Leading from the front issuu

BIO, TRIBUTE &

INSPIRATIONAL

HANDBOOK WITH

A SOCIAL JUSTICE

FOCUS

Pat Magill

Leading from

the front

He Kaihautū, kei mua

A VOCAL ADVOCATE FOR LOVE,

INCLUSION AND A BETTER NEW ZEALAND

HE REO KAIWAWAO MAIMAI AROHA,

WHAKAWHĀITI KIA PAI AKE AI Ā AOTEAROA

THANK YOU

To the photographers and artists who have so

generously given their time and shared their

talent as a gift to Leading From The Front.

These gestures acknowledge the social justice

campaigning that Pat and many others

carry out in the community, and support all efforts

to ensure Napier/Ahuriri is a place where

everyone, especially children, can feel safe.

Photographers: Anne Johnston, Lee Pritchard,

Sally Crown, Maxine Boag and Jan Magill; their

works brings out the beauty and significance

in every scene they capture.

Artists: Mary-Anne Magill, Harriet Selfe, Helen

Dynes, John Ruth, Sallie M Dunford, Tamatea

High School Art Students and Art Dean

Philomena Flood, young artists from Camberley

School, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Te Ara

Hou and Flaxmere Primary School; their talent

inspires a stronger connection with our world.

Erica Handley, Kerry Bell, Dame Tariana Turia,

Robert Consedine, Helen Lloyd, Roger Cathro,

Marty Brandt, Genesis Keefe, Tremain Family,

Ahuriri Estuary Protection Society, Bev Barron,

Soraya Longtime, Kerry Kitione, Kartini

& Steve Martin — their unstinting backup ensured

this project became a reality.

Andrew Judd: for inspiring the book’s cover

and title, a huge and heartfelt thanks for literally

walking the talk. To Reverend Matiu Eru,

for faithful translation skills in assisting the

Magill Whānau to appropriately honour Pat’s

Kaupapa; nga mihi nui.

Award-winning Graphic Designer Claire

Robertson: to the design magician who has

made sense of the millions of words and hundreds

of photos that have gone into this book,

and curated these into something that looks

so good; we so gratefully revere her talent.

To the all-round supporters, who have also

given their time, above and beyond expectations

with a generosity that ensured Leading

From The Front was printed on time and hopefully,

without too many typos.

Jan Magill: her support has been extraordinary

and commitment to the detail of the

product as obsessive as the editor’s. This is a

rare thing, and a huge and humbling comfort

to a stress-out editor.

To name a few of these supporters: Pat Magill

(a big time supporter and a bit of a driver too!),

Robyn Yousef, Maxine Boag, John Wise, Alwyn

Corban, Mark Cleary, Derek Sullens, Richard

Poole, Robyn Yousef, Denis O’Reilly, Peter Wilson,

Marie Gray, Rob Magill, Tim Magill, Travis

Magill, Diane Cadwallader, Chrissy Dickie,

Lynn Brebner, Susie Mc Cutcheon, Kay Foley,

Lastly to all the tribute writers who feature

throughout the book; Pat’s friends, supporters

and staunch allies, who have generously given

their time to honour Pat in his tribute biography

with beautiful korero that has elevated

Leading From The Front to something special,

Nga mihi nui

Jes & Whānau, July 2021

Front cover design inspired by Andrew Judd. See his tribute on pages 206-207. Image courtesy @ Stuff.

Photography on the front inside and back inside covers is by Anne Johnston; image of Black Beech, Lake Rotoiti, Nelson Lakes.

ISBN 978-0-473-58666-9 (EPUB)

Pat Magill

Leading from

the front

He Kaihautū, kei mua

A VOCAL ADVOCATE FOR LOVE,

INCLUSION AND A BETTER NEW ZEALAND

HE REO KAIWAWAO MAIMAI AROHA,

WHAKAWHĀITI KIA PAI AKE AI Ā AOTEAROA

EDITED BY JES MAGILL WITH

LOYAL AND SOLID SUPPORT FROM WHĀNAU AND FRIENDS

Foreword

Pat Magill is a champion for social justice, and a

hero for prison reform, long before it became fashionable.

He initiated Treaty seminars throughout

the Hawke’s Bay ahead of many others, including the

State.

Pat is a thought leader and a shape shifter: establishing

Unity Week; the Unity Robson Lecture; the Unity Forum,

the Unity Dinner — all designed to recognise the

contribution to community development and bicultural

partnership. His intent is clear — to help strengthen our

conversations around nationhood, community, fairness

and equity.

Pat’s vision for the Napier Pilot City Trust is legendary,

along with his mahi with the YMCA and setting up

the Downtown Y. He is a persistent advocate for difference;

creating connections and initiating conversations

of meaning. He has gone out on a limb to look for the

unity that binds us together, and has championed the

call, “Build communities, not prisons!”

Pat’s advocacy at local and regional council is impressive

and he’s taken every opportunity to grow Napier

into a Child Friendly City. His lifelong mission has been

to focus on what unites us as peoples; to promote the

universal truth that communities can provide answers to

their own social problems; that our future lies in the connections

that bind us together, Putikitia te Aroha.

Pat’s unique and characteristic commitment is a

source of motivation for us all. He inspires us to dig

deep, to be bold with our voice, purposeful with our actions.

Where does this come from; this incredible love for

community and his commitment to every person, every

whānau, every home flourishing? Pat’s early influences

hold the key and created in him, the passion to serve,

a reason to give. Life with Pat has certainly never been

dull. He’s a character; he’s a mentor to many; a loyal

friend and a much loved servant of the people. His book

is well worth a read.

Heoi ano, Dame Hon Tariana Turia

(Read Dame Tariana’s tribute to Pat on page 173.)

Dedication

To foot soldiers, shipmates and visionaries everywhere. To those who believe

living in kinder, fairer cities is everyone’s right, not just a birth right for some;

Believe, that anything is possible, That ‘history and hope can rhyme’.

THE CURE AT TROY

BY SEAMUS HEANEY —

WHEN HOPE &

HISTORY RHYME

Human beings suffer

They torture one another,

They get hurt and get hard.

No poem or play or song

Can fully right a wrong

Inflicted and endured.

TE ORANGA KEI TROY NA.

SEAMUS HEANEY

INĀ TE HUARITE MANAWA

ORA ME TE HITORIA.

Ngākau mōteatea ngā tāngata

Ka tūkino rātou i a rātou anō

Ka pamamae ratou ka whakamāro

Kare he kōrero poto, he whakaaturanga, he waiata

Hei whakatika i ngā hē

Whakamamae me te pākohe

The innocent in gaols

Beat on their bars together.

A hunger-striker’s father

Stands in the graveyard dumb.

The police widow in veils

Faints at the funeral home.

Te harakore i roto i ngā whāinga

Kia ngātahi te pao i ngā paemaitai

Te matua o te tangata kore kai

Tū ana i roto i te urupā parahanga

Te pouaru a te Pirihimana kei te mau arai

Ka āmai i te whare tūpapaku

History says, Don’t hope

On this side of the grave.

But then, once in a lifetime

The longed-for tidal wave

Of justice can rise up,

And hope and history rhyme.

Te kī a te hītoria Kaua e wawata

Kei tēnei taha o te rua.

Engari kotahi te wā i roto i tou ao

Te roa e tatari ana mo te tai nui

Kia rewa ake te ture

Me te tangi ngatahi a te wawata me te hītoria.

ABOUT THE POEM — THE CURE AT TROY

Winner of the 1995 Nobel Prize in Literature, Seamus

Heaney was an Irish poet, playwright and translator,

born in 1939 and passed away in 2013. Pat first came

across The Cure at Troy when he was in Ireland following

the signing of a peace agreement and this is one

of his favourite poems. Pat often surprises the whānau

with his ability to recite long tracts of his

favourite writings — he knows this one by heart.

This poem gave him a lot of comfort during lock down

last year and when he shared it with his shipmate

Minnie Ratima, it resonated at the deepest level with

her as well.

Contents

chapter 1 11

PAT’S EARLY DAYS

WRITTEN BY PAT’S SISTER MARIE GRAY

chapter 2 19

PAT AND MARIE CREATE THEIR OWN WORLDS

chapter 3 29

THE WESTSHORE YEARS

chapter 4 37

GLORY RUGBY DAYS CONTINUE

chapter 5 45

CARPET KEEPS ON ROLLING

chapter 6 49

PUKETITIRI — THE BUSH, THE BACH, THE LEGACY

chapter 7 57

THE ENVIRONMENT —

PAT WALKS HIS TALK IN HIS OWN HOOD

chapter 8 71

BEHIND THE FAÇADE —

DRIVEN TO ANSWER NEEDS & A BICULTURAL AWAKENING

chapter 9 77

NAPIER YMCA TRANSFORMED & THE DOWNTOWN Y IS BORN

chapter 10 91

HAWKE’S BAY COMMUNITY COLLEGE — IT WORKED!

SO WHAT HAPPENED?

chapter 11 99

MARAENUI — BY WHĀ NAU FOR WHĀ N A U ,

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE

chapter 12 109

NAPIER PILOT CITY TRUST — FOR A KINDER, FAIRER CITY

• TE ARAROA OFFERS HOPE 134

• CHILD FRIENDLY CITIES & A LOOK AT SOCIAL

WELFARE SERVICES IN NZ OVER FOUR DECADES 143

chapter 13 159

RESTORATIVE JUSTICE — FOR AN UNJUST JUSTICE SYSTEM

chapter 14 187

HEALING OUR HISTORY THROUGH TE TIRITI

• WHITE PRIVILEGE: THE HIDDEN BENEFITS 190

BY ROBERT CONSEDINE

• THE TREATY OF WAITANGI & TE TIRITI 196

FULL VERSIONS OF BOTH DOCUMENTS

• INTRODUCING TREATY TRAINING 202

• ROBERT CONSEDINE SAYS TREATY AWARENESS 204

IS ON A ROLL

• LESSONS FROM A RECOVERING RACIST – 208

A GROUNDBREAKING 2017 TED TALK BY ANDREW JUDD

chapter 15 213

MINNIE RATIMA - WAHINE TOA AND SUPREME FOOT SOLDIER

1964 — 2020

chapter 16 229

REMEMBERING CATHERINE 1922 – 1994

chapter 17 239

MORE LOVE FROM WHĀ NAU & FRIENDS

chapter 18 257

AWARDS, TRAVEL, PARTIES — FUN! FUN! FUN!

chapter 19 269

WHOSE GOD? PAT ON RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY

chapter 20 279

INTRODUCING THE INAUGURAL HAUTUPUA AWARDS

• AND WHERE TO FROM HERE 281

Above: Charcoal sketch by Harriet Selfe.

CAPE KIDNAPPERS – TE KAUWAE-A-MĀUI

This iconic sandstone landscape, and landmark — 20kms south of Napier — is a constant

in the backdrop to Pat Magill’s life. As a lad he squeezes as much fun and adventure

from life as he can, as Te Kauwae-a-Māui stands sentry. As an adult, taking the whānau

on hikes and picnics, the coast protects them along its massive 8km form. After signing

up with the YMCA, Pat gathers people together and takes them on hikoi, the long trail.

Young and old join him, the Pied Piper for social justice reform, as they discover not only

the coastline and the hinterland — the whenua, but resilience and joy within. They fish

and forage and gratefully receive heart-warming, soul feeding, humbling manaakitanga

throughout their journeys, as groups and individuals truly connect. Te Kauwae-a-Māui —

always there.

CAPE KIDNAPPERS OR CAPE RESCUE?

Ngati Kahungunu’s impressive headland carries the weight of unresolved history. It’s the

location where local Māori are recorded as attempting to kidnap one of Captain Cook’s

crew, the 12 year old nephew and servant of Tupaia, a Tahitian nobleman who was on

board as Endeavour’s guide and interpreter. Or was this a rescue mission? Other records

have it that local Māori believed the young boy was one of their own and they were

instead, attempting to free him from the ship. In the confusion, three Māori were killed.

Whatever the truth, Cook’s name for the area remained officially until 2018, when it

became Cape Kidnappers / Te Kauwae-a-Māui; the fish hook of Māui. This description

of the Cape resonates with more people than Cook’s, of its steep white cliffs on either

side and near the point, two large rocks resembling possibly, shark fins.

Photo by Anne Johnston.

Kinder Fairer City

No secret ingredients

Just Aroha

INTRODUCTION

Napier resident for nearly 95 years Pat Magill has been

called many things, from a communist, an agitator, to the

more colourful, Napier’s biggest stirrer. Then, coming from

the pious end, he’s even been likened to a walking saint. LEADING

FROM THE FRONT gives more insight into which role, of which

combination of roles, Pat might fulfill.

He not only forms part of Napier/Ahuriri’s social history, he

helped create it and a couple of contributors to the book who know

Pat well describe him thus: “Pat has influenced Prime Ministers

and CEOs up and down the country”, says Robert Consedine, author

of Healing Our History — the Challenge of the Treaty of Waitangi.

And Ahuriri barrister Philip Jensen observes Pat as, “Corrupting

the halls of power with his goodness”.

Dozens more people who know this intriguing, fun-loving and

committed campaigner for the underdog, have contributed their

stories and impressions of Pat to LEADING FROM THE FRONT

— beautiful, insightful korero from social justice influencers and

change makers throughout Aotearoa. Along with Pat, they have

one thing in common — they want to see a better world, especially

for the nation’s children.

Discover throughout these pages what drives Pat to be Napier’s

social conscience; how he loves his town like an entity and wants

everyone within it to reach their best and deserved potential.

Above: Robert and Jessie Magill, Pat’s parents, in front of their home, Repokite, at 40 Cameron Road, Napier; Opposite: Robert Magill

Ltd, the family drapery business in Carlyle Street, Napier in the early days.

10

chapter one

pat’s early days

by marie gray — pat’s sister

Pat was born in 1926 in the small, east coast town

of Napier to Jessie and Robert Magill. He grew up

in the family home ”Repokite”, (meaning swamp

view) at 40 Cameron Road, while I appeared a few years

later.

Our mother Jessie Manins was born in Wellington and

Robert in Northern Ireland, and Pat was a welcome surprise

into his mature parents’ established world. Robert

was nearing 60 and Jessie nearly 40, and Pat’s hyperactive

character was an added challenge!

Well-known and respected members of the Open

Brethren religious group in Napier, Robert and Jessie

were both kind and caring, and while very committed

Christians, they had a twinkle in the eye and humour to

match when the serious work of the day was done.

Robert owned a general drapers store — which also

sold haberdashery, bed linen, clothing, hats and accessories

— called Robert Magill Ltd, down ‘on the flat’ at 42

Carlyle Street towards the southern end of town. Many

immigrants from Ireland, England and Scotland had settled

here and worked hard to make a living.

Before her marriage, Jessie was a Plunket Nurse and

one of the first of Sir Truby King’s graduates. She became

known in the community as an active member of

the Red Cross, leading classes in Home Nursing at secondary

schools, including Hukarere Māori Girl’s College.

An event that defined our childhood was the devastating

earthquake of 1931, which caused the tragic loss of

256 lives and extensive damage in the city. Fortunately,

the foundations of our house were simply shifted forward

several meters on the section, without severe damage

to the structure.

It was such a blessing that the family wasn’t home

when the earthquake struck on February 3. We were already

out of town at Waimai, the family farm in Te Akau,

north east of Raglan. Robert had a premonition that

something dramatic was going to happen and managed

to encourage the family to get out of town a week before

the earthquake occurred.

When the phone-call from Napier came through, confirming

that Robert’s fears had been eerily accurate and

the quake did wreak its havoc, we immediately headed

for home to check on family, friends, property and the

shop. Renting a house further up Cameron Road, we

waited anxiously for several years until the aftershocks

subsided and our home could be repaired. It wasn’t long

before Napier life settled back into something resembling

normality, while the city had the huge task of rebuilding.

PAT’S BRETHREN WORLD

In the 1930s the Open Brethren was a conservative group

with definite restrictions for younger boys of Pat’s age.

Movies and radios were banned as well as comics, but

Pat's Early Days 11

Clockwise from top: Bonny Pat comes along in 1926; Robert, second from left, with his Gospel Hall fellows, Napier; Marie Magill;

Alex Goodall, Jessie, Marie and Grace Goodall at Catherine and Pat’s wedding in New Plymouth; proud Jessie and beaming sister

Marie.

12

Pat's Early Days

the latter were easily hidden underneath the mattress.

Free-spirited, independent and adventurous, Pat created

his own fun within and outside the confines of the

Brethren world. He made friends readily and some even

joined him at Sunday School and for ‘exciting’ events such

as the Lantern Lectures, which were held at the Church

in the evenings.

Most of Pat’s childhood stories encapsulate classic

Kiwi fun, such as breaking the boredom of mid-afternoon

Sunday School by giving his mates stink bombs, those

little black seeds that when squeezed released their disgusting,

sulphureous odour into the small room, while the

guilty boys sat with angelic smiles plastered across their

faces.

Eventually released from Church confines, Pat and his

mates would hurry out into freedom and take a brisk walk

up to Marine Parade and along the Napier Breakwater,

looking for adventure. Sabbath would then conclude at

Repokite with a ‘feed’ prepared by Jessie and a biblical

board game.

With movies out of the question, the Saturday evening

Lantern Lectures were not to be missed. The Brethren Hall

was darkened and fascinating images of the Holy Land

came up on the screen. Then out of the silence would

come the unmistakable sound of a marble rolling down

the wooden floor from the back of the room to the front.

In another five minutes another would roll down, and then

another. Most of the viewers were not pleased. Before the

lights went on, Pat and his buddies had vanished into the

darkness and back to their homes, having enjoyed some

good, clean Saturday night fun.

