Homecoming for new Hāwera kaimahi

Jaimie Webb (Ngā Ruahinerangi, Ngāti Ruanui, Ngā Rauru, Te Atiawa) can’t believe her luck that the perfect job came up in her hometown of Hāwera just as she and her husband moved there from New Plymouth.

“I feel really lucky to have the opportunity to come home and get such a good job,” she says of her new role as the WITT Te Pūkenga Hāwera Campus Liaison.”

Jaime is the first port of call welcoming people as they come into the South Taranaki campus helping them with their enrolment enquiries. Once they’re part of the WITT whānau she supports ākonga and connects them to any pastoral and academic support they might need.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to inspire and motivate ākonga to find what they are interested in personally and professionally.”

She has extensive experience in the education sector to draw on, beginning in a kaiāwhina role at Te Ramanui o te Atua Kohanga Reo at Kānihi Marae and teacher aiding at Ramanui School and Hāwera High School (now Te Paepae o Aotea). Most recently Jaimie has worked for Educare Training in both teaching and marketing roles.

“This new role is wonderful as I get to build on all my experience and interact with so many people. I am very excited to support people with their passions.”

She says she’s keen to play a part in the community and support her own people on this side of the maunga.

“People here love their community and that‘s why they stay. To help them access tertiary programmes and find what they are passionate about and see them go into that industry is really exciting.”

A lifelong learner herself, Jaimie is a WITT graduate having studied Māori Governance and Te Reo Māori levels 1 and 2.

“I loved studying at WITT and I had wonderful kaiako, they were very inspirational.”

Jaimie says she’s excited to be back in South Taranaki connecting with family and friends and giving back to her community.

“People in South Taranaki love their community and want to give back. If they can study something they are passionate about in their hometown and turn it into a career it’s great.”