Growing up on the island of Rarotonga in the Cooks, Munokoa Hewett wanted to be a nurse. She moved to New Zealand when she was 10 years old and, as an adult, cared for her parents for over 10 years before they passed away.
She’s now working as a Support Worker at Pacific Homecare, caring for her sister.
Here we catch up for a quick Q & A with Munokoa, our March 2016 Employee of the Month, who is known for her reliability, great time management and willingness to help wherever she can.
Tell us a little bit about your background
I was born in Rarotonga and raised in Manihiki untill I was 10 years old, when we moved to New Zealand. I lived in the Hawkes Bay before I moved to Auckland in 2001. I come from a family of 10 brothers and sisters. I took care of my parents for over 10 years before they passed on, and now I care for my sister, who is also a client of Pacific Homecare. I have two jobs; working full time at a rest home and part time at Pacific Homecare as a Support Worker.
What sorts of things do you do in your job?
Assisting clients with everyday tasks like washing, exercising, and food preparation. I also like to build a rapport with the families of my clients.
Tell us about your clients / a normal day in your job.
On a normal day I assist my clients with getting out of bed, preparing food and having a conversations with them, mostly talking about how their day has been.
What do you like most about working at Pacific Homecare?
I like the friendly staff, suitable hours and good communication between the office and Support Workers. I especially enjoy the end-of-year Christmas functions – that’s when you get to meet your colleagues and have a good evening filled with music, dancing, and food.
Who inspires you?
The love of my life – my father.
At the end of your working day, what do you like to do?
Catching up on current events, having a cup of tea and winding down before getting ready for bed.
QUICK FIRE QUESTIONS
Favourite type of music?
I love old school music from Elvis Presley and Engelbert Humperdinck to the Bee Gees.
Favourite food?
Island food.
What languages do you speak?
Cook Island Maori and English.
What are your hobbies?
Gardening, dancing, and reading.
What’s your favourite childhood memory?
Family gatherings, like big Christmas and New Year’s Day gatherings.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
A nurse.
If you weren’t doing this job, what would you be doing?
Growing up, I never thought about it. Thinking on it now, maybe working in an office or doing community work.
