Vicky George Projects Manager Ph 07 3070760 ext 231 vicky@ngatiawa.iwi.nz
Mā whero mā pango ka oti ai te mahi
Vicky joins the Rūnanga team with a Bachelor in Education Primary Teaching, and a Postgraduate Diploma of Education specialising in Literacy Education from the University of Auckland. She is currently studying part-time in a Masters programme of Professional Studies in Education with the University Auckland as well as working full time as the Projects Manager for Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa.
She was born in Whakatāne and raised in the small urban Māori enclave of Wairaka. She attended Apanui Primary School, Whakatāne Intermediate and Whakatāne High School, before undertaking a Tourism course with the Waiariki Polytechnic, then onto completing a te reo Māori programme with North Tec.
She was brought up by her grandparents since time dot. Her grandfather served as a Captain of the B Company for the 28th Māori Battalion. After the war he served as a Marshal Guard for the Queen of England, before returning to Whakatāne to work as a foreman at the local mill. During this time, he met his beautiful Ngai te Rangi princess from Tauranga, who he eventually married. They had nine children together. Her grandmother worked as the tea lady for the Whakatane District Council for a number of years, before retiring.
As a young naive lass she always wanted to be to look after the young people. Since returning to Whakatāne in the early year of 2009, her vision changed slightly, in that she wanted to help her people to succeed and give them opportunities to succeed. She applied for an internship with Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa in the later months of 2009, and was successful in obtaining one of two positions for the summer period. At the end of her internship she was given an opportunity to stay on and help with a housing project. At the completion of the first stage of the housing project she was given another opportunity to carry on, and was appointed as the Projects Manager.
She enjoys being a part of the Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa team, as well as working with like minded people that have similar aspirations to hers. Her experiences away from home have taught her a lot about determination and hard work.