtenuku te marae ki te Ruatoki, Ko La’a Tamarau toku ignoa.
I have worked for INZ for 9 years, starting as a Support Office and progressing through various roles until being appointed Head of Operations for Christchurch 2 last year. My proudest mahi moments include being part of the INZ response to the 15 March attacks. I feel leadership is an absolute privilege and I love working with my homahi to make work a better place. My source of joy are my beautiful tamariki and an integral part of my identity and what it means to be a leader.