Then there was the time Pat’s close neighbourhood ally

Alan Peake and he, probably both aged 10 at the time,

pulled the plug out of the baptism font so by the time parishioners

turned up for a scheduled Baptism, there was

not one drop of holy water to be seen. For this they were

chased around Clive Square by one of the Church elders.

Then Robert got to hear about it, for which Pat received a

smack on the bum plus his father’s disappointed admonishment:

“I thought you were a good boy.”

The family farm at Te Akau near Raglan became an

important place for Pat over the years. He happily spent

school holidays there, learning how to ride horses and experiencing

farming life at its toughest on the high country

sheep station. He loved every minute and could imagine

becoming a farmer himself when the time came to

choose a career.

It wasn’t all frivolous antics for Pat though, who was

after all the son of caring, committed Christians. As well

as loving a laugh he had a fierce compassion for those

less fortunate than himself. Two boys from France House

orphanage attended Central School with Pat and in winter

they would arrive looking cold in their thin grey shirts,

cotton shorts and bare feet. This had a profound effect on

Pat. Even at a young age he could see that life was much

harder for some than for others and he developed an abhorrence

for injustice.

When his birthday came around, Jess would ask him

to choose a party venue, guests, and menu. Every year,

without hesitation he chose a picnic at Pukekura, (Sugar

Loaf Hill) in Taradale with his two dear France House

friends and Alan. The boys would race up and down the

hill until exhausted and then tuck into a great spread.

Over the years the Open Brethren modified their attitude

to become more accepting of leisure and sports.

Young men took up swimming, tennis and tramping, etc.

One family installed a tennis court in their back yard for

their four athletic sons. Another built a house next to

McLean Park so all the family could see the rugby games

on Saturdays from the verandah of their elevated home,

while Pat reveled in playing rugby whenever he could.

SHOP LIFE

Getting the hang of the retail trade at Robert Magill Ltd

was another learning curve in Pat’s life. When the bell

rang at the end of the day at Napier Intermediate, he

would ride his bike to the family store and carry out his

after-school jobs. First task was delivering the big pile of

parcels to customers living on Napier Hill. Loading up

his bike he’d start the long, exhausting drag up Colenso

Avenue and on to the steep little side streets leading to

scattered homes, where he would deliver the goods.

Back down the hill to the shop, he’d share a joke or

two with the attendants in the Men’s Department and

observe his old dad serving the chatty customers of Carlyle

Street. Many were poor and Pat could hear his father

reducing the prices so they could afford a pair of Harris

Tweed trousers or socks for the kids.

Meanwhile, his mates would arrive, twins Max and

Rex Lane who were also on the payroll to help out with

anything required. The boys would prepare kapok for

customers to purchase and make their own pillows,

package up orders or fold paper and tie up pieces of

string that were lying about the storeroom. Robert often

told his young staff that he “knew a man who’d made

a successful business from collecting string and paper”,

which would get the boys sniggering every time.

Pat's Early Days 13

Business life continued at home too. Phone calls often

came from the Napier Prison, requesting woollen socks

and blankets for prisoners who complained of the cold,

and during the Depression Robert was known for giving

away clothes to those who couldn’t afford them.

LIFE AT REPOKITE

Jessie and Robert ran an ‘Open Home’ with visits from

many people from all walks of life. Missionary speakers

came to stay and were given the large guest room. Other

noted speakers came to give public lectures at the Forrester’s

Hall in town and it was expected that Pat attend.

Some were ‘decent’ chaps, others rather ‘heavy’ and expected

a kind of deference from the younger generation.

It was natural for Pat to play a trick or two on the latter

group. When the guest bathroom was engaged, he

would go outside and give the pipes a loud bang, which

reverberated back into the room, startling the visitors.

Jessie would apologise later in her ladylike manner and

Pat was given the usual telling off. Guest speakers who

had more experience with lads of Pat’s age would shout

the whole family to ice cream sundaes at the milk bar

after the lectures and won Pat’s respect that way.

There were gaps in our home life when our parents

were not present, with Jessie giving lectures or judging

baby shows and the like, and Robert more often than

not was at the shop or at Church meetings. These after

school gaps were happily filled by Pat and Alan.

Nearby Tiffen Park was their ideal playground. From

the reservoir at the top to the parking area below, the

boys would biff used car tyres and the like, and interrupt

chatting lovers as they enjoyed each other’s company.

For their many antics, the pair were well-known and by

some locals, even feared.

Some pranks were more bold than others, like the incident

involving the itinerant greengrocer with his horse

and cart who would drive around Cameron Road and

Bluff Hill selling fruit and veg on Saturday afternoons.

Seeing the cart parked up without a driver, Pat and Alan

saw fit to tie the cover of the cart to a lamppost, so when

the cart moved on to the next house, the cover did not.

The angry greengrocer saw Pat running away, and

yelling and screaming followed him into Repokite and

into the kitchen. Pat says he could hear the greengrocer’s

breath behind him and in the nick of time, managed

to jump through the open window and drop a few

feet to the garden below. “That boy!”, the greengrocer

yelled, “I tell policeman!”

HIGH SCHOOL CAPERS

AND BEYOND

Napier Boys’ High School was

attended by lads from a mix

of homes ‘on the hill’ and

‘on the flat’ and being

three kilometres out of

the city, the boys biked

or walked the distance.

The headmaster at the

time, “Potty” Foster, managed

the school well and

kept parents up to date with

their boys’ progress. It wasn’t a surprise

that Pat’s reports suggested he wasn’t academically

diligent but he was a good mixer, keen on agriculture, outdoor

pursuits and a talented rugby player at half back.

Pat gave his all to help his rugby team win their Saturday

games. Although his father didn’t attend any of these

games or witness Pat’s boxing bouts in the Municipal

Theatre, it was obvious Robert had a quiet admiration for

his son’s achievements. In hindsight, it was a pity Robert

didn’t attend. Jessie bound up his many rugby wounds

with care and hung his jerseys and socks on the line with

some kind of pride.

“Potty” suggested when Pat left school that a term or

two at Massey Agricultural College in Palmerston North

might be advantageous. It came as no surprise to the wider

Magill clan that Pat, whose Irish forebears were either

farmers or drapers, would consider a life on the land.

During his time at Massey his elderly father missed him

a lot and wondered how his son spent his leisure time. Did

he have a connection with Brethren friends? Were they

looking after him? Many letters were sent from father to

son and it became obvious Robert wanted Pat back in the

shop — but it wasn’t yet his time to join the family firm.

I am proud to write about Pat’s life of service to others

and the community of Napier and beyond. It is heartening

to hear a lot of his friends from those formative years

remembering their time growing up with him with fond

nostalgia.

Many of them became successful in their chosen careers;

mates who once worked in the shop and became

headmasters, like Max and Rex Lane, as well as lecturers

and notable names in New Zealand.

In fact, Max, just before he died, told me the happiest

times of his life were those he’d spent with Pat during their

childhood. I imagine Max wasn’t the only one to hold such

a view.

14

Pat's Early Days

BORN KNOWING

JUSTICE …

Pat attended Napier Central Primary School during the

depression in the 1930s; years that were to have a big

impact on him. He remembers his father Robert didn’t

take a wage at this time and every Sunday he would visit

prisoners; something Pat also committed to as an adult

and was an active member of the Sycamore Tree Project

for seven years.

While his school reports weren’t great, he did collect

more bottles to help fundraise for the school’s library

than any other pupil, and he recalls that he and mates

“shared.”

Pat’s sense for social justice revealed itself early. In

part it was inspired by his parents’ example of being kind

and generous to those in need, and it was flamed by the

perplexing attitude and behaviour of one of his teachers.

She would get angry at the kids who came to class

with stained clothes and sometimes she would give

them the strap. Instead of judging the children, as many

did, Pat knew there was something wrong with the

teacher. She liked and related to the children who came

from wealthy families and comfortable homes, but had

no empathy for those from families experiencing hardship.

Pat knew this was wrong.

Opposite: A spirited, fun-loving young Pat about town;

Above: Central School 125th Jubilee line up with Pat and

Alan Peake centre middle row; great mates kick over the

traces that same weekend at Elephant Hill. Alan became a

successful photographer and lived in Tauranga for most of

his life. Sadly he passed away in 2011.

Pat's Early Days 15

ON TRYING TO

“sign up”

Whenever Pat was embroiled in an adventure you could

pretty much guarantee his good buddy Alan Peake was

right in there too. As he was when they tried to sign up for

the war effort and “do their bit”. Both 16 years old at the time,

they rocked up to a cargo ship in the middle of winter that

was berthed at Napier Wharf, told the authorities they were

18, and wanted to join the Merchant Navy.

They got up the gangplank, boarded the ship and started

talking to the officers. Pat reckons they were close to being

‘let on’ if they hadn’t been spotted by Dr Harold Berry who

was carrying out health checks for the crew at the time. The

doctor promptly contacted Robert and in no time the boys

were collected and escorted from the ship. Perhaps it could

be said here, it’s the intention that counts and the boys’ was

noble but Robert and Jessie were apoplectic. The Brethren

elders weighed in on the incident too, preaching hell fire

and brimstone. “Your son is out of control” they said, and

“likely on his way to a very bad place”. Life eventually settled

down … until the next lark came along.

16

FREEZING

WORKS JOB

a rite of passage

During the war a lot of the male work force was

overseas fighting for “Home and Mother England.”

There were serious labour shortages in many

industries, including freezing works and Tomoana

in Hastings badly needed staff. Aged 17, Pat secured

a job there in the school holidays and worked one

season on ‘nights’, with the shift usually finishing

between 2 and 3am. Nowhere near the youngest in

the chain gang, he worked in the freezing chamber,

telescoping lambs for England, which involved cutting

off the hind legs and putting them inside the

carcass to save space for shipping.

He loved the adventure, heading out to Hastings

and staying in the Shearers’ quarters. “It made you

feel proud in a way, of working with men, and being

independent.” The experience didn’t put him off

eating meat either, “You didn’t even think about it —

you just did it.”

Old Killing shed, Hawke’s Bay. Photo by Anne Johnston

Pat's Early Days

PAT’S SECRET LOVE

Always relishing his time spent at Waimai, the family

farm near Raglan; a large part of the enjoyment there

came from riding horses whenever he could. He was a

keen polo player too. So of course Pat was thrilled when

farm manager and good friend Len Scott presented him

with a beautiful black horse of his own. “Manyana” was a

former jumper/steeplechaser who had only raced once

and Pat was up for the challenge of getting him back to

Napier, putting him on a training schedule and bringing

the horse back to the track.

He says his new charge was a “beautiful, spirited creature,”

and remembers one day treating Manyana for an

infection in his eye. For all his efforts he was, “bitten on

the arse.”

Around 21 at the time, Pat had visions of becoming a

wealthy, successful horse trainer and it took him about

six months to get his equine buddy into shape. But Manyana’s

existence had to be a well-kept secret. Anything

to do with gambling was a big no-no in the Brethren

faith so Pat’s way round that was not to let on to his parents,

ever, about what he was up to. And making sure no

one else did either.

Manyana’s new home was a fenced paddock at

Onekawa. Pat would sneak out of the house between 5

and 6am, drive the few miles south, saddle up his mount

and ride him out across the flat and over the bridge to

Westshore, soaking up the freedom and bracing sea air.

Along the beach Pat often met up with his mate Neil Gillies

who was training a horse as well.

Before long, a jockey was lined up to run Manyana in

his first race at Napier Park. The land here was called

“old land” because it existed before the 1931 earthquake

but there was still a lot of rubble and liquefaction around.

Sadly, just before the race started, Manyana put his foot in

the wrong place and ripped his leg on submerged barbed

wire. The ‘management’ team quickly bandaged his leg,

keen for the show to go on, which it did, but not surprisingly

Manyana broke down midway through the event.

So, Manyana’s racing days were well and truly over

and Pat gifted him to a farmer’s daughter who was keen

for a horse that was suited to an easy life. And with his

dream of becoming a talented horse trainer shelved

for the moment (Neil Gillies was more successful), Pat

started looking around for further fun and challenge.

Miraculously, he did keep Manyana’s existence a secret

from his parents. Pat would make sure he got the

car home after training, well before Jessie and Robert

woke up. This was obviously more than enough time for

an energetic young man to enjoy an adventure or two

before breakfast.

Above: Manyana — Pat’s prized horse and his two year-long secret passion.

Pat's Early Days 17

DEFINING EVENTS

FOR PAT IN THE ‘30S

As a teenager Pat had a bible teacher called Pearson,

who one day told the class there were no Catholics in

heaven. Pat thought of Robert’s Irish customers and

asked him when he got home whether this was true;

that Catholics weren’t received through the pearly gates.

Most of Robert’s customers were poor Irish Catholics

and Pat remembers them kissing his dad on the cheek.

There was a genuine closeness and, “They buttered

our bread,” he says. Being Protestant, of course Robert

agreed with Pearson and from that time on, Pat lost interest

in “Church matters.” He found the prejudice baffling

and not something that a caring Lord, if one existed,

would sanction.

In the mid ‘30s, speciality stores started setting up in

Napier and some general drapers went out of business.

Things were tough at Robert Magill Ltd. Salvation for the

business came along though, the day World War II broke

out and burglars broke into the store and blew up the

safe. When a fire started soon after, the burglars scarpered

empty handed and were never caught. Much of the

stock was smoke damaged and after the insurers wrote

everything off, Robert could later sell the goods as ‘fire

damaged’. Ironically this ‘fire sale’ concept struck a chord

with his customers and this popular retailer had found a

new niche. When Pat joined the firm in the late 40s it was

time to take it in a new direction; it was time to roll out

the carpet and Robert retired soon after, happy to have

his son finally in charge.

THE SEEDS

of discontent

The 1930s depression affected a lot of people,

including the Magill’s but the poverty experienced

by other families living in houses at the

bottom of Milton Road, which Pat walked past

daily, was heart-breaking and palpable.

When kids have to go without, when they

lack choices, things crumble, he says. “Punish

the young and you create an underbelly

of resentment, that will reveal itself somehow,

somewhere, further down the track”. Through

the 40s and 50s, that resentment grew with

Milton Road serving as the incubator for disaffected

youth who would help form the Mongrel

Mob in the 60s.

18

Pat and Marie create their own worlds

chapter two

Pat and Marie

create their own

worlds

by jes magill

BIG BROTHER GOES FIRST —

AND LOVE WALKS IN THE

DOOR

After graduating as a wool classer from Massey

Agricultural College and keen to indulge his

passion for the outdoor life, Pat secured a role as

a shepherd at Mangatutu Station, Puketitri, in the foothills

of the Kaweka Ranges, for successful Hawke’s Bay

farmer Lou Harris.

The hopeful shepherd, joined by two others, became

more ‘developer’s assistant’ though. This was the mid-

40s when land prices were on the rise and Lou could

see land was a smart investment. So rather than tend

livestock and help maintain a working farm as anticipated,

Pat and his mates spent more time fencing and preparing

the land for development. These were still great

times though and after three years, he left Mangatutu

and returned to the bright lights of Napier.

Living in the country did confirm his passion for the

lifestyle and gave him a love for Puketitiri as well, an area

which enters Pat’s story again in a few years’ time. He’d

also met the love of his life, Catherine O’Donnell, a trainee

nurse from New Plymouth who’d moved to Napier in

1946. Being closer to town gained a sense of urgency,

and matters of the heart would eventually steer Pat towards

joining the family business and making plans to

settle down.

The career choices for the women in his life were

much simpler. They were free to follow their hearts and

Pat has always been surrounded by exemplary nurses.

His mother Jessie, born in 1889, was keen for a career

and while you wouldn’t have called her a feminist, she

was certainly a trailblazer.

Through her work as a Plunket Nurse she was known

for developing her own solutions for the needs of mothers

and babies in her care. She could even be described

as gently rebellious, a trait that obviously appealed to

young Pat’s sensibilities.

Opposite: Steps linking Cameron and Milton Road that Pat traversed thousands of times; Above: Siblings together again after Marie

and David return from Indonesia for a brief family holiday in 1961.

Pat and Marie create their own worlds 19

Above: Citizen Pat develops a commitment as much to community as to commerce; Opposite: (clockwise from top) Three mates

hoeing squash in Clive to pay debts, Peter Harris, Pat and Vic Kurta; Alan Peake, Pat and Peter Harris relax at Adelaide’s Glenelg

Beach after a train ride from Newcastle; skating with mates on the Marine Parade, Peter Harris, Brian Russell, Pat and Alan Peake.

20


Catherine always spoke fondly of ‘living-in’ at Hinepare

Nurses’ Home with its stunning views over Hawke Bay

and the Kaweka Ranges. Loving everything about this

time of her life, she also came top of her class in 1949,

winning the coveted Florence Nightingale Award.

Soon after arriving in the Bay, Catherine met Pat at the

home of her closest friend Janet McKenzie who as luck

would have it, lived in Cameron Road right next door to

the Magills. Catherine visited Janet one night and the

plan was to play bridge, but the group was ‘short of a

hand’. Fortuitously Pat was home so was invited to ‘pop

over and make up a pair’ — a prophetic invitation if ever

there was one.

Although Pat’s first impressions of Catherine were of

“a gracious and pretty woman, out of my league” in time

they were engaged and in April 1951, the couple married

in New Plymouth at St Joseph’s Catholic Church.

Within the confines of the era, their marriage was

judged “mixed”. Catherine was brought up a Catholic

and Pat was considered Protestant, although by now

he’d shed his strict religious education and if he had to

label himself, he would say, “Free Thinker.”

Because Catherine’s marriage to Pat was frowned on

by Catholic doctrine, their ceremony had to be held in

the vestibule beside the main church, which was disappointing

to the young bride. Pat was disappointed too

that Robert didn’t attend the wedding but given the

combination of his son marrying a ‘Doolan’ and being


Above: The happy day, New Plymouth, April 7, 1950 with bridesmaids Mary O’Donnell (Catherine’s sister) Janet McKenzie and

Molly McCarthy with best man Clyde Jeffrey, groomsmen Brian Russell and Peter Harris; Opposite: Pat plays half back for the

victorious 1950 NHSOB team.

22


not far off 80 years of age, this particular journey was

simply a step too far.

Robert did encourage Marie and Jessie though to,

“Find themselves the best dresses and hats in the shop,

and stay somewhere nice”. For Pat, marrying Catherine

didn’t surprise him at all and in time, any dismay that

either family felt at the time of the wedding, eventually

dissolved, as irrational prejudices tend to do.

FAMILY BUSINESS BECKONS

When he finally did join the retail trade, Pat made the inspired

move to sell carpet, rugs and vinyl, ably assisted

by carpet layer and upholsterer, Harry Temple. Although

Pat’s new career was determined by family obligation,

he injected his trademark enthusiasm and love of fun

into his work. Over time he and his team successfully

recreated and expanded the business into a chain of

stores throughout the region, with a very sharp accountant

on board too, Peter Danks.

A people-person to his core, Pat was a huge asset on

the shop floor and had a strong sense of colour too, which

he used to gently guide his customers towards making

the right flooring — and later furniture — choices for their

homes. “Yes, that colour will look great in your home, and

Axminster hides a multitude of sins, Mrs Jones”.

He was popular in the community too. He genuinely

cared for people and as a young man, was keen to help

out wherever he saw there were needs. In essence, he

was driven to help those who were marginalised, especially

due to circumstances beyond their control.

RANFURLY SHIELD GLORY

DAYS — HAIL PRESIDENT!

Following his marriage, rugby remained a huge part of

Pat’s life. He played half back for NHSOB for around

eight years, and even represented Hawke’s Bay for one

and a half games. A good player but not a great one,

Pat went on to support Hawke’s Bay rugby by becoming

the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Football Union president

for a year during the Magpies stunning three year reign

when they held the Ranfurly Shield from 1966 to 1969 —

the hallowed ‘Log o Wood’ — for 22 consecutive games.

Part of securing success was finding great players

from around the country and enticing them to the Bay.

Rod Abel came up from Christchurch and Pat and Catherine

often invited him home for dinner. She cooked

tripe and onions for Kel Tremain too and Neil Thimbleby

and Barry Neale were often at home as well.


Occasionally, the Rugby Boys would help out in the

shop and shift a roll of carpet here, lay a roll of vinyl

there. Some players learnt the trade so well they started

their own firm, like Barry Neale.

Oh what glory days they were, with parades through

town every Saturday and Hawkeye, the ‘squawking’ 4m

mascot made from aluminium, was the second attraction

after the players. Pat even hitched Hawkeye up to

the back of his green Plymouth, and loading the family

in the car, they made the long, slow journey across

to Taranaki where Hawke’s Bay was challenging for the

Shield. It was a bit nerve wracking, being followed by a

giant bird the entire trip. Sadly, Hawke’s Bay wasn’t victorious

so bird and family travelled home with rather dull

plumage. And it didn’t help that dead magpies were hung

on fences by jubilant Taranaki farmers and lined our exit

out of the province. Victory wasn’t far away though, with

Hawkeye eventually securing her own revenge.

Above: Rescued and relieved fishermen after spending a night stranded at sea: Bill Lamason, Pat and Tim, Peter and Christine Danks

and Harry Temple with John Magill, (read more on opposite page); catching the big ones, a marlin at Mayor Island; Opposite; landing

a tuna at Te Oneroa-a-Tōhē/Ninety Mile Beach.

24


PASSIONATE

HUNTER GATHERER

Before becoming a conservationist around the mid

‘60s, Pat eagerly embraced any opportunities to

catch fish, including deep sea fishing, gather and

dive for seafood and ‘go for game’ whenever he

could. With his trade-mark energy and lust for life,

he enjoyed plenty of adventures with his mates —

six kids didn’t seem to hold him back!

His most high profile adventure turned into the

stuff of nightmares, literally, when out on a fishing

trip with his leading shop staff, Harry and Peter,

and friend Bill Lamason struck engine trouble and

drifted without power overnight north of Napier in a

wild, stormy sea. Rescue planes and boats scoured

the coastline when weather allowed at first light the

bedraggled, tired group sure was grateful when the

rescue crew arrived. The boys soon relaxed when a

thermos of fortifying liquid was handed round, with

the scene captured in the local paper. These were

good years, when most felt they were living in the

lucky country.


Anti-clockwise from top: Pat and Catherine with Marie at her graduation, where she passed with top nursing honours of her

year, winning the Florence Nightingale Cup; a reunion for siblings, partners and many babies. Soon Marie and Pat will have six

children each and both a set of twins; our man in Indonesia and proud to open the refurbished Lions Club Pavilion at Immanuel

Hospital, made possible through fundraising efforts of the Napier Lions Club; Opposite: a few years later, Torbay GP David and able

supervising practice nurse Marie, settled back in New Zealand and administering to the community.

26


MARIE’S CAREER

TAKES OFF

While Pat was establishing himself, it was Marie’s turn next

to step out into the world. After leaving school and inspired

by Jessie, she also trained as a nurse, enrolling at Napier

Hospital. She was passionate and talented in her chosen

career and in 1954 also topped her class, picking up the

Florence Nightingale Award just a few years after Catherine.

Then, late one evening in 1956, working night shift at

the hospital, Sister Magill met her future husband, sixth

year trainee doctor, David Gray. Following a three month

courtship and a meeting of hearts, minds and souls, these

young medical talents married that same year. They were

both keen to carry out missionary work and three years

later left New Zealand to take up roles at Immanuel Hospital

in Bandung, Java, as surgeon and tutor sister. By now

they had two babies on board, and Jessie joined the group

as vital family support.

GRAYS HEAD HOME

SIBLINGS CONNECT IN INDONESIA

Pat first visited the Grays in Bandung in the early 1960s.

Impressed with their work and aware of the undeniable

challenges at the hospital, he worked diligently with the

Napier Lion’s Club to help raise funds for the renovation

of two nurses’ hostels, which were completed to Napier

architect Barry Sweet’s designs.

Pat loved Indonesia — the people, culture, food and

occasional clove cigarette and made several more visits

back there. In 1968 he took his eldest daughter Jan,

who stayed on with the Grays for six months. She observed

hospital life, helped out with the children and

even assisted the family’s recovery from Dengue fever.

Inspired by the long line of familial nurses before her on

both sides of the family, Jan became one herself after

completing training in Brisbane, and Pat and Catherine’s

second daughter Mary-Anne also trained as a nurse.

Then in 1975 Pat introduced Catherine and the rest of

the kids to this enticing tropical paradise for a month.

They explored Java from Jakarta in the north and down

through the island before heading over to Bali for a few

days on their way home. Pat started another business

too, back in Napier with son John called the Batik &

Asian Trading Company. They imported and sold Indonesian

clothing, homewares and accessories. With its

laid back vibe, cool music and aroma of incense wafting

through, the store was a mecca for those in town keen to

experience something more exotic than anything else on

offer at the time. It was fun while it lasted!

Working at Immanuel Hospital for 12 challenging and

exhilarating years, Marie and David made an undeniable

contribution there. They are still praised for the work and

progress made during their posting, in what was to become

a life defining experience for the entire family. They

were also blessed with four more daughters — productive

times indeed!

Keen to give the girls a New Zealand education, the

Grays returned to Auckland in 1971 and with family connections

on the North Shore they set up their new life in

Torbay. David ran a general practice there for 17 years,

with Marie assisting and supervising the practice nurses

until David’s retirement in 1988.

There has been nothing sedate about this couple’s retirement.

Theirs has been a precious opportunity for the

couple to focus more on their passions, talents and community

work. Over the years Marie has written seven

books, including the bestseller Irish in the Blood, based

on the family’s journey from Ireland to New Zealand and

the challenging years that followed. David, a keen sailor

— along with everyone else in the family — helped develop

MERC, the Sir Peter Blake Marine Education and

Recreation Centre at Long Bay. The couple are active

campaigners against rampant development and pollution

that threatens significant local coastline and habitats.

Also a talented artist, David published his memoir

recently, Write it Down Why Don’t You. It features many

of his own paintings and illustrations, while chronicling

his life and times through his fascinating, and valued

achievements.


Dreaded family

portraits time:

Catherine, Pat and

offspring by seniority;

Jan, Mary-Anne, Rob,

Tim, John and Jesma.

28

The Westshore years

chapter three

the WESTSHORe

years

Following the joyous wedding which gathered 70

guests in Catherine’s beloved home town, New

Plymouth; the newlyweds kicked off their honeymoon

in a cabin at Mokau, which looked out over the

Tasman Sea. They couldn’t see much on arrival though

as darkness had already fallen. The next day they drove

on to Jessie and Robert’s bach at Taupo and enjoyed a

week of r & r that included quite a lot of fishing for trout

on the lake.

Back home in Napier they started small, taking up residence

in a caravan at the Westshore Camping Ground.

They named their temporary home Navarac (caravan

backwards), and stayed there for a year while they saved

for their own place. “Fun and hippy-ish” is how Pat recalls

their “camping” days and he realised he’d definitely

married the right woman: “She had more money than

me. I even lived off her for a while!” Meanwhile, he was

busy developing Robert Magill Ltd into a carpet store

of significance and Catherine, now the respected and

popular Sister Magill, continued to impress with her serene

and exemplary nursing skills.

Pat became a Westshore fan from the time he trained

his prized horse Manyana along the beach, and Catherine

came to love the area too. Hardly anyone else

wanted to live there at the time though. Westshore was

pretty shabby, especially along Charles Street which

was known as “old wharfie land.” Most of their peers

Top: Sunset on the Taranaki coastline; Middle: Untitled —

Westshore from Bluff Hill, Napier, Sophia Davidson, gifted by

Mrs Margaret Perry, Collection of Hawke’s Bay Museums Trust,

Ruawharo Tā-ū-rangi, 2017/7/44; Bottom: Westshore today,

showing the land between the Westshore Spit and the Poraite

hills, which rose 1.5m as a result of the 1931 earthquake.

The Westshore years 29

were preferring to live on the hill but the young Magill

couple was resolute in wanting their place by the sea.

With their first baby nearly due, their next move was

to a rented cottage along Westshore’s Main Road, opposite

the airport. It was here that Catherine Janice

(soon to be called Jan), joined the family and 16 months

later another gorgeous baby girl, Mary-Anne arrived.

The girls remember happy times here especially playing

with Rudolf, a beautiful black cocker spaniel and enjoying

many walks with him along the beach.

In 1954, with another baby on the way it really was

time to secure that larger home of their own. They finally

settled on a leasehold section at 3 Whakarire Avenue,

Westshore which they bought from Clyde Jeffery for

£400. (See sidebar opposite.) This was prime water front

real estate, literally right on the water’s edge but there

was a catch.

The aptly named ‘Perfume Point’ by locals, where

some of the city’s sewage was released, was just down

the end of the avenue near the Ahuriri Channel. The

council’s plan was to move the outfall to another location

in the not too distant future. Finally, 15 years later

Clockwise from top left: Jessie and Bob with Janice and Mary-Anne at Repokite, 1955-ish; Easy seaside living at Westshore: architect was

Martin Yeoman, working for Guy Natusch; the interior was considered the height of design style at the time; December 2020, Perfume

Point in the distance taken from Shed 2; Perfume Point in the early days, from Navarac’s ‘front yard’, where Pat cheekily installed a BBQ on

council land.

30

The Westshore years

it was shifted to Awatoto, in what was Westshore’s gain

and Awatoto’s loss.

Through Brethren connections, a young architect

called Martin Yeoman, who worked for Guy Natusch, was

appointed to design the house. The section was narrow

so the footprint was long and the three split-level house

frontage was pretty much all glass to bring in as much

of the sea view as possible. This was modern thinking

and Navarac was a very modern home, designed on a

budget for open and easy, seaside family living. That was

exactly the family’s experience of a design that still looks

contemporary today.

Family connections helped build ‘Navarac’ as the

house came to be called. Catherine’s brother Pat

O’Donnell, an experienced builder, moved over from

New Plymouth for the duration of the project and was

keen to see his ‘big sis’ settled into the couple’s new

abode before the arrival of Baby Number Three.

Delivery day, September 2, 1955 and — it’s a boy!

Prized and handsome, he was named Patrick Robert,

who promptly became known as ‘Rob’. That’s because

Pat’s full name is Robert Patrick but he was known as

Pat, because his father was already called Robert … you

get the idea. This was a uniquely Irish naming tradition

if ever there was one. What is more clear is that young

Rob had started something; a run of Magill males with

twins Tim and John born two years later. And Jesma

came along two years after that, resolutely completing

a sterling child producing effort from Catherine and Pat.

Westshore Beach was a fantastic place for the Magill

kids to grow up; it was their very own Splash Palace.

The older girls surfed, summer and winter. Pat worried

though that the cold water could play havoc with their

ovaries and even asked the family doctor whether continuous

exposure to chilly seas could affect his daughters’

ability to have children. To which the doctor replied

Above: The front yard playground: Catherine loved taking a

dip in Whale Bay, 20 steps from the house at high tide;

Pat wonders how many kids can fit in a canoe.

with a smile, “I wouldn’t be too concerned, Pat”.

The boys surfed too and as the children grew older

they enthusiastically tapped into the ‘70s zeitgeist of sun,

fun, music and freedom. The passion for which their children

embraced the era was a little concerning for their

parents but those seemed to be the times and they simply

had to roll with it. It was mostly “all good” though, to

quote one of Pat’s favourite mantras. Ever the optimist,

if things weren’t exactly all good at the time, he held out

hope that they soon would be and generally, they pretty

much were.

PURCHASING

3 WHAKARIRE

Continuing from page 30, Clyde Jeffery then

bought an existing house further along Whakaririe

Avenue and following his marriage to

Margaret, they joined the aspirational procession

to buy “on the hill”. Pat and Clyde

were each other’s best men at their respective

weddings and Clyde went on to become

mayor of Napier from 1974 to 1983. As the

men matured their political views diverged

and Pat and others would lobby the council

hard against the proposed development of

a marina at the Ahuriri Estuary, which Clyde

was all for. This was a passionate civic battle

that raged for a number of years, with the environmentalists

eventually winning the case

(See chapter 7).


NAVARAC SEASIDE CHIC

In 2000 ‘Navarac’ was sold to someone the family

considers the perfect buyer; someone who appreciated

the design of the home, the spirit of the era

in which it was built and the difference that quality,

exciting design can bring to the lifestyles of those

who live within its walls.

The buyer Judy Tindall is the daughter of an architect

so she had a head start in design. When Jan

and Jes visited Judy a couple of years ago they were

thrilled, amazed and humbled at the respect that

Judy has paid to the home in the ever-so-gentle

renovations she undertook, as well as the homage

her enjoyment of the home pays to the architect

and the way Catherine had made the house a home.

32

The Westshore years

#PATSMANTRAS

Fly above it: Granted, this

isn’t a seagull, or a bird

named Jonathan Livingston

Seagull, but this gannet —

a resident at Cape

Kidnappers — quite likely

has the same philosophy as

Jonathan and Pat, that it’s

best to fly above it, than

through it or under it.

Photo Phil Botha.


All packed and

ready to hike:

family departs from

the Napier Railway

Station.

Magills’

childhood

soundtrack:

WE LOVE TO GO A

WANDERING ALONG

THE MOUNTAIN

TRACK…

Pat worked hard and played just as enthusiastically.

Being involved in plenty of community

projects, he also realised that quality family

time was important; frequent holidays were

essential and a lot of fun could be had by combining

the two.

Time away exploring, whether it was at Cape

Kidnappers, Puketitiri, Lake Waikaremoana,

Taupo; hiking in the great outdoors or enjoying

adventures in the big cities, it was “Buckle up

kids, we’re off!” And in 1967, walking the Milford

Track as a family was a standout highlight.

Above: Iconic South Island location images by Anne Johnston, clockwise from top left, Lake Mathieson; Purakanui Falls, Catlins, and

the Catlins Coast.

34

The Westshore years

Top: Jan’s 21st in 1973 and friends and whānau come from near and far; Middle: Restaurateur Albert Fan from White Heron Restaurant

caters for a crowd at home and supplies Pat with Indonesian clove cigarettes; Bottom: Siblings Marie and Pat at a posh family do.


36

Glory rugby days continue

chapter four

GLORY RUGBY DAYS

CONTINUE

For the son of devout Brethren followers, taking

part in sport was discouraged but Pat was a natural

sportsman and a passionate one too. Rather

than being a form of unconscious rebellion against strict

disciplines, his passion for all things sporty was simply

a love for action, friendship and fun that was enjoyed all

the more when he was playing with a team.

“It didn’t matter how good you were or whether you

won, sport for me was simply being part of something

that was healthy and positive.”

The 1950 Napier High School Old Boys’ (NHSOB)

team, with Pat as half back, enjoyed a dream run picking

up the triumvirate of prestigious rugby awards; the Maddison

Trophy, Bowman Cup and Lance Preston Memorial

Cup. A proud member of the NHSOB team for a good

number of years, he even played a couple of games for

Hawke’s Bay around this era.

When it came time to hang up his ‘serious rugby’

boots, Pat joined the committee of the Hawke’s Bay

Rugby Union. One of the more high profile events

hosted under his watch as president in the late 60s,

was the charity match that pitted the remnants of the

legendary Hawke’s Bay Ranfurly Shield winning team,

against a stellar line up of former All Black greats at

McLean Park.

The event gathered together the cream of New Zealand

rugby. The Hawke’s Bay hospitality was hearty

and generous and the visiting rugby stars were treated

to scenic rides in Lou Harris’s plane at Brooklands,

flown by his legendary top dressing pilot Dick Beattie.

Included in the ABs line up was Peter Jones (rugby’s

wonder kid from Kaitaia), plus four Going brothers and

Wilson Whineray, to name just a few. Provincial greats

included Rod Abel and Kel Tremain, who assisted the

host team in securing the community-spirited win.

Pat realised early on that sport involves so much

more than being fit and winning. “Sport brings people

together and brings communities together too. Community

involvement, and especially engaging young

people in healthy pursuits benefits the entire community.

Young people who have purpose and community

spirit don’t join gangs,” he says, “and that leads to

healthier, stronger communities. Sport is good fun too

— everyone needs some fun.”

Above: Rugby gods and an avid fan: Peter Jones, Kelvin Tremain, Wilson Whineray and Pat. Kelvin Tremain: 1938 — 1992, played for Hawke’s

Bay and New Zealand before becoming an administrator. He won 38 caps as flanker for the All Blacks between 1959 and 1968 and scored

nine tries, with his contribution to New Zealand rugby rating up there alongside Colin Meads. Opposite page: (Clockwise from top) Napier

High School Old Boys’ 1950 Dream Team; Charity match line up, Hawke’s Bay v former All Black’s at McLean Park, late ‘60s; scenic rides for

the Boys; Catherine and Pat with Ian Kirkpatrick; Magpies lock Rod Abel and Pat on prescribed r & r and kaimoana gathering, Rod worked

for Pat in the shop for a while; Pat officiating as president at the charity match welcome function hosted by Lou Harris at Brooklands Station.

Glory rugby days continue 37

“Sport brings people

and communities together.

Community involvement, and

especially engaging young

people in healthy pursuits,

benefits the entire community

because young people who have

purpose and hope don’t join

gangs. Sport is good fun too

— everyone needs some fun.”

Above: For the three years that the Hawke’s Bay rugby team kept the revered Ranfurly Shield in the province, McLean Park was the place

to be most Satuday afternoons for a lot of people, young and old.

38



PAMELA TREMAIN REMEMBERS

KIND,GENEROUS GESTURES

The one big memory I have of Pat is the way he looked

after us. Kelvin and I rented a house in 1963 in Griffin

Street, Napier at £4.4shillings a week and we lived there

for three years. Bruce Hawkins, the club captain, lived

next door and he probably organised the rental for us.

In 1964 Pat put down carpet for us in the hallway. I

think it was to welcome Kelvin home from the 1963/64

tour to England. It was a kind and generous gesture to

our little home. We only owned two Bisonia squares at

the time, one in the lounge and one in the dining room!

The Napier High School Old Boys’ Rugby Club also

gifted us a bedroom suite as a wedding gift, giving us a

bed to sleep on. I am sure this would have been through

Pat and it was another gesture that was appreciated for

years. We used the bed, dressing table and drawers for

a long time and still treasure the many family memories

that went along with them.

In those days rugby was not professional but people

were kind and thoughtful and I am sure Pat did a lot for

others as well, over many years.

Above: The era of amateur rugby: when Kelvin returned home from the 1967 ABs tour just before Christmas the couple hadn’t seen

each other for nearly four months. During the 1963 tour Kel was away for longer. With new babies and Kel missing Christmas,

Pam’s parents were godsends.

40


RUGBY RULES

jes recollects

“It didn’t matter how

good you were or whether

you won, sport for me

was simply being part

of something that was

healthy and positive.”

The rugby incident that is strongest in my memory is the

time we all piled into the Plymouth, again, and headed to

Taranaki (probably 1966), for a Hawke’s Bay away-game

with the eye on the prize — wresting that hallowed log,

that sacred wooden shield, over to the Bay.

We had an extra on board. The team’s mascot, Hawkeye

with her wings clipped for the journey, was hooked

up to car for the ride across country. It was weird and

disconcerting, being tailed by this massive creature who

looked for all the world like she really was going to fly.

Long story short: Hawke’s Bay lost and the journey

home was subdued. Initially. (Six kids in a confined space

don’t do subdued for long.) Even more disconcerting on

our way out of Taranaki though, was seeing dead magpies

tied to fence posts by gloating ‘Naki farmers, for the

beaten challengers to view on their way home.

It wasn’t long though before the Hawke’s Bay rugger

team’s famous three-year long Ranfurly Shield winning

streak kicked in, and oh those changing fortunes did

taste sweet.

Above: McLean Park — Image courtesy Napier City Council;

Hawkeye is resplendent at one of her many parades; four birds

in town — Catherine, Jan and Mary-Anne proudly view the

town’s mascot.


THERE’S

SOMETHING

ABOUT A MAGPIE

by robert houston

(verse 1 of 3)

There’s something about a Magpie,

there’s something about a Magpie,

there’s something about a Magpie

that is fine, fine, fine.

And here’s to the mighty Hawkeye

who gives the Hawke’s Bay war cry,

the greatest rugby cry of all

time, time, time.

When the Hawkeye guys are roaring,

the Hawke’s Bay team is scoring and

once again they’ve swept across the

line, line, line.

Then you’ll hear the Hawkeye cry,

as the Bay team scores a try.

Three cheers for black and white,

they’re going to win again!

42


WONDERFUL WEEKLY MAYHEM —

FOR THREE YEARS!

by tim magill

In Pat’s playing days and in his later rugby admin era,

rugby was it. Nowhere more than in the Mighty Hawke’s

Bay Shield era when the Bay held off 22 challenges.

Then, even as a youngster playing for Napier High

School Old Boys’ under the keen eye of Monty Timms, it

felt good to play the game.

Then there were the parades and they were huge, to

both welcome and intimidate shield challengers and

visiting international teams. A typical extravaganza

would head down Emerson Street from the Marine Parade;

young playing teams like ours, sort of marching.

There was music, local and visiting floats, colourful and

cheeky, all filing festively past the Criterion Hotel, where

the visiting team would watch from the balcony.

Big crowds of spectators would cheer the parade on

down to Clive Square where this wild throng would disperse

and get ready to descend on McLean Park, where

the visitors would have to put up with this proud province

in a frenzy yelling out, “C’mon The Bay!!!”

For one parade I recall Pat and his mates setting up a

float. Impressive. A truck with a lot of rugby paraphernalia,

greenery and people dressed of course in black

and white. The main theme this time was standing proud

in the middle of the deck, an old long drop with someone

sitting inside on a loo seat, moaning and groaning.

A professionally written sign nailed to the door said,“15

visiting players… ill at ease”.

Leading each parade was the headlining mascot

Hawkeye, three to four meters high, on a trailer towed by

probably Jock Stevenson. Our big magpie mascot would

authentically gurgle out the menacing magpie call and a

series of custom-penned songs through this era would

be thrashed on local 2ZC. “There’s something about a

magpie …” and “C’mon the Bay!!!” would shout the thousands

in the stands.

I can recall at one parade on an out of town challenge,

being towed, Hawkeye’s wings became untied from her

tucked-down travelling position. The wings lifted as if

she was taking flight. The drag uncoupled her at the tow

ball as she veered (flew) for the curb. Brilliant, and no

damage to our potentially escaping icon. Not long after

at a home game, a large egg appeared on the field. Then

something special happened. The egg started cracking

and hatched a black and white, leotarded, wings slowly

unfolding, baby magpie.

“Little Hawkeye” (Graeme Nicholson) from then on

would prance up and down the side-line, entertaining

the crowds and willing on our players while Mummy

Magpie proudly gurgled from a higher vantage point.

As with the Bay players, new blood coming through

and a smart succession plan helped the Bay’s Shield era

go down in New Zealand rugby folklore. And what an era

it was. We wouldn’t have missed it for the world, with all

its wonderful weekly mayhem.

Opposite: Hawke’s Bay get hold of the ball again. Photo by James Coleman; Above: Hawkeye is refurbished by the Tremain family in

time for his 50th birthday. Simon Tremain shines the famous bird’s beak.


As Kiwi as it gets: the iconic Axminster range was a big seller for Robert Magill Ltd. Sadly it’s no longer made in New Zealand but

companies like Mumma Jos NZ Made Recycled Axminster Rugs are keeping one of the nation’s favourite floor coverings accessible

for those wanting to secure some nostalgic flooring gold for their home. Images supplied by www.mummajos.com.

44

Carpets keep on rolling

chapter five

Carpets keep

on rolling

When Harry and Doris Temple moved to New

Zealand from England and settled in Napier,

for Pat it was the start of a very successful

working relationship and for the families, a beautiful

friendship. Harry was a carpet layer (and a former

grenadier), while Doris was an upholsterer and together

they formed Temple Upholstery. Harry and Doris had the

knowledge and skills with carpet and Robert Magill Ltd

had the customers.

On Pat and Harry’s first install one fine summer’s

morning, Pat and Harry departed the store with a

huge roll of carpet strapped to the roof of the shop’s

small delivery van and drove out to an address in the

country; the home of one very excited customer, keen

to welcome this ‘product of the future’ throughout the

bedrooms and living spaces. The word of mouth recommendation

that resulted couldn’t have been better,

for what was the start of thousands of successful carpet

installations throughout the region.

Temple Upholstery also installed the carpet in Napier’s

flash new Civic Building in August, 1968. Harry’s

son Robbie recalls this as a massive job involving the

largest supply of carpet, all 4200 yards of a 27” Axminster,

that Robert Magill Ltd had been involved with to

date.

According to The Daily Telegraph on August 3 that

year; “The 780 yards of carpet on the top floor of the

cafeteria-reception room will comprise the largest area

covered by one piece of carpet in the whole of Hawke’s

Bay.” The sewing of the seams was done with hand machines

on site and Robbie operated one of them. Like

father like son, Robbie and Pat also enjoyed a long and

happy working relationship.

In the meantime Pat’s commitment to community

work was gathering pace. He basically became a parttime

boss, focusing his energies on the growing needs

that he could see some people in Napier were experiencing.

He knew that Napier could do better, that it

could be a kinder and fairer city and it became his life’s

purpose to do everything he could to help achieve this.

Luckily back at the shop, he had a good team that kept

the business ticking over when his mind and presence

were elsewhere.

During the ‘70s and well into the ‘80s, carpet rolled

swiftly out the shop door. These were great days to

be in business in New Zealand, with a lot of growth

in the economy. It was pretty much a captive market

here with a closed economy, protectionist policies, and

quality wool plentiful and appreciated. Globally the

world was still gaining strength following World War

II and as Western nations worked together to keep relations

steady and resolute, the mood was stable and

most thrived during the resulting era of welcomed

peace and prosperity.

Carpets keep on rolling 45

THOSE GOOD

OLD DAYS

The store the Magill kids remember most was in

Hastings Street, on the site that Jessica’s Homewares

later occupied for years. There were plenty

of after school sessions here, probably under

the guise of ‘helping out’ but mostly they simply

had fun, jumping from roll to roll and playing hide

and seek in the large circular cardboard bins that

were used to display carpets around the shop

walls.

They remember Pat’s gracious PA Belle Robson,

who for years was kept busy dotting his i’s

and crossing his t’s, always with a calm smile; and

the big, burly carpet layers who forever heaved

rolls of Axminster and broadloom into the shop,

then hauled them out again seemingly in no time

at all, to fill orders for customers keen to carpet

their homes.

Clockwise from left: The dapper looking team at Robert Magill Ltd, 1967-ish, Frank Chambers, Don Grant, Pat, Ron Etherton,

Peter Danks, Rod Abel and Leo Cash; welcome to Café Navarac where seafood was a speciality of the house; rolls of carpet,

everywhere.

46

Carpets keep on rolling

TIM’S SHOP MUSINGS

I recall the old shop in Carlyle Street. It had become the

warehouse and bulk storage part of the operation. Shoppers

would go up to the flash Hastings Street shop to

choose which carpet was the most suitable to go, for instance,

up the back passage, or the bedrooms or lounge.

Back then this part of town was dingy. There was the

drone of sawdust extraction from Robert Holt and Son’s

Sawmill. Jim Gleeson’s car wreck yard was over the

road. John and I once got busted by this Napier legend

for smashing headlights in order to obtain the bulbs.

(Jim locked us up until Dad bailed us out.)

The people I recall from this era are Roy Elms: a short

man, husky smoker’s voice, close to retirement. Don

Grant: nice and easy going like his brother Peter. Good

to sit down with and ponder the big things in life, get

your breath back, after humping a roll of heavy floppy

carpet out for cutting up.

Dick Cooper, or Tick Cooper, was in charge of the

Wairoa shop. Max Regan took care of the Dannevirke

operation and at some stage there was a Hastings shop

too. When Pat was fully into the Carpet thing, he was

dynamic. I recall an Exhibition/Retail Show in a warehouse

along Pandora Rd and Pat manning a flash display,

showing the punters the latest carpet designs and

styles of the day. His team were loyal and rugby connected.

He gave a lot to the business until he became

more keen to help Napier address its wider community

shortfalls.

Kiwis loved their Axminster carpets and some still do; Advertisement — Pat, forever the salesman.

Carpets keep on rolling 47

Clockwise from top left; at Ferny Ridge behind the bach in the very early Puk days; “there’s a lot of lawn to mow, Son”, Pat says to

Tim; Hickey relatives travel over from Taranaki to experience county living Hawke’s Bay style; snowed in, a rare novelty; Pat climbs

Kaweka J; and the mists roll in. Artworks on these pages by John Ruth.

48

Puketitiri – the bush, the bach, the legacy

chapter six

Puketitiri

– THE BUSH, THE BACH, THE LEGACY

A

special place for the family is a precious stand of

bush and a charming, rumpty old bach at Puketitiri,

60kms north west of Napier, in the foothills

of the Kaweka Ranges and opposite Ball’s Clearing

Scenic Reserve. This was formerly 20 acres of a longforgotten

corner of farmland but thanks to Pat and Catherine’s

vision and hard mahi as well as that from many

others, especially Rob and Bernard Lloyd over the years,

the pasture was regenerated back into native bush and

is now protected from future development by a Department

of Conservation covenant.

The land was purchased in 1964, following a week’s

family holiday that Pat and Catherine had booked at

the old Puketitiri Hotel, an attraction within the Puketitiri

settlement, which at the time was a thriving service

town for the surrounding farming and timber milling

communities.

The couple had packed the boot and piled six squirming

kids into the Plymouth and travelled for nearly two

hours on dusty winding roads, which brought on the

inevitable car sickness and numerous stops. Finally

reaching their destination with a hot and cranky carload,

all were revived with hearty country pies, fizzy for

the kids, a shandy for Catherine and for the driver, a

cold beer.

It wasn’t long before Pat got talking to a farmer and a

regular character at the bar, Buster Wright, who’d fallen

on tough times and was selling off parcels of his land.

One of these was located 5kms north of the hotel, opposite

the stunning Ball’s Clearing which boasted one

of the few remaining stands of virgin podocarp forest

in the country, so the family piled into the car again to

check out the location.

Pat was hooked instantly on the challenge of regenerating

the bush and Catherine too shared in the

dream of a retreat in the hills not too far from town that

offered so much for everyone. They realised that bringing

people together in nature was a powerful and positive

thing that they could do not only themselves, but

others as well and the land changed hands for £250.

The next step was to find a dwelling for eight. Soon

after buying the property, the general store next door to

the pub with its corrugated iron exterior and rimu-lined

interior walls, went on the market for £5000. This store

did more than just sell groceries. A room at the back of

the shop was used as a ‘dry out’ space for pub patrons

who’d over indulged. When a customer was rendered

legless, a few of the more sober lads would haul the

offender next door, deposit them on the bed, and leave

them to “sleep it off”.

Despite its quirky back story the store was judged

ideal for a bach and was shifted up to its new location,

Puketitiri – the bush, the bach, the legacy 49

Clockwise from top left: Irrigation innovation; park-like grounds; one of many cordyline australis; Rob took this photo, looking out to

Ball’s Clearing from the bach; Puk’s planting team, Pat and Rob; Pat’s favourite flowers, rhododendrons — he planted hundreds of

bushes over the years.

50


REBELS TO THE

INDOCTRINATION

of their youth

by stuart manins

which to the south takes in the magnificent canopies of

Kahikitea standing sentinel at Ball’s, and to the north

west, the mighty Kaweka Forest Park with its beech forests,

tussock valleys and alpine shrub lands. The scene

was set for decades of family fun and adventure that

were initially enhanced by being off grid. There was no

power or phone connection for many years, which simply

added to the novelty and enhanced the quality of the

time the family enjoyed there.

These days the bach has a few more comforts of

home, such as hot running water and internet connection,

but what will never change is the appreciation for

the bush, the wilderness, the peace and quiet that everyone

experiences the instant they arrive.

Rebel cousins Pat and Stuart Manins catch up at the bach

in 1994 and enjoy plenty of debate and fellowship;

Painting, Mountain Stream by John Ruth.

I grew up not really knowing my cousins Pat and

Marie Magill. My father John and Pat’s mother Jessie

were brother and sister, which makes Pat and I

first cousins. They lived in Napier and we lived in

Auckland. When they did come north sometimes

in the holidays, they either went to their cottage at

Lake Taupo or to a farm they owned near Hamilton.

It wasn’t until Marie and Dr David Gray married that

things changed. I got to know Marie first and then

Pat later on.

I have always felt close to Pat. In some, quite different

ways we are both rebels to the indoctrination

of our youths. We have both sought to foster the

compassionate ways of the world without maintaining

a close connection to The Open Brethren. We

have an unusual sense of humour and enough in

common to get us evicted from most politically correct

congregations.

These photos were taken at Magill’s forest block

north-west of Napier where Margaret and I joined

Catherine and Pat for a delightful week end somewhere

about 1994.


Clockwise from top left; Catherine and Pat on the front porch of the bach — ideal for family shots; Pat and granddaughter Jerri Magill

working on the tracks; the ‘Dim Wits’ come for lunch, a long time, fun time social group of Catherine and Pat’s; it’s a favourite, fishing

the Mohaka; a few town comforts ensure a great summer; resting up after doing the lawns.

52


Clockwise from top left: Alwyn Corban, Rob and Pat bravely dynamite the

creek to form a lake; great mahi buddies Bernard Lloyd and Pat;

Mr T admiring Pat’s rhododendrons; important mahi in the snow for Tim;

rest time for Mary-Anne, Pat, John & Rob.


PUKETITIRI AND

KAWEKA FOREST PARK

by catherine’s cousin anne johnston

Over 40 years ago I visited the Magills at Puketitiri in

the foothills of the Kaweka mountain range and the area

made such an impression on me then, I longed to return.

And, in 2021, I did. What drew me to akaututu this part of

New Zealand? I remembered the sense of isolation, the

serenity, the silence but for birds, the beautiful trees and

crisp mountain air.

The Māori translation of Puketitiri is “the hills over

which the mutton birds flew”. The once thriving Puketitiri

settlement is 54k north west of Napier on the Puketitiri

Rd and then on to Balls Clearing Reserve a further 5k on

the Pakaututu Rd. The reserve was named after Jack Ball

who built a cabin in the only natural clearing in the dense

bush in 1890. Jack was a colourful character with only

one eye. His companions were reputed to be a one eyed

dog and a one eyed horse and he pulled his own plough!

Ball’s Clearing Reserve is an outstanding example of

dense virgin bush, the only such example left in Hawke’s

Bay. The giant podocarps are over 600 years old. They

escaped the milling in the 1930s and the forest fires of

the 1940s which wiped out most of the forest. The reserve

is managed by DOC and has a large grassy area at

the carpark, with picnic shelters and toilets. There is a

network of walking tracks from 10 mins to 40 mins duration.

However if you are a bird watcher or photographer,

the distances vary considerably!

The podocarp forest consists of Rimu, Matai, Miro,

and Kahikatea with lower growth of fushia and five finger

trees. The floor is a profusion of ground ferns and

mosses. In February it was all looking a bit sad from lack

of rain but I had the good fortune to spot a ground orchid,

since identified as Gastrodia Cuninghamii. I heard

Kereru, Tui and Korimako (bellbird) but did not see them.

However, I was frequently accompanied by cheeky,

chirpy Piwakawaka (fantail) far too busy to let me photograph

them. I believe there are long tail bats in the forest

which can often be seen at dusk.

It was great to be back up at ‘Puk’ again. There is so

much historic and natural history in this part of Hawke’s

Bay and I won’t wait so long to return next time.

Above: Fabulous photographer and happy wanderer Anne Johnston is happy as, parked up at Puk; Opposite, top left: It’s country

roads for Rob, please, everytime; Anne took the bird and flora images.

54


ROB’S PUK BUSH FILES

Over the years, working with Pat on regenerating

the bush, we discovered inadvertently that larch

makes an ideal nurse crop for native plants, blocking

the light and suppressing grass growth in summer.

Then in winter, when the trees lose their foliage

(being deciduous), it creates the ideal amount

of light for regenerating native plants. Seeds from

native plants are brought in by birds from nearby

forest remnants.

As the bush regenerated, being conservationists

at heart, Pat And Catherine sought to covenant

the property, so it would be protected in perpetuity.

Two scientists from the Department of Conservation,

Geoff Walls and John Adams came up from

Napier in 1993 and agreed the property was botanically

significant enough to covenant. Also, the fact

that it is close to the Ball’s Clearing Scenic Reserve,

was another reason they approved the proposal. It

is satisfying to know that all the hard work that has

gone into regenerating the bush on the property

has been preserved.

HUNTING, SHOOTING,

FISHING

When I was about 8 years old, Harry Maxwell,

who was manager of the Lands and Survey farm

at Puketitiri, took Pat and me hunting. We drove

along the rustic gravel road and parked beside the

Mohaka River. We crossed in the shallowest place

but the river was still deep and the current swift,

and then we made our way along the river terraces.

It was mainly open country with an abundance of

manuka scrub and a large herd of wild horses galloped

away dramatically when we appeared on

their scene. We saw a mob of pigs and Harry shot

one. Further on, we stopped beside the river and

Harry caught a trout, and then Dad shot a deer. All

in all, it was a good day in the great outdoors!


IT STARTED WITH THE FOREST AND BIRDS

by neil eagles, chairman,

forest & bird napier

Pat became branch chairman of the Forest & Bird

Napier group in 1966 and continued in the role until

1981, guiding the branch successfully during that time.

He had been called upon by the then chair Father Cyril

Callaghan to take up the position following his appointment

to another parish.

Pat was chairman during the Save Manapouri campaign;

during the opposition to a dam at the Waipunga

Falls and throughout the high profile opposition to the

Ahuriri Estuary marina proposal. Pat was also a champion

for the establishment of native forest reserves in

Hawke’s Bay which led to the preservation of many areas.

In a more “hands on” role Pat’s interest in native

forest conservation led him to purchase an 8ha rural

block opposite the stunning Ball’s Clearing at Puketitiri.

The property was formerly farmland that Pat, family

and fellow conservationists have successfully regenerated

back into native bush over the years.

56

The Environment – Pat walks his talk in his own hood

chapter seven

The Environment —

pat walks his talk

in his own hood

SAVING AHURIRI ESTUARY

– ECO ACTIVISTS BEFORE THEIR TIME

In 1975, the Napier branch of the Forest & Bird Protection

Society convened a meeting to discuss the future

of the Estuary, with 200 people attending. These

conservationists could see that the area was showing

the strain of close proximity to urban life and the consequences

that exposure to industry and demands from

the public revealed. The meeting came out strongly in

favour of protecting the Estuary in its natural state by

making it a reserve. Then in 1976 a seminar was held at

the Hawke’s Bay Community College on safeguarding

the future of the Estuary, convened by then college head

John Harré.

Environmentalism was a new thing in the 1980s. The

term ‘green’ or ‘greenies’ first appeared in 1980 and they

generally got a bad rap. The Ministry for the Environment

hadn’t yet been created, the Resource Management Act

hadn’t been thought of and it wasn’t until 1987 that the

Department of Conservation was formed. It was a lonely

space for conservationists but determination to protect

fragile, unique ecosystems was high.

In early 1981, one of Napier’s first conservationists, Isabel

Morgan helped form the Ahuriri Estuary Protection

Society to guard the Estuary from dredging and development.

Pat was chair of the Napier Forest & Bird Society

which fully supported the initiative.

From the city council to the harbour board and most

of the people of Napier, the value of the area wasn’t

widely recognised, despite it being an important breeding

ground for sea life and birds, as well as a recreational

asset for the city.

In June 1981, another seminar was held at the Hawke’s

Bay Community College, looking again at the future of

the Estuary, and in July 1981 a public meeting was held

at Colenso High School to discuss, among other topics,

Opposite page: Puketitiri bush walk, photo by Anne Johnston; Pat’s early Forest & Bird days with Father Callaghan and friends at

Ball’s Clearing, Puketitiri. Top: Astelia Fragrens flower. With thanks, details for this chapter are from the booklet Ahuriri Estuary

Napier — the story of the Ahuriri Protection Society from 1981 till 2010 published in 2011.

The Environment – Pat walks his talk in his own hood 57

forming the group, Friends of the Ahuriri.

Guest speaker that night was a zoologist from Auckland

University, Professor John Morton who presented

on the importance of the Estuary to the environment.

Rather than inspiring people to ‘see the light’, a group of

20 power boat owners ‘saw red’ and disrupted the meeting.

This group wanted the Estuary developed for power

boats and water sports and their opposition on the

night prevented the motion passing to form the Friends

of Ahuriri. This was a mere temporary glitch however.

“Friends of Ahuriri” was eventually formed and Isabel

became the Society’s first chairperson, continuing in the

role for more than 38 years.

ENVIRONMENTALISTS

GO NEXT LEVEL

Plans for the development of the Estuary did not stop and

a few years later became more grandiose. Some Napier

residents had visions of a flash marina and apartments

along Meeanee Quay, Surfers Paradise style. “They

wanted to dredge the whole thing,” Pat said at the time.

Without permission to commence the project, the promarina

team started building an earth wall to enclose

the area desired for development and eco-activism in

Napier was born. Late one dark night, people who still

remain nameless, picked up shovels and breached the

wall.

To badly paraphrase Winston Churchill, the greenies

fought the boaties and developers on the beaches and

took on the bureaucrats in the halls of power and they

won. Definitely a win for the environment!

GREEN BECOMES COOL

Fifteen years later the tide had turned and the Ahuriri Estuary

Protection Society was no longer an outlier. Awareness

and popular opinion was growing the Ahuriri Estuary,

was a vital life force for ecology and the environment.

It was finally being valued, as the Tangata Whenua had

done for centuries.

AWARENESS AND

APPRECIATION AT LAST

In a heartening example of how things can change, in

the mid-1990s when the expressway bridge was being

built, stakeholders Opus and Fulton Hogan took note

of natural wildlife values and collaborated with the Society.

There was no dredging or digging and when the

cycleway was under construction, DOC and the Society

liaised to ensure that bird habitats weren’t threatened.

Enlightenment indeed.

ESTUARIES HAVE BEEN

DESCRIBED AS CANARIES IN

THE MINE …

At the launch of the society’s booklet Ahuriri Estuary Napier,

which chronicles the Society’s 30 year battle with bureaucracy

and developers, Isabel said that being so close

to the city, “the estuary will always be under pressure.”

The Society pointed out early on that the Estuary’s

southern marsh is an important area for wading and migratory

birds. As the city encroaches with its cycleways,

commercial, industrial and residential developments

near fragile natural habitats, these areas will need to

be constantly watched to ensure development doesn’t

creep even further.

Protecting the Estuary, and other natural environments,

is a never ending vigil. Environmentalists are

aware that achieving future protection is an essential,

ongoing process with outcomes that are as fragile as the

environments that are constantly under threat.

58


“ Without people who understand and

respect nature, all would be lost.”

gary taylor, environment defence society.

EFFECTIVE

ADVOCACY 101

Gary Taylor, Chairman of the Environmental Defence

Society, wrote the foreword for the book,

Ahuriri Estuary Napier — The Story of the Ahuriri

Protection Society from 1981 till 2010, commending

the Society on the publication and its work

over the years. “Without people who understand

and respect nature, all would be lost,” he said.

“This account is analogous of what happens

in many other parts of our wonderful country;

people getting together in common cause and

fighting what are often mindless development

interests, to protect an important part of their local

environment. Without community efforts like

this we would live in a degraded place and our

already poor record in protecting endemic wildlife

would be even worse.

“This story exemplifies what makes effective

advocacy; understanding the legal process;

knowing how to mobilise public opinion when required;

being measured, polite but firm in all interpersonal

dealings with bureaucracies; and above

all being determined over long periods of time.

“A wise person truly observed; conservation

victories are temporary whilst losses are permanent.

Bad things can keep coming back.”

Top: Ahuriri Estuary; Eco warriors reunite, Isabel Morgan and

Pat at the time of the book launch in 2011.


”The perennial

challenge for the society,

is the ongoing tension

and competition between

environmental issues and

public recreation.”

angie denby,

chairperson ahuriri

estuary protection society

Te Whanganui-a-Orotū/Ahuriri Estuary, is classified as a nationally significant

wildlife refuge and supports a diverse array of flora and fauna in

a variety of habitats including conservation wetlands, terrestrial wildlife,

and native fish spawning areas. Twenty-nine species of fish use the estuary

during some component of their life cycle. Wetlands on the border of

the estuary provides an important wading and breeding area for migrant

bird species including the royal spoonbill and white heron. Sadly, multiple

waterways of significance feed into the Estuary, many of which are used as

stormwater discharge streams from Napier City and rural Hastings.

Top images: The beauty in the details. Images by Helen Morgan, Isabel’s daughter, and Anne Johnston;

Estuary boardwalk by Helen Morgan.

60


#PATSMANTRAS

”It’s all about

doing it better.”

AHURIRI ESTUARY 50 YEARS ON

Fifty years after helping prevent a potentially devastating marina development

from going ahead, Pat talks about the health of the Estuary now, as it struggles to

survive under a new raft of 21st century challenges:

It’s encouraging that most stake holders connected to

Ahuriri Estuary are trying to do better. From the back

country farmers, through to industry and residents,

there’s more awareness around the fact that the Estuary,

Te Whanganui-a-Orotū, is a fragile, vulnerable ecosystem

that needs to be protected.

But I often wonder about who has overall responsibility

for the Estuary. Hawke’s Bay Regional Council is

working hard to mitigate the effects of run off from farms

into the Estuary; Napier City Council is overseeing water

and stormwater issues, and the Department of Conservation

is tasked with walking the tight rope between

protecting and maintaining the natural heritage area,

while encouraging more people to get out and enjoy it. I

find it gobsmacking that plastic toys — big bouncy castles

are allowed to be installed at the Pond, attracting

hundreds of kids to play there each day, and adults to

supervise them, resulting in more stress on the Estuary.

When Dame Anne Salmond visited the region four

years ago, she reminded us that the Estuary is a small,

vulnerable area that can’t tolerate heavy recreational

use. “There’s too much expectation on a small bird

sanctuary,” she said. Classified as a nationally significant

wildlife refuge, the Estuary needs to be respected and

nurtured as such, not only for the feel good factor of protecting

our environment but for our livelihoods too, as an

economy located on the coast.

It seems those who really need to listen to the warnings

of experts like Dame Anne often don’t, and the levels

of collaboration required by pivotal stakeholders to

achieve best outcomes for the Estuary aren’t as good as

they might be but I know they’re working on that.

THREE MAIN AHURIRI

ESTUARY CHALLENGES

• Run off, sediments and nutrients from farms

• Sewage that’s pumped in occasionally and

when it rains heavily

• Industrial zones right on its border

Above: Pat is concerned that it’s unclear which local body has overall responsibility for Ahuriri Estuary.


“Thorough analysis of our waterways is essential if we’re to

preserve our blue economy. We live in a blue, watery world and,

along with the land, the state of our rivers, lakes, groundwater,

estuaries and harbours are fundamental to Kiwi health and

prosperity, now and in the future.”

dame anne salmond

62


“Pat has an incredible spirit.

He’s a pioneer, a man ahead of

his time, and we need pioneers

for others to follow.”

Godwits

can’t rest on

water or feed at sea

like seabirds, which

makes their 11,000km

journey the longest

non-stop flight

undertaken by

any bird.

Opposite page: Ahuriri Estuary, photo by Lee Pritchard; Above: Clockwise from top left: The Birds of Ahuriri Estuary, the Bar Tailed

Godwit (Kuaka), our migrant from Alaska; Royal Spoonbill; Pied Stilt (Poaka), White-faced Heron; Variable Oystercatcher and a

Black-fronted Dotterel. Photos by Brent Stephenson @ Eco-Vista.


64


HEARTENING COLLABORATIONS

for the Estuary

With people like Hinewai Ormsby voted on to the

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council last year, the people of

the region can feel assured there’s a strong voice lobbying

consistently for the restoration and preservation of

the environment, for this generation and those to come.

Also co-director of award-winning tourism business

Napier Māori Tours with her husband Cam Ormsby,

Hinewai is passionate about doing all she can to help

keep Ahuriri Estuary safe, through her dual roles.

A collaboration between fourth generation sheep and

beef farmers, the Holt family, and Napier Māori Tours in

late 2019 saw this couple recognised with the first ever

Environment Award at the Hawke’s Bay Tourism Awards

that year, for walking their talk and improving the region’s

environment.

At the time Hinewai said, “As a tourism business focusing

on Māori culture and kaitiakitanga (environmental

stewardship), we take our responsibility for protecting

our environment seriously. We achieve this by growing

close to 3,000 native trees each year that we plant

around the waterways that feed the Ahuriri Estuary.”

According to Hawke’s Bay App, this was the first time

that two distinct businesses — tourism and farming —

have collaborated to contribute to a healthier Estuary,

and in the past two years they’ve instigated numerous

similar initiatives. “As locals,” Hinewai said, “we have a

responsibility to protect the lands and waters that surround

us.”

Opposite: Hinewai Ormsby, treasuring the Estuary and doing all she can to keep it healthy; Above, Hinewai and Pat at Waitangi

Regional Park; Cam and Hinewai Ormsby, a strong team for the environment.


SMART IDEAS —

REASONS FOR OPTIMISM

New chairperson of the Ahuriri Estuary Protection Society,

Angie Denby, says the society’s mandate is to ensure

the Estuary is a place that people want to come and visit,

and they’ve got plenty of plans.

The society’s mandate, Angie says, is for the preservation

of the current area, advocating for restored and

protected wildlife environments, networking with others

with shared goals, and education for the public on the

ecology and importance of this sensitive environment.

At the annual January picnic, the reinvigorated group

says it’s keen to bring as many people together who have

an interest in the Estuary’s restoration and preservation,

and that includes building networks with individuals,

groups, organisations and business.

They’re keen to attract younger people to the group as

well. “Most members are older with spare time and we

need younger people to get involved too. Our focus is in

circulating ideas, keeping things in the public eye and

bringing young people on board to help with this.”

Angie recently linked up with Richmond School and

took groups of children to see the 200 to 300 Godwits

when they arrived at the Estuary as part of their epic annual

migration in November. “The Bar-tailed Godwit/

Kuaka is the ‘nobility’ of migrants, having flown directly

from Alaska in the Spring. The others don’t come nearly

as far! That to me is what’s important, people getting to

know what happens at the Estuary and helping them to

connect with it.”

The society also organised an educational talk focused

on Godwits in February. The guest speaker was a member

of the Australian Flyway, a group interested in the

11,000km annual journey that the godwits make. Members

share knowledge and assist countries on the godwits’

migratory path, to restore and maintain wetlands.

The society was run by co-founding stalwart Isabel

Morgan for 35 years. Pat was involved in those early days

when the group was set up to stop development in the

area following the proposal of a marina. “It was a minor

miracle really that they succeeded and our job now is

to keep what’s there, not to let anything be removed or

altered,” says Angie.

The Napier City Council is working on an encouraging

initiative at Lagoon Farm, which runs alongside Prebensen

Drive. “The aim is to turn this area into a wetland in order

to clean up the dirty water that comes through there.

When it rains something like 70% of Napier’s stormwater

runs into the estuary in some shape or form, so we’re

hopeful the wetland will filter the water and ease pollution

in the Estuary.

“The council is also doing a lot of monitoring to find out

exactly what is going into the water. Management plans

are being arranged with each and every industry in the

Onekawa and Pandora industrial areas, just like they are

for farmers, so everybody is needing to become accountable

whether they like it or not.

“It feels like there’s movement now, whereas before

there was kind of resistance to doing anything to help

clean up the area. And it’s coming from central Government.

They are saying, ‘You’ve got to do it.’

“This is such a welcome turnaround from the early days

when environmentalists felt the society was perceived as a

lone, crazed voice. Isabel and Pat were the foot soldiers, the

ones who held on to the belief that what they were doing

was right, despite their stance being unpopular at the time.”

The perennial challenge for the guardians / the kaitaiki

of the Estuary; is monitoring the ongoing tension and

competition between industry, environmental issues,

and public recreation. “EIT now offers a course in Environmental

Management, training people up in policy, so

all these things will help”, Angie says.

66


Clockwise from top left: Perhaps Pat’s subliminal messaging from his front lawn was successful, with Greens’ Dr Elizabeth Kerekere

now in Parliament; Pat is a staunch Greens supporter and sent Co-leaders Marama Davidson and James Shaw a copy of Healing our

History recently, one among dozens of MPs that Pat has sent the book too; the late Isabel Morgan at the opening of a new track at

Tutira several years ago.


HAWKE’S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL:

THE AHURIRI ESTUARY PROTECTION AND

ENHANCEMENT PROJECT

• The Ahuriri Protection and Enhancement Project is

focused on improving the overall health and water

quality of Ahuriri Estuary by working with landowners

in the catchment to reduce the high sediment and

nutrient loads entering the estuary; and increasing

indigenous habitats.

• Over the past 3 years the project has funded the

completion of 16km of fencing to exclude stock from

waterways, installed over 45,000 native plants and

1300 poplar poles for erosion control and biodiversity

enhancement within the catchment.

• The long term management of Ahuriri Estuary

is complex as it includes multiple management

agencies and stakeholders with varying mandated

responsibilities. In addition, there are also multiple

values and uses which may at times be in conflict

(e.g. ability to move stormwater away from

infrastructure vs. contaminants affecting ecological

values, and recreational values Vs. wildlife refuge for

protection of animals).

• There should be confidence that a common vision

can be developed to promote and facilitate a

coordinated approach across the multiple agencies

and stakeholders for the management and protection

of Ahuriri Estuary into the future.

Thomas Petrie

Program Manager Environmental Protection and

Enhancement Project

AHURIRI PROTECTION AND

ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMME

– THERE’S NO QUICK FIX

• Large parts of Napier lie at, below, or only slightly

over sea level. Drainage/pumping is needed to

protect houses and infrastructure.

• Pumping/drainage can carry contaminants into the

estuary.

• The estuary is highly modified and has too many

contaminants (bacteria etc), nutrients and sediment

entering it.

• The stormwater entering the estuary is an important

source of freshwater to the system but we need to

make sure that it is as clean as it can be, so that one

day we would feel comfortable collecting food from

the estuary again.

• A marine invasive tubeworm (Ficopomatus

enigmaticus) has boomed in recent years, causing

issues to the hydrology of the estuary.

• The problem is in the catchment in its entirety — we

need to resolve issues relating to both urban and

rural runoff. There is no ‘quick fix’.

• Since 2017 Council’s Ahuriri Protection and

Enhancement programme has worked to support;

– Removal of invasive tubeworm restricting estuary flow

– Fencing of waterways entering the estuary

– Planting of riparian margins and erodible land to

prevent sediment entering the estuary

– Modelling to understand water and contaminant

pathways into the estuary

• Hawke’s Bay Regional Council is also working with

Napier City Council to understand contaminants

coming into the estuary from the urban stream

network with the aim to reduce contaminant loads

entering the estuary.

Anna Madarasz-Smith

Napier City Council, Team Leader Marine & Coasts

The long term management of Ahuriri Estuary is complex and requires that a common vision is developed between stakeholders.

Image by Helen Morgan.

68


#PAT-SPEAK

“I couldn’t live closer to the Ahuriri Estuary and I take my role as

kaitiaki — as one of many guardians for the area — seriously. For

years on my walks around the Estuary tracks I’ve picked up rubbish

and I keep an eye out for spills and misdemeanours from industry

that borders the sanctuary. I look after 9 hectares of regenerating

bush at Puketitiri that 64 years ago was poor quality farmland and

is now lush native bush protected by a DOC covenant. I have huge

respect for and support the Green Party NZ and Forest & Bird New

Zealand. But along with the Tangata Whenua, I’m concerned about

the quality of water in Aotearoa. A lot of focus and mahi needs to go

into this all around the country. There’s a lot of walking to do; the

bigger the problem, the longer the walk.”


“Unless we can communicate

with diverse people who live in

our own communities, we will

never reconcile the differences

that exist throughout the world.”

70

Behind the façade

chapter eight

BEHIND THE FAÇADE

– DRIVEN TO ANSWER NEEDS

AND A BICULTURAL AWAKENING

Pat’s inherent sense of justice is legendary, as was

his big heart for a small kid, and keen perception

to see early in life that there were, give or take,

two sides to Napier. In simplistic terms, there were the

Haves and the Have nots. There were elegant arches,

genteel ways and choices for some, but not for all. As an

idealist through and through, Pat knew that this separation

wasn’t good for communities and his driving motivation

for decades has been to try and right that balance,

in his own unique style.

To his very core he is driven to help others, especially

those marginalised through circumstances out of their

control, namely colonisation and urbanisation. In the 50

years between the 1930s and the 1980s, the Māori population

transitioned from 83% rural-based to 83% urban,

one of the fastest rates of urbanisation in the world. Norman

Kirk said of the Tangata Whenua coming into the

cities that it was, “the greatest migration since the canoes”

and with that came massive upheaval.

Pat first became involved in community work in the

early 50s, when he joined the Friendly Neighbours, a

group run by Robin and Lou McMurray. Pat liked that

they offered practical assistance, through delivering

food and clothing parcels. He’d witnessed the seeds

of poverty take hold in Milton Road; he saw when kids

don’t have resources at home, when money is tight and

“Pat Magill gives

new meaning to

the term ‘social

butterfly’. He

comes from

a successful

business family

and had been cocooned in the casual

racist social chrysalis of the rednecked

burghers of Napier. He was the

chairman of the Hawke’s Bay Rugby

Union, a role then akin to the Grand

Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan in another

land. Whether Pat had a spiritual

epiphany or simply decided to enact

his pragmatic Christian beliefs I do

not know but in the 1970s Pat Magill

underwent a radical transformation,

a metamorphosis, and emerged as

a Treaty-conscious social-justice

activist. He was reborn as a socialist

butterfly.” By Denis O’Reilly.

(See full korero on page 73.)

Opposite page: Photo Sandy Millar; Above, top; Napier’s iconic statue, Phoenix rising up from the ashes; below; Napier’s heroic

friendly outlaw; Pat’s fundraising style was likely inspired by Robin Hood.

Behind the façade 71

ABOUT KOHUPĀTIKI

Kohupātiki Marae is located on Kohupātiki Road, Clive. The marae plays an active role in the community,

Its principal hapū are Ngāti Hori and Ngāti Toaharapaki

of Ngāti Kahungunu iwi. The wharenui is called Māoritanga, Kohupātiki-style. Recently the entire

welcoming many groups through to experience

Tānenuiarangi. The marae connects ancestrally to the Clive School was welcomed on to the marae, that’s

waka Takitimu and the awa Ngaruroro.

250 people in total.

they don’t have choices, that things crumble.

The older members of Friendly Neighbours focussed

on the needs of the elderly and Pat looked after the

needs of youth; an experience that inspired his imminent

involvement with the YMCA and Downtown Y. In 1977,

nominated by Pat, Robin and Lou were given a well-deserved

Citizens Civic Award. Later, Friendly Neighbours

was administered by school master Keith Sellers, and

cutting, bagging and distributing firewood became another

service that the group offered.

The McMurray’s had a bach at Tangoio and often invited

the entire Magill clan of eight, out to come and share

freshly caught crayfish; invitations that were accepted

on the spot.

At this time, Pat had numerous fingers in plenty of

community pies. Owning his own business and being a

father to a fast growing family (six kids in eight years!),

seemed to widen his sense of humanity and call to service.

He joined the Lions Club in 1953. At the time, the

club was looking for an army of foot soldiers and it was

reasonably successful with its founding mandate, to fundraise

for community needs.

Back then Pat’s fundraising style was akin to that of the

legendary Robin Hood, the heroic, friendly outlaw who

robbed from the rich and gave to the poor. And it still is. He

zealously believes that it is society’s obligation to look after

those less fortunate. When it comes to collection time,

Pat has plenty of friends and supporters who know they’ll

be “fleeced” but it’s in the nicest way possible and for very

good reasons and they’re more than happy to oblige.

72

Behind the façade

KIA KAHA KORO — TANGATA TIRITI!

by denis o’reilly

Pat Magill. If you come from Hawke’s Bay, or are active in

social justice circles, whether from Helsinki or Hokitika,

the very mention of the name Pat Magill is likely to bring

a little smile to the corners of the mouth, a flutter of the

spirit, and the echo of the beat of a different drum.

Pat Magill is a living symbol of nga hoa Pakeha, those of

us of broadly European extraction, who see ourselves as

teina, younger siblings to the original people of our homeland,

Aotearoa, and who are committed to the fulfilment

of the Treaty of Waitangi. We are Tangata Tiriti, children

of the Treaty. We are in support of our elder siblings, Nga

Māori, Tangata Whenua. For me Pat Magill is one of my

kaumatua, kaumatua Pakeha. Indeed, he is a Rangatira.

In December of 1974 I was part of a travelling troupe.

We were musicians and players. The group was called

Storm and Friends and we formed in Wellington with

a mix of Pakeha and Māori. With a grant from the Arts

Council we purchased an old Railways’ bus and we

headed off on a tour of Te Ika a Maui, following the Blerta

model.

Again, multidimensional as per Blerta, our offering was

a rock band (playing covers) and a theatre troupe. Our

first big show was in Palmerston North. We tried street

theatre and were joined by an aspirational poet by the

name of Garry Mc Cormick. I’ll leave that story hanging.

We pushed on to Hawke’s Bay and through some

obscure YMCA connection our itinerary led us to accommodation

at Waiohiki Marae. We were to meet a

YMCA outreach worker named Wally Hunt. Wally Hunt

had been hired by Mr Pat Magill to run a programme to

engage Māori youth from Napier’s peri-urban maraes.

Magic eventuated. Storm and Friends played at the

Soundshell. I met this beautiful wahine, and, without

knowing it at the time, my life became linked to Ahuriri

and the influence of Pat Magill.

Pat Magill gives new meaning to the term ‘social butterfly’.

He comes from a successful business family and

had been cocooned in the casual racist social chrysalis

of the red-necked burghers of Napier. He was the chairman

of the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union, a role then akin

to the Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan in another land.

Whether Pat had a spiritual epiphany or simply decided

to enact his pragmatic Christian beliefs I do not know

but in the 1970s Pat Magill underwent a radical transformation,

a metamorphosis, and emerged as a Treatyconscious

social-justice activist. He was reborn as a socialist

butterfly.

I have organized his significant birthdays. His sixtieth,

his seventieth, his eightieth, his ninetieth. All held at

Waiohiki. During the intervening decades he has walked.

He has walked his talk. The bigger the problem he would

say, the longer the walk. With child-like innocence he

enrolled others, particularly members of the Diplomatic

Corps, who would be swept up in his enthusiasm for

world peace, child-friendly communities, social justice

and a caring “Pilot City.” In Napier he has turned ANZAC

Day upside down, making it a celebration of the contribution

of ordinary citizens to a living peace rather than

the commemoration of the wasted human sacrifice and

destruction of war.

Now, Pat says, he is considering retirement. But before

that, can we meet at the pie man’s place at the Maraenui

shops? Oh, and there’s that book on the Treaty by Consedine

that we need to get to members of the new Government

immediately after the election. And can I edit

this little submission to the Napier City Council? Oh yes,

and what about a little contribution to enable a walk for

unity….ake ake ake. Kia kaha koro!

Above left; Denis and Pat, two party-loving Irishmen with a social justice bent, at Pat’s 90th; Right: Discussions in the dark, Nga hoa

Pakeha and Irish to the bone; Ready to rise up — Denis keeps up the spirits at the revolution planning session, Koro keeps his knees

warm and peacenik Ian Upton has a warm head and cool legs.


FIGHTING FOR

PROMISED

PARTNERSHIP

Former New Plymouth mayor and social justice

campaigner Andrew Judd spoke at Kohupātiki

Marae recently as part of his three year-long

campaign, fighting passionately for the instalment

of promised electoral rights and partnership

for Māori. He has been described as, “The

Pākehā who became the face of a movement to

give Māori a voice at the council table,” by Deena

Costa. And that voice will soon be heard, because

as of February 2021, decisions by councils

to establish Māori wards could no longer be

overturned by public referenda.

Clockwise from top left: Pat’s gift to Ngati Kahungunu for his 93rd birthday was inviting Andrew Judd from New Plymouth to present his

game changing TED talk, Lessons from a Recovering Racist; Kaumātua Bevan Taylor leads the tributes; lunch is served and foot soldiers

pay tribute; Napier City Councillor Sally Crown with Pat and Andrew Judd; Pat is formally honoured for his mahi in the community over

many years.

74

Behind the façade

FOR MĀORIDOM

PAT IS A TRUE FRIEND

by kaumatua bevan taylor

“ We have never heard

anything like that on our

marae before”.

bevan taylor, kohupatiki Marae

When I first met Pat, straight away I said to him, Magill’s

Carpets. It was a household name and it goes way back,

right back to the early ‘50s, when Pat first started in the

shop. My dad did business with him, buying carpet for

our dining room, and some lino too.

After meeting Pat, I observed him for a while, for a number

of years actually, and I came to look forward to talking

with him. He’s a very pleasant person, easy to talk to, he

doesn’t get into any areas of discussion that may cause

ill feeling. He’s never disruptive and he lends an ear. Even

if it sounds a bit rough he’ll lend an ear and he will make

comment. He doesn’t make grand speeches but he’ll

make a comment that comes at you, that has impact.

I would say Pat is an icon in the eyes of people within

Napier, and afar. Whether they be Māori, European, whoever;

Pat is able to fit in with everyone.

Coming up to the mid to late ‘70s, I became active in

Ahuriri myself. My wife and I would often meet up with

Pat. We talked about things in general, and specifically,

the Treaty of Waitangi, which he supports, and more importantly,

Te Tiriti, the Māori version of the Treaty.

He said that we were hard done by and he was honest

about that. He said he wishes he could turn it all around

to show our successive governments what true partnership

is. We hosted Pat’s 93rd birthday here in 2019 and

welcomed his hikoi trail, the Walk for Unity. With the

group we also welcomed the ex-mayor of New Plymouth,

Andrew Judd. He gave his fascinating TED Talk,

Lessons from a Recovering Racist. It was brilliant. We

have never heard anything like that on our marae before.

Andrew has amazing commitment. There are some

people who are so committed and can see the right way

forward, and don’t just give lip service.

I joined the Napier Pilot City and came to see Pat more

regularly. Nothing to him is impossible, that word isn’t

in his dictionary. He knows what to do, how to do it and

with whom. He is so easy, flexible and honest about doing

things and if he commits to something, he’ll do it.

He makes a difference in terms of Napier and with

Napier Pilot City. Pat is a figure who would be missed if

he wasn’t around; and you notice when he isn’t around,

when he’s away or can’t attend a meeting.

Sadly I was out of the area when Pat’s wife, Catherine

died in an accident in Australia in 1994. Thank God

that Toro Waaka and Tania Reti were here and that they

extended the invitation for Catherine to lie at the Tai

Whenua. I thought this was a great and fitting tribute, for

Catherine and for Pat.

Back on my own marae at Tongoio, Pat often comes to

our tangi and hui, to support the kaupapa and be a part

of bringing together the younger generation, who are

our future. In the course of being chair of the Māori Consultative

Committee, I met with Pat and the then mayor

Barbara Arnott on many occasions at different functions.

The conversations were always interesting! We welcomed

the next mayor Bill Dalton on to the marae as

well. He said he would do a lot of things.

I think Pat is one of these people like the prime minister,

they’re noticeable wherever they go. For me, and

I’m sure for a lot of other people, Pat will always be a

wonderful person in the eyes of Māoridom. In terms of

Māoridom he will always be a true friend, a true comrade.

(Read the transcript, Lessons From A Recovering Racist

on page 207.)


“Never doubt that a

small group of thoughtful,

committed citizens can change

the world. Indeed it is the

only thing that ever has.”

Margaret Mead

76

Napier YMCA transformed and the Downtown Y is born

chapter nine

Napier YMCA

transformed and the

Downtown Y is born

The first article in this chapter is an overview of the YMCA Napier during Pat’s time as president

for nine years through the 70s, coinciding with several terms as national YMCA president.

The Napier YMCA was established in 1890 and

focused pretty much on young Christian men,

gymnastics and values. Following the 1931 earthquake

the association didn’t operate for nearly 25 years.

Then in the mid ‘50s, Hal Lucas and Peter Tait (Napier’s

mayor at the time), started discussions about reviving it.

When Pat became involved about this time, the YMCA

was primarily still a recreational organisation.

At the time the YMCA was considered an evangelical

arm of the church and there wasn’t much of a bold plan at

the Napier association until Colin Coates was employed

as executive director in the 60s. At the national office

at the time, George Briggs and Peter Darracott were

inspired thinkers who became pivotal to encouraging

more modern thinking at the national board level. They’d

both studied overseas and had seen first-hand the latest

effective community development programmes, and

brought this knowledge back to New Zealand with them.

In 1968 Colin commissioned a survey called the Social

and Recreation Survey and the idea for developing

a youth centre was born in response to the feedback

received. The board could see that needs were growing

in the community for youth to have something to do,

somewhere to go and somewhere to belong, especially

Māori youth, as the Tangata Whenua were making the

migration to the cities from the countryside, all around

New Zealand.

To meet these needs several board members wanted

to offer services and outreach to a wider base of kids,

not just the ones who already had opportunities. These

board members could see some families really struggling;

whole communities struggling. So the transition

began, supported by a cultural shift that was occurring

at the national YMCA office too. The new youth centre,

the “Downtown Y” was opened for business in late 1971.

It proudly occupied the former Napier Library premises

on the first floor corner site on Hastings and Tennyson

Streets, with a juke box supplying the sound. No alcohol

was allowed.

A liberal principal at Sacred Heart College at the time

brought her boarders along once a month, which was a

highlight for the girls but when their parents found out

about the visits, these were stopped immediately. Not

long after the principal was moved on and the girls were

apparently in tears.

Then the Downtown Y School was set up as an alter-

Legacy maker: ”Pat was an enthusiastic and inspiring leader and a great role model for other YMCAs around the country.

He also started alternative education in Napier with the Downtown Y School”. Leigh Gibson CEO YMCA Gisborne.

(Most photos in this chapter are kindly supplied by YMCA Hawke’s Bay.)

Napier YMCA transformed and the Downtown Y is born 77

native education option, which the Norman Kirk government

incorporated into the NZ education system. Here

the kids were looked after and felt validated and they

flocked to the “Y” School every day. Teaching methods

were innovative — the kids learnt maths by playing

darts! They stopped truanting as they had been doing at

their previous schools and as a result, less youths were

sent to borstal, says Pat.

The first teacher employed for the Downtown Y was

funded by the YMCA and the second teacher was appointed

by the Department of Education. Soon after

opening, the Downtown Y School was designated as

one of the first alternative schools in the country and it

is still operating today, as the Napier Community High

School in Creagh Street, Te Awa.

In 1972 the Downtown Y was going well. Prime Minister

Rob Muldoon visited and gave the venue a citation.

But despite this, funding was always difficult. Funding

for sport, art and culture seemed to flow but it was difficult

to source financial backing for social issues. The

former library premises were rent free but the building

needed refurbishing so the venue moved to Hallenstein’s

in Emerson Street where rent payments were required,

putting a strain on already stretched resources.

It was the last straw for the Downtown Y when its new

location was flooded. So in 1981, it was curtain call for

this particular youth club, with new programmes started

up at the YMCA Latham Street Gymnasium, which was

set up in 1965.

One advantage of the move was Latham Street was

closer to Maraenui. More local youth felt encouraged

to come along and the place became popular with a

broader base. There was a buzz going on, there was fun

being had. One Sunday afternoon a big, burly police dog

handler Rod Moore ran the length of the gym with youth

trying to pull him down. There was huge excitement over

that. One rangitahi broke into the gym on a Friday morning

and hid in the rafters so he wouldn’t miss the excitement

that was coming up on Sunday and his parents

called the police to report a missing youth!

The Police Youth Club came along on Sundays as well

to have some fun and the kids really appreciated this.

These were exciting times. Ross Duncan (see his tribute

on page 80), was involved at national YMCA office and

some of the more traditional YMCAs were also thinking

about casting the net wider than had been done in the

past.

After a period of time though, some kids started pinching

money and at times there was an uncomfortable

atmosphere. A solution was arrived at, shifting the fee

“We Build Strong Kids, Strong

Families, Strong Communities”.

EARLY YMCA FACTS

• YMCA was originally founded in England

during the Industrial Revolution to offer

children somewhere safe to shelter from the

tough, menacing streets

• YMCA was established in NZ in 1855

• The guiding purpose of the movement is to

enable young people to thrive and take their

place in the community

• The YMCA mission statement:

“Building strong kids, strong families, strong

communities, through investing in the next

generation”

paying gymnastics classes to Onekawa. This was called

the OMNI Gym, while the Latham Street venue worked

on offering more relevant programmes for the local kids.

This meant a loss of income from the paying classes.

Sadly several positions had to go and Colin Coates resigned.

The need for a venue to replace the Downtown Y was

still really strong, as complex needs continued to grow.

The idea for Michael’s Place, or The Pub With No Beer,

was floated to go up alongside the Latham Street YMCA.

The concept was driven by social workers and after a

successful approach through Labour MP Gordon Christie,

some funding was made available and a lot of fundraising

carried out (hence the walks), to ensure there

would be another place that youth could call their own.

Michael’s Place was completed in 1983 and it could

have been successful long-term but finances were always

a struggle. The budget didn’t cover staffing and

user-pays didn’t cover overheads. People still come up

to Pat today though and talk fondly about The Pub With

No Beer so they obviously got something right. “Once

again we struggled to secure a permanent venue that

met the glaring needs in the community, even though

the approaches we took and the early intervention, were

showing positive results”.

Looking back Pat remembers two great supporters

during his time with the YMCA — were Alan Dick and

the late Sir Paul Reeves, “Both are remembered to this

day for their tireless efforts in supporting our practical

approaches to connecting with our youth.”

78


DOWNTOWN Y DAYS —

TURNING LIVES AROUND

by jason mill

Chris and Pat Mill are my grandparents. I started doing

Māori Warden work with them when I was about 15 years

old. When I first went out with them though I was eight!

Chris — my Pa — always spoke of Pat with a warm heart;

there was never a bad word mentioned about Pat. Chris

often spoke too about the work they did with Wally Hunt,

using old shearing sheds out in the country and taking

kids out there for the weekend, teaching them how to

hunt, gather food and fish for eel. At Pa’s tangi there was

a person who spoke about being a troubled youth who

spent time with Chris, Pat and Wally, and how being with

them at that time forever turned his life around.

A STRUGGLE

WITHOUT

SOLUTION?

In 1974 (May 18) Jill McCracken from the NZ Listener wrote

a two part feature called Māori Youth: The Struggle for

Identity. Introducing the first article headed Statues &

Stigma she wrote, “Establishment of identity within the

confines of another’s society isn’t always easy. The struggle

of some Māori youths in this respect is fairly widespread

in New Zealand. Too often, it is a struggle without

solution, but in Hawke’s Bay this is beginning to change.

In Napier especially a group of people have experimented

in ways which could have significance for the rest of the

country”. The following article Do Something, or Forget It

examines what was happening and the initiatives’ place at

the Downtown Y in more detail and the Moteo Youth Club;

examines what’s happening and the initiative’s place in

the future.

By offering places where youth could connect, learn

and grow, these ‘experiments’ were mostly successful, but

in time they faltered through lack of support and funding.

Most people interviewed said without support there was

little hope — heart breaking for all involved. These experiments

showed how early intervention can stop the march

to borstals and jail with the costs to the government and

society much less in the long run. Despite it all, McCracken

found Pat remained confident about the future. “…Pat

#PAT-SPEAK:

AWARENESS WAS

LACKING

The film Once We’re Warriors was around at

this time and its content was no surprise to our

rangatahi. Most Pakeha had no knowledge of Te

Tiriti O Waitangi and how colonisation and urbanisation

had affected Māori. There was much

trauma and following migration to the cities,

the public bar became the meeting place. Politicians

mostly responded by getting tough on

crime and building more prisons. There wasn’t

a lot of awareness but schools were teaching,

Ko Tahi Tataou, ‘We are one’.

Magill, who tends to see complete

answers in schemes

such as Hawke’s Bay Community

College planned for

next year [1975], in an urban

marae, or maybe, in a

professionally run YMCA”.

McCracken is obviously unfamiliar

with Pat’s strength

of optimism and his determination

to believe that

anything is possible.

Above: Chris and Pat Mill — Māori Warden legends in Ahuriri.


”Pat helped the Y become more racially tolerant,

and he led the way well before the general public

became aware of our social shortcomings”.

ross duncan

A THRIVING YMCA EVOLVES

by ross duncan — ymca colleague

My first recollection of Pat Magill goes back to the Rugby

Union days when he was chairman of the Hawke’s Bay

Rugby Union.

This was around 1968, when Guy Baillie was chairman

and Ray Whiteman as general secretary restarted the

Hastings YMCA after its building’s demise following the

1931 earthquake. I joined the Y when I was 12 and years

later Pat and I met again in the Methodist facilities opposite

the Hastings Opera House. I won a scholarship

to the Y Training facility at Homebush in Sydney in 1958

and then returned to become a youth worker for the

Hastings Y.

About this time Pat was working to re-establish the

Napier Y with Colin Coates as secretary, then Doug

Fraser and Jim Thorne on the board too. Under Pat’s

chairmanship for nine years, a thriving YMCA evolved.

With programmes shifting from central Napier to Latham

St, much innovative youth work was undertaken, especially

the creation of the Downtown Y, or more widely

known as “The Pub With No Beer”. This was an innovative

programme for youth with a strong emphasis on young

Māori people, and the Kel Tremain sponsored Taupo-to-

Napier walk to help raise awareness in this area.

Around this time Pat became actively involved in National

Y activities, becoming NZ chair for some time for

which he was made a life member, both locally and nationally.

It was at this time that Pat helped the Y become

racially more tolerant and he led the way well before the

general public became aware of our social shortcomings.

People like Denis O’Reilly, Mike McCallum, George

Briggs and Peter Darracott helped transition to a more

racially acceptable organisation under Pat’s guidance

and influence.

The Camp at Opotama was operating at this time and

Pat played a part in this venture and helped thousands

of Hawke’s Bay youth in their growing up process. Since

that time Pat has been a powerful driver of the multicultural

message and always works to get a better outcome

for the less privileged members of our society.

His message was so pragmatically brought home to me

when I sat beside him in the Wednesday court vigil and

witnessed the ruined lives and despair in our antiquated

judicial system.

Pat has been a power house in the Napier Pilot City

Trust, trying to lead Napier to be a kinder, fairer city, and

for our young ones, a Child Friendly City. Thanks Pat, for

taking us along on a part of your great journey — thank

you for the ride.

Ngaire and Ross Duncan at Pat’s 93rd at Kopupatiki Marae, in Clive; staunch, loyal supporters above and beyond.

80


PAT’S SPIRIT

CENTRAL TO THE

YMCA AT THE TIME

by paul le gros,

lawyer, nelson

President YMCA:1996 — 2006; 2009 — 2011

OH THE PLACES HE

WENT AND TOOK US

ALONG TOO

YMCA walkabouts — for the Downtown Y, numerous

Napier to Hastings walkathons, there were

two around Lake Waikaremoana, two hikoi from

Taupo to Napier, and numerous Te Araroa Offers

Hope hikoi.

For Pat, the YMCA was about supporting people

in change and he knew the environment was one

of the best facilitators for change. “I look at all our

walks as alternative Outward Bound schools. The

most needy I have ever met always respond to the

environment. You can see how the kids light up,

you can see that they’re inspired, invigorated and

restored by the roar of the sea. On our Downtown

Y walks we took mobsters’ wives, their children,

Iwi and Police on the long trail and after a while

you see surprising relationships develop. We took

Russian diplomats on the Taupo-Napier walk in the

early 1970s. We should be doing more of that. As

well as raising funds and awareness, they’re fun”.

I was appointed to the national board in 1978 or 1979. In

those days we had a large board of at least 20 people

and Pat was clearly a key player. He was one of those

people who had an immense influence on me as a

30-something trustee. He had a clear social heart and

he impressed me as someone who really lived the spirit

and humanity of what the YMCA was trying to achieve.

It’s very hard to express in words, or bottle up the little

essence of Pat. He had an amazing influence on the

YMCA at the time; the community programmes where

we worked with unemployed and started addressing a

variety of biculturalism issues that were coming to the

forefront.

Someone who also led us down that pathway was

Wally Hunt. I remember playing a game of cards with

them both in a Wellington hotel until all hours, probably

with a bit of Gin I would say, and that was a huge education

in life. Sadly, you lose touch with people but those

sort of memories linger on.

And of course Pat has continued his work, helping

people in need, and with the various walks he has arranged

for peace. I know this must have come at quite a

financial cost to him as well.

Thinking about the YMCA spirit that flows through

people like Pat, leads you to hope that there are still

some people around who want to follow those same

philosophies of caring for those in need, and through

inclusion, help build stronger communities.

In training for the YMCA Taupo to Napier fundraising walk in 1971, “Bodi” Reti, Te Otane Reti, Pat, Henei Reti and Pat Morton, stepping

it out along Westshore Beach; editor (the youngest walker) speaks to Ena Sharples of Coronation Street fame, at the Municipal

Theatre before the 100-strong team of walkers leaves for the five-day YMCA Taupo-Napier fundraising walk. Selwyn Toogood

officiates and soon after Kel Tremain spoke with Albert Tatlock. Heady days!


DRIVEN TO ANSWER NEEDS

by james barnes

I first met Pat Magill in 1971 when I moved from Gisborne

to Napier to start work at the Engine Rebuilders Parts

Department, which was right next to Magill Carpets on

Taradale Road. So, I have had the privilege of knowing

Pat for almost 50 years and have always seen him as a

mentor. (Jes Magill recently reminded me that the family

still refer to me as Pat’s fourth son!)

I came to Napier with experience in setting up a youth

club that operated out of the Gisborne YMCA. It was because

of this connection that I was introduced to Pat by

Ray Duncan, whose family owned Engine Rebuilders.

And as they say, “the rest is history”. So here is the history

…

Pat and I “clicked” straight away. Pat was president of

the Napier YMCA and had produced a city-wide survey

on youth services which was conducted by CEO Colin

Coates. While Coates produced an excellent study, Pat

was not confident he could implement its main finding

which was that there was a need for a place where under

privileged youth could meet in safety. With my experience

setting up a youth club, Pat asked me if I would

like to head up a team to open up a drop-in centre in

the old city library, upstairs on the corner of Hastings

and Tennyson Street, and so the Downtown Y was born

that year.

It was at the Downtown Y that I met people some

amazing people. I can’t remember all their names but

legends like Chris and Pat Mill, Wally Hunt, Wendy Lee,

Baeden Batt and Doug Fraser, stand out. We were all

volunteers and along with a host of other volunteers

who are all worthy of praise, we got on with each other

to establish a safe place for the youth of Napier to congregate.

The result was that in 1978 The Downtown Y

received a Governor General’s Citation and Pat received

an OBE in that years New Year’s Honours. Wally, Chris

and I used to joke that OBE was short for ‘other buggers

efforts’. I hasten to add that was said in complete

jest because we know how long Pat had campaigned

for the establishment of the Downtown Y and we were

just lucky to be in the right place at the right time to be

a part of it.

During the years that the DTY was situated in the old

library building, my association with Pat caused me a

little bit of grief with my employer, the Department of Social

Welfare. My commitment to Pat’s cause sometimes

irritated senior management and earned me the reputation

of being a maverick. I went to a meeting in Wellington

once and my reputation had preceded me. Pat used

to call me a ‘freak’, in a good way. No matter how much

the Department of Social Welfare tried to intimidate me

to follow the ‘rules’ I didn’t lose focus assisting Pat with

the Downtown Y.

Since those early days, I have kept in touch with Pat

and his family. It has been a privilege to support him with

regular donations in his commitment to establishing

Napier as a Pilot City for youth and Restorative Justice.

Pat came to my 70th birthday celebration a few years

ago in Gisborne which was put on by the YMCA to also

celebrate my 50-year involvement with the association.

And in a small way I have emulated my mentor’s track

record with the Y. We have both been presidents of a

YMCA (me in Wellington), both have been on the national

board and both are life members. I am proud of my

association with Pat because his lifelong commitment to

the causes he believes in, has had a major impact on my

life. His unrelenting drive in the face of many disappointments

is just so inspirational.

Kia kaha Pat, Arohanui

Gerry Gibbs, James Barnes and Pat Magill, at James’ 70th birthday celebration at the YMCA Gisborne.

82


THE POWER OF CONNECTION

by wendy lee

Following my teacher training in Auckland, I returned

to Napier at the beginning of the 70s, to teach at the

Onekawa Kindergarten, my first teaching position. I

came as a very enthusiastic and idealistic young person

with a strong sense of social justice developed through

involvement with the Kindergarten Teachers Association

and union politics.

I soon met Pat Magill, a Napier businessman, and was

struck by his deep sense of social justice. He was deeply

committed to Māori youth and the community of Napier

and he encouraged and supported me to become engaged

in the activities of the Downtown Y. This was to

have an enormous impact on my values and my life as

these were very formative years for me as a young person

learning about life and living in Napier.

Pat stood out because of his true commitment to local

community, his deep concern and interest in taking

action and his strong advocacy for change over issues

of violence and the need to reform the criminal justice

system. Each summer, as part of the YMCAs wider

programme, we would take young people from social

welfare homes on a five-day trek around Lake Waikaremoana.

This experience was transformative for us all.

While walking and camping in the native forest, we experienced

the feeling of calm and wonder that the natural

world brings. The power of hikoi, which has been one

of Pat’s central processes, was also evident. He always

understood the power of connection, and the importance

of bringing people together. The Waikaremoana

treks allowed us to talk deeply, to learn more about each

others lives, and through this, to know ourselves better.

We learned to better respect ourselves and the natural

world of which we are an integral part.

He kura tangata e kore

e rokohanga, he

kura whenua ka

rokohanga.

This whakataukī talks about the treasured passions

of men that are intangible and the treasures of the land

that are tangible. In a world where people and their possessions

have no permanence, the land remains as the

“He was unlike any other

businessman that I had

met. He challenged other

leaders in the community

to help find the resources

and if they couldn’t he

often contributed his

own. I know others of

his generation found this

challenging and some were

at times disparaging. But

this did not deter Pat”.

one possession, which never changes, nor is ever destroyed.

Pat put this whakataukī into action. Young people

were encouraged to learn about the natural world

around them and how this weaves together with Māori

belief about the interconnectedness of people and the

earth we all came from. All things are united through

mauri (life force) and the concept of hauora (total well-

Above: Wendy and friends travel north to Wairoa one weekend; to ancestral land for some. Access to valued local places is often

fundamental to building cultural identity.


“Pat had taught me that every

small move you make has the

power to influence”.

being and balance with nature) is paramount. Whanaungatanga,

where all people embrace each other through

the wider family relationships, extends to the physical

world such that people respectfully express kaitiakitanga

(guardianship) towards all living and physical things.

For many young people, particularly young people in

indigenous communities, access to valued local places

is often fundamental to building cultural identity (Hayward,

2012). Hayward stated that we all need local places

with which we identify before we can build empathy

with the places of others. A number of other studies have

confirmed that memories of a special place in nature experienced

in their childhood give young people a pool

of calm on which they can draw in difficult times. Pat

knew this in his bones and he found ways to strengthen

such links.

I remember one weekend, when a group of us went

north to Wairoa because it was the ancestral land for

some of the group. Pat lived these ideas and they formed

a central pillar to guide his actions whilst leading the

Napier YMCA. With such a visionary leader as Pat, a

man who took action and who was clearly an activist,

funding was never an issue. If we believed it was important,

Pat said he would find the resources and he did.

He was unlike any other businessman that I had met. He

challenged other leaders in the community to help find

the resources and if they couldn’t he often contributed

his own. I know others of his generation found this challenging

and some were at times disparaging. But this did

not deter Pat.

These early experiences with the Napier YMCA and

Pat shaped my values and how I saw the world. Later, I

endeavoured to put them into action myself. After a period

as a lecturer in Early Childhood Education at the

North Shore Teacher’s College in Auckland, I married

and moved to Rotorua where we lived in a relatively new

community, colloquially known as ‘Nappy Valley’. I was

appointed head teacher at the local kindergarten and

the kindergarten and school were the main/only community

facilities in the newly built housing development.

We were a community mainly of young families, with

Alvin Toffler:

“You’ve got to think

about the big things

while you’re doing the

small things, so that all

the small things go in

the right direction”

about 50% being

Māori and a high

proportion of state

housing. There

were few facilities.

No public transport,

no footpaths, and

many mothers and

children were isolated

while their husbands went to

work in the only car. As I began to

get to know my community and to think about what we

could do to change and improve our place, a group of

us formed a community association and began to walk

door to door to find out what the community needed.

I knew that we needed to think about the ideas that

Pat had driven forward and to struggle and keep going

no matter what. Pat had taught me that every small

move you make has the power to influence. If you hear

someone saying something you do not agree with … do

something, write a letter, a text, an email. Pat has continued

to do this for the last 80 plus years. So we challenged

the policies and priorities of the Rotorua District Council

by political action to firstly provide the community with

footpaths so mothers could walk to the kindergarten,

school or supermarket with their prams or push-chairs.

This initial action established the Aorangi Community

Above: Political action inspired by Pat’s modus operandi eventually helps establish the Aorangi Community Association in Rotorua.

84


Association. But Pat had taught me about the need to

think big as well as small. As Alvin Toffler said, “You’ve got

to think about the big things while you’re doing the small

things, so that all the small things go in the right direction”.

The community wanted a place to meet and to act as a

hub for community action and the provision of community

services. In essence, it wanted a ‘community house’.

Following Pat Magill’s lead, we started an action

campaign and wrote to the local council, convincing it

to sell us a surplus house for $10. The housing developers

were persuaded to provide a site for this, and a local

businessman helped move the house onto the site. The

community then used its local resources and volunteer

labour to turn the house into a community facility and

opened “Aorangi”.

Pat supported this Community Association in Rotorua,

and found the resources to completely carpet the

community house. Over the next decade, Aorangi became

a hub for a wide range of services and activities

within the community, including a public health nurse,

Māori language tuition, playgroups, adult education programmes,

youth employment programmes, women’s

camps, holiday and after-school programmes. It brought

the community together and strengthened connections

among its people, giving them a sense of belief in their

own ability to effect change. It exemplified the approach

and values that Pat had developed and utilised so well in

Napier and, in this sense, was a testament to his values

and community leadership.

Several years later, while in Scotland, I worked for the

Scottish Pre-School Association and found that many

women and families in the town where we lived were

also isolated and limited in what they could do. Through

organising womens camps (akin to the Waikaremoana

treks), we built stronger relationships, developed greater

confidence and found new respect for the power of

group action. Pat’s influence was here too.

He has had an enduring influence on me and I have no

doubt that he has influenced hundreds and thousands of

lives in this way. He also made us aware that we should

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed

citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only

thing that ever has.” This is a quote by Margaret Mead.

For me, Pat represents all that is good in the world. To

his very bones he has incredible integrity and a powerful

desire to fight for social justice. This drive and passion

has never been lost and I know will stay with him

forever. Pat Magill has emblazoned memories upon my

heart that will never be erased and that will continue to

guide my future.

SHINING A LIGHT

ON SOCIETAL

NEEDS

by ross tanner

I had moved to Wellington from Christchurch to take

up a new job in late 1971. The YMCA movement in New

Zealand was then a federation of local YMCAs, who

each sent delegates to a biennial conference. This conference

then discussed overall strategy for the movement

and made non-binding decisions about direction

and management, including levies to support the work

of a national office.

The biennial conferences elected a President for the

YMCA movement and ratified the appointment of a

Wellington-based national executive committee, which

was responsible for the overall management of the

national structure between biennial meetings. In mid-

1972 I was appointed to the Executive Committee of the

National YMCA, and became its chairman about 1975.

The first biennial conference of the YMCAs that I attended

was held at a conference center in Otaki over

a mid-winter weekend in 1973. That is where I first met

Pat Magill, who was the President of the Napier YMCA.

Pat was to become the National President of the YMCA

at the 1975 conference.

The YMCA movement had traditionally been an organization

that ran gymnastics and sport- related recreation

classes, school holiday camps, basketball, and

summer camps. But there was an increasing realization

that something different was needed to meet the

increasingly complex problems facing young people,

such as crime, substance abuse, family violence and

YMCA Hawke’s Bay: kids aim high.


homelessness. There was also a recognition that many of

the young people in greatest need were Māori.

Pat was a leader in bringing these new societal needs

and challenges to the attention of the national movement.

He spoke emotionally and forcefully at the 1973 conference,

supported by Wendy Lee. Others of us heard the

challenge and responded with interest. Together we envisaged

a new sort of YMCA engagement with communities,

while maintaining the baseline of existing programmes.

But others at the meeting were not convinced, and expressed

concern at the possibility of the revenue base of

their YMCA being eroded substantially if attention was allowed

to drift too far away from the traditional offerings.

The Auckland YMCA was a leader of that perspective.

Nevertheless, the die was cast. The diploma training

programme took root and developed. YMCAs began to

employ its graduates on staff to initiate and develop new

types of community activity. The national YMCA office itself

started to develop innovative ideas such as the RY-

DUM programme using mini motorbikes to attract youth

into structured activity. Detached youth workers became

part of the scene in several YMCAs.

I remained as the chair of the National Executive Committee

until mid-1981, when I left to study in the USA, so

I had a lot to do with Pat over those formative years. He

came to Wellington often to join in at executive meetings,

and also to talk with Peter Darracott and others on the national

staff. Pat had been part of the establishment of the

Downtown Y, a drop-in centre for Napier youth and also

its outreach programmes. He developed strong linkages

with local Māori, but also retained his involvement with

the RSA and often brought the two together. As National

President he was strongly supportive of the new initiatives

that Peter Darracott and others were implementing and

he travelled the country to visit other YMCAs to promote

them to boards and staff for take-up. He ran into resistance

in several places, not just Auckland, and ‘gave as good

as he got’—strongly talking about the societal problems

that needed addressing and promoting innovation and

change, while listening carefully to others’ points of view.

Pat’s contribution to the YMCA movement in New Zealand

has truly been enormous over the years that I was involved

with him. He has been an inspiration to the many people

he met in ‘the Y’, myself included, and I remain in awe of

his dedication and contribution over the years. Of course

his work has extended way beyond the YMCA itself, such

as his contribution to justice reform in New Zealand and

the Napier Pilot City Trust. My impression however is that

it was the Y that gave Pat the base for development of his

ideas and the initial opportunity to put them into practice.

AN UNFORGETTABLE

EXPERIENCE

by rob magill

In January 1972 the Napier YMCA organised a second

walk around Lake Waikaremoana, and because Pat was

involved with the YMCA, I was lucky to be one of the

50 walkers who enjoyed the mostly leisurely three to

four day circuit. Supplies and packs were transported

by boats, and we even had Napier MP Gordon Christie

as one of the cooks. We were a cross-section of people

of all ages, with time to get to know one another as

we walked the great outdoors. When we returned to our

respective homes afterwards, most of us would have

agreed that we’d experienced something very special.

Top: YMCA Hawke’s Bay, resting up before the next big challenge; Below: A breath-taking example of pristine native forest, and not

too far from Napier, is Lake Waikaremoana, in Te Urewera National Park. Pat organised two walks around the lake and many people

still talk about these experiences. They certainly must have been magical. Photo by Anne Johnston.

86


YMCA GISBORNE — A MODEL FOR NZ

by ceo leigh gibson

Pat reckons the YMCA Gisborne is a model of excellence

as to what YMCAs around the country could be and it

was recognised with a national award recently. “Like any

group that takes government funding though, there’s

the challenge of paying the piper. Six YMCAs around the

country are funded by TEC [Tertiary Education Commission].

The challenge is to remain honest to your own vision

while accepting funding to keep going. It’s always a

juggle”, he says. “Gisborne handles it well.”

YMCA GISBORNE CEO SHARES

WHAT’S WORKING WELL

YMCA Gisborne has seen strong governance under

your watch. What is your background and

what skills and strengths have you brought to the

role that have made a real difference?

My background with the YMCA started as an aerobics

instructor and I believed strongly in the purpose of the

YMCA to support community. While employed as a

legal executive I took on the role of governance at the

Gisborne YMCA for 15 years, eight years of which I was

president. We struggled to find the leadership to grow

and while I was on leave due to health issues, the board

moved to gift the assets of the Gisborne Y to the local

Council in payment of our debt of $50,000.

What is unique with Gisborne is that our constitution

has governing members, they are the members that are

eligible to be board members, but also keep the board

and their decision in alignment with the best interests of

the Gisborne YMCA. The governing members dismissed

our board and asked Maurie Rendle, ex Auckland YMCA

CEO to assist us. Maurie challenged the newly elected

board and myself, to put me into the CEO position to

grow the Y. At that time we employed 1.5 EFTs, generated

$100k turnover and operated no services. My first

task was to find the funding to pay my wage and to see

programmes and services implemented in the YMCA.

The start of our growth was being fortunate to be part of

the Open Polytechnic Lifeworks Education Programme.

At the end of that programme we were operating coaches

in-home for Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Bay of Plenty and

Waikato. We also operated Ministry of Social Development

Community Max Programmes assisting unemployed

young people into work experience, and operated

teams of six young people and a supervisor into

a free schools sport coaching service. At one stage we

had five teams operating into local schools every week.

Gisborne YMCA is known for achieving clarity

around programme creation and implementation.

What steps do you take to make sure you select

the right programmes and keep them on track?

We pride ourselves on listening to our community

around where there are gaps that impact significantly

on families, children and young people. For example,

we started supervised contact when Barnardos nationally

dropped the contract with Ministry of Justice. The

impact of family members not being able to have visits

with children and young people due to no providers being

able to deliver, was significant. Our board has people

that are working in community groups that assist us to

identify opportunities.

YMCA Gisborne introduced Lunches in Schools

just before Covid-19 broke out and you’re expanding

this service. What was involved and what do

you see as the future for this?

At the heart of the Gisborne YMCA is the belief that children

that are well fed, succeed in life. We commenced

providing all meals into our childcare centres 12 years

ago and included feeding children into our after school

and holiday programmes as well as our alternative education

students. As Gisborne is the highest deprived region

in NZ it was an easy decision to ensure children are

fed nutritional meals, as this could be their only healthy

meal of the day. When the school lunch service was trialled

in Gisborne at the beginning of 2020, we saw the

synergy of feeding healthy meals to students in schools.

The project involved employment of experienced qualified

chefs, kitchen hands and school lunch assistants,

the purchase of vehicles for the delivery of the lunches,

the development of two additional commercial kitchens

with chillers, bratt pans and capability to mass produce

healthy meals. The feedback has been significant from

the schools; they could see the change in behaviour of

the children within the first week, and that the children

were more settled in the afternoons and able to be engaged

in productive learning outcomes.


A good number of community development associations

around Aotearoa struggle to achieve

financial stability. What steps have you taken and

what forward planning is involved in keeping the

balance sheet solvent?

We review our financials at senior management meetings,

board meetings and financial quarterly reviews.

We set up monitoring systems to review that costings

are within budgeted expenditure. We continually challenge

ourselves to find the means to retain and care for

our employees, as well as maintaining financial sustainability.

In 2021 the Gisborne YMCA has adopted the living

wage minimum, which has increased all hourly rates

to $22.10 minimum, recognising that the living wage is

necessary for our employees’ quality of life. We have

also implemented 10 days sick leave entitlements to all

staff. This has increased our wage costs by $500k but

we still have a budgeted surplus for the year. We want

to be recognised for not only being a great employer but

also that we deliver quality services to our community

with a particular focus on children and young people.

YMCA Gisborne is one of the six YMCAs around

the country that runs funded courses for Tertiary

Education Commission (TEC). How do you deal

with balancing the specific requirements of running

TEC courses along with what YMCA Gisborne

sees as the needs on the ground?

We operate TEC funded literacy and numeracy programmes

to support young people who have failed at

school so they can eventually be employed. It fits in with

our holistic approach to supporting young people. We

also run Alternative Education classes for the same purpose,

to engage with young people who are not able to

be integrated into a normal school environment.

With more complex social issues today and fresh

challenges that test and challenge traditional

models of community development, how do you

keep Gisborne YMCA relevant?

By always adapting to meeting the changing needs of

our community; being proactive at looking at new initiatives

and building strong working relationships especially

with government departments. We have been

offering Breakaway government funded free holiday programmes

for over 12 years now and increased our youth

engagement from the contractual five weeks, 100 young

people; to running services 50 weeks of the year to keep

young people engaged and off the streets.

JAMES K BAXTER

COMES TO TOWN

Ralph Alexander from the Ahuriri Rotary invited

James K Baxter to come and talk at a meeting in

the mid-70s, which James K duly did, barefoot

and all. Whanganui River, James K and Jerusalem,

where the poet lived for many years, has a lot of

significance for Pat. Recently a group on a Te Araroa

Offers Hope hikoi spent some time on the river

and visited Jerusalem. Catherine and Pat often

explored the river too. They stayed at Jerusalem

many times and Catherine, a practicing Catholic,

was fascinated with Mother Aubert’s Daughters of

Our Lady of Compassion Home and school, established

in 1885 for orphans and underpriviledged

children.

NEW ZEALAND

by james k. baxter

(for Monte Holcroft)

These unshaped islands, on the sawyer’s bench,

Wait for the chisel of the mind,

Green canyons to the south, immense and passive,

Penetrated rarely, seeded only

