Dedication and a commitment to working with Maori has seen a local woman promoted to partner in a Rotorua accounting practice.
Mere George (Ngati Whare, Ngati Manawa, Tuwharetoa, Ngati Porou) has joined local accountant Glenn Hawkins (Ngati Whakaue, Ngati Maniapoto) in heading Glenn Hawkins and Associates (GHA).
Mrs George, who was born and raised in Rotorua, became a qualified chartered accountant in 2005 while working as an auditor for Deloitte Auckland.
She returned home to Rotorua in 2009 and worked for Hulton Patchell before joining GHA last year.
The mother of two is excited by the opportunity she has been given. "I am committed to being part of the firm for the long haul and to standing alongside Glenn and the team in serving our clients and our Maori community. I will approach the task with humility, openness and respect for my colleagues, clients, whanau, hapu and iwi," she said.