Hawera head teacher elected to NZEI presidency

4 October, 2012
Immediate Release

Hawera head teacher elected to NZEI presidency

Hawera kindergarten head teacher Judith Nowotarski is to be the new national president of NZEI Te Riu Roa.

Judith was voted in at the institute’s annual meeting in Rotorua this week and is the first person from the Early Childhood sector to hold the role of president of NZEI. She will take up the two-year role early next year.

The current vice president, Auckland deputy principal Frances Guy, will continue in this role.

Judith brings to her new role nearly two decades of national representation – including as national vice president, on the early childhood national caucus and on the NZEI kindergarten negotiating team.

Judith describes herself as having a whole of union philosophy based on “unity is strength”.

She believes that the “at the heart of the matter is the child” and says the recent attacks on education are not going to help kids’ learning.

“We have to keep the community at the centre and work at sustaining that relationship for the good of children’s learning.”

She said a good example of not including the community was the education plan for Christchurch.

“What plays out there is a strong indication of things to come across the rest of the education sector. We (NZEI) want to lead conversations around education and keep a robust, quality public education system.”

Judith, who is Taranaki born and bred, has tribal affiliations with Ngati Ruanui, Nga Ruahine, Ngai Tahu me Nga Puhi.

She acknowledges and thanks those who have helped her.

“I haven’t got to this position by myself. There are a lot of people in Taranaki who have been with me on this journey.’’

Judith has also been delegate for NZEI at international conferences on education in Australia, United States, Thailand and India.

She has also has been a member of NZEI and Ministry of Education working groups including Kindergarten Job Evaluation and Pay and Employment Equity groups and lead the development of NZEI Whakakore Tukino Tamaiti – Stop Child Abuse.

© Scoop Media