Never in her wildest dreams "as a little Maori girl growing up in Ngapuna" did Bella Moke see herself as a corporate sector international jet setter.
What she did aspire to was joining the police. She's accomplished both, plus ticking off a whole heap of other achievements in an impressive career line-up.
Her latest job is as general manager of Te Runanga o Ngati Pikiao Trust, an organisation dedicated to ensuring the health and welfare of those within its rohe (territory), not that Bella Moke's of Ngati Pikiao lineage.
Her whakapapa (genealogy) is Tuhourangi-Ngati Tumatawerea, Tuwharetoa and Ngapuhi, but her professional credentials make her the perfect fit for the general manager's role. This she defines as managing staff and contracts.
Pedestrian as that might sound, the way Bella tells it it's anything but. We venture that with Bella Moke involved this is a job with a barrow-load of laughs attached. Bella's big on laughs and her arms are the most expressive we've yet encountered.
She uses them constantly in wide, swooping gestures to illustrate a point, not that Bella's short of words, far from it, but those arms of hers do a lot of talking. It's an endearing trait, particularly when accompanied by that rich laugh of hers.
From childhood Bella had a yen to become a policewoman, she's not sure why but suspects it may have been nurtured by babysitting for a local officer. "By the time I was 13 I was so set on the idea that when my aunty got married and I was her bridesmaid I designed an outfit for the after-party based on a police uniform, that's how serious I was about it."
Too young to enlist in the force straight from school she joined the State Service in Wellington. "I got a clerical job with State Advances before it was the Housing Corp, I was very naive but did rise to section manager before starting police training."
Because she'd been living in Wellington she assumed she'd be posted there but it was Gisborne where she first walked the beat. "It was a real fun place with its surfing culture, lots of young people and partying." Bella's always enjoyed a good party.
Her police career went on hold when she took leave to jaunt off on her OE.
She'd only recently arrived in London when Gisborne hit the international headlines. "The first game of the [1981] Springbok tour was in Gisborne, protesters stormed the field, there were all those officers I'd worked with appearing on tv news on the other side of the word."
Among her assortment of London jobs was a stint as a check-in girl at the Royal Air Force Club in Piccadilly. Among the war time "fly boys" who visited frequently was Dam Buster hero, Sir Douglas Bader. "He was really lovely."
Next stop Cornwall but jobs were thin on the ground. "There was no way I'd come 12,000 miles to work in a KFC so I went to Scotland, waitressing in a beautiful hotel in Crief."
After tripping around Europe it was back to policing, ironically Wellington-based. "By then I really didn't want to go there so when the chance came to come home to Rotorua I grabbed it." She later transferred to Auckland but while there "Perfed" (police terminology for early retirement) to return home and the man she'd left behind.
Next career move was becoming a Ministry of Energy's geothermal licensing officer. It was shortly after the government's enforced bore closures which sparked Rotorua's infamous 'bore wars' meaning Bella dipped out on the angry standoffs that pitted people against state. "By the time I got involved bore owners had become resigned to the closures."
With bore licensing complete Bella's role 'devolved'.
So it was back to crime - but on a different plane to her policing years. "I became a probation officer, instead of law enforcing I was mopping up at the other end."
Satisfying as the job was along came an opportunity far too tempting to resist.
"I was having a glass of wine with a friend who introduced me to her sister, an operational manager for an American management consulting company, she offered me a job that allowed me to live here [Rotorua] but work around the world."
Bella's jet setting years had begun. "The job was confirmed on a Thursday, on Sunday I flew into JFK."
Clients ranged from Barclays Bank in the UK to corporate giants across the US and Pacific region.
It was, by Bella's definition, platinum class employment. "Staying in five star hotels, being driven around New York in this black 'Yank tank' and served flash cocktails just like the girls in Sex And The City," however the Ngapuna kid concedes she didn't share the stars' constitution for the "hard stuff". "I'd have to water mine down with orange juice, Big Apple barmen thought it very funny."
Between assignments she'd be flown home and transtasman jobs were weekly commutes. Enjoyable as the lifestyle had been, as the 10 year mark approached Bella had done with work-related travel "but it's been great for holidays, I'm still getting through my air points."
Before her present job she spent three years as Cyrovac's production manager.
Bella has sound advice for others keen to follow in her footsteps: "Surround yourself with like-minded people, and if you truly love Rotorua leave town first, be exposed to the world's offerings, then come back. The opportunities I've had show there are plenty of them out there for well educated young Maori women to embrace."
BELLA MOKE
Born: Rotorua, 1955
Education: Whakarewarewa Primary, McKillop College
Family: Father, Arthur Moke, sisters Julie Nathan (helps raise her two teenage daughters) Teresa Paul
Interests: Whanau, socialising with friends and relations, walking, Maori Women's Welfare League
On her varied careers: "I've been very blessed."
Personal Philosophy: "Be good to people."
A motorcyclist overtook a car and struck Paige Johnson on a pedestrian crossing.