Introducing Mrs Adrienne Reeves

Mrs Reeves is our Deputy Principal - Curriculum and is also the current President of HETTANZ the Home Economics and Technology Teachers Association of New Zealand.

Kia ora to our wonderful Westland High School community. In this newsletter, I am writing ‘wearing’ my other education sector hat.

I have always believed in lifelong learning, and for me, this has been a combination of study and involvement in the subject association to which I am affiliated—HETTANZ.

HETTANZ is the Home Economics and Technology Teachers Association of New Zealand. Membership of subject associations provides teachers with subject-specific support, collegiality, and professional development opportunities. 

Currently, I am the National President for HETTANZ which has a membership of over 900 teachers across the motu. While I know many members from my long time as a teacher I do not know each of the 900 members. My role as president is akin to being the CEO of a large corporation albeit without a salary; the role is voluntary. The tasks I undertake are many and varied and allow me to travel, meet, and work with teachers from a range of schools throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. The work of a subject association executive or committee is conducted via zoom calls and face-to-face weekend huis. At the moment one of the key tasks facing subject associations is the provision of support and professional learning for teachers of Level 1 NCEA. Whilst this is important it is just a small slice of the work done by HETTANZ and all the other subject associations. 

In 2023 I was made a Life Member of HETTANZ. I was extremely humbled to have this honour bestowed upon me, but I was also grateful to have the work I undertake, and the time devoted to HETTANZ recognised in this way. 

Hei konā mai 

Adrienne Reeves.

Mrs Reeves has been a teacher of Textiles Technology at Westland High School for 9 years and in that time has also held various roles including Senior APL and even Acting Principal while we looked for our new Principal recently.