North Canterbury News: May 11, 2023

An inspiring talk over breakfast
By DAVID HILL,
Local Democracy Reporter
NEWS
The North Canterbury News, May 11, 2023
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North Canterbury’s Mayors have come
away feeling inspired after the latest Big
Brothers Big Sisters breakfast.
Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon and
Hurunui Mayor Marie Black, say they
were inspired by the message from
internationally acclaimed barber and
hair artist Matt Brown, acampaigner
against domestic violence.
They were among the more than 200
people to attend the Big Brothers Big
Sisters of North Canterbury fundraising
breakfast in Rangiora last week.
‘‘I know Icould speak for everyone in
the room when Isay it was atruly
inspiring talk,’’ Mr Gordon said.
‘‘Matt is using his own experiences to
help others, particularly men.
‘‘It was avery raw, but hugely
insightful and inspiring talk and I
enjoyed meeting and talking with Matt.’’
Mrs Black said Mr Brown’s message of
‘‘changing the narrative’’ resonated with
her.
Mr Brown said he had forgiven his
own father for abuse when he was child,
because he wanted to be agood father to
his own children.
‘‘I do it daily for my sake because what
we don’t deal with, we transfer.
‘‘When Ifirst held my child in my
hands Irealised ‘why would anyone
want to harm this beautiful thing’.’’
He said family violence was a‘‘we’’
problem which existed across all
communities.
‘‘Monsters are not born, they are
created from years of trauma, systemic
failures, racism, the list goes on.’’
Family violence had cost the taxpayer
$80 billion in the last 10 years, he said.
The police received 111 calls about
family violence every four minutes
during Covid, but many people never
Barber and hair artist ... Matt Brown.
sought help, he said.
‘‘My advice would be to reach out to
people.
‘‘I’m tired of this narrative for people
to reach out to seek help.
What are we doing? What are we doing
as acommunity, are you reaching out to
people, being inquisitive and asking
them how they really are?’’
Big Brothers mentors were ‘‘super
heroes’’ in connecting with young
people, he said. Mr Brown is the author
of She Is Not Your Rehab,has created a
PHOTO:DAVID HILL
barbering programme which is taught in
men’s prisons, and is an ambassador for
the It’s Not OK campaign.
Ahighlight of the morning was Milena
Moore (9), of Pegasus, speaking about
her experiences with her Big Sister
mentor Debs Taylor­Hayhurst.
Among the items auctioned during the
breakfast was asigned Crusaders jersey
and asigned copy of former Prime
Minister Jacinda Ardern’s valedictory
speech, the latter being purchased by
former Waimakariri Mayor David Ayers.
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