Karen Karaka was the first Māori woman accepted into the Ceramco management cadetship scheme in 1977, becoming a personnel officer in 1979 [1] . Ceramco’s cadetship scheme was established in 1961, aiming to introduce young people to the workforce and prepare them for future leadership roles [2]. The cadetship focused on both on-the-floor training, and educational programmes - both of which Karen Karaka took part in. However, Karaka was consistently reminded of her difference to other members of the cadetship - her positionality as a Māori woman resulting in conflicts she had to learn to navigate.  

Cadetship schemes were not uncommon amongst factories like Crown Lynn Potteries. They were an ideal set-up to find young people fresh out of school and introduce them to the company - think of it like a modern-day apprenticeship. These cadetship schemes, although open for all to apply, fell prey to the prejudice of the times and often restricted their selection to young men of Pākehā descent. Thus, Karen Karaka’s appointment to the management scheme was of great significance.  

Originally from Kaitaia, Karen Karaka was 22 years old in 1980 - when this Auckland Star article was written. Of the 110 participants in her cadetship, she was one of just five women - and the only woman of Māori or Pasifika descent (the article describes her as “Polynesian”). As she recounts in the article, it was difficult being within such a minority, especially as she was occasionally working alongside individuals who felt that a woman’s place was in the home, not in management.  

Karen Karaka’s experience of her cadetship, although successful career-wise, illustrates the struggles Māori women faced (and continue to face) when holding positions of authority. The micro-misogyny of the ‘Dear Sir’ letterheads that she describes is arguably just as damaging as the more overt examples of disrespect she faced in the workplace, showing just how ingrained the synonymity between authority and masculinity was during this period.  

Karaka's perspective is clear in this article - people may think that management is a man’s job, but women are more than capable. Although she faced levels of social and cultural pushback during her Ceramco cadetship, her willingness to encourage young women to follow in this management pathway shows just how great an impact it had on her life. Cadetships like the one that Crown Lynn Potteries offered were an important way for young people like Karen Karaka to enter the workforce. They acted as a tool to overcome some of the socio-cultural boundaries that many women, especially women of colour, faced in Aotearoa.  

[1] Anne Elder, “Dear Sir”, Auckland Star, December 10, 1980. Portage Ceramics Trust Collection.  

[2] Tom Clark, “Towards 2029”, Ceramco Limited, A History, 1979. Portage Ceramics Trust Collection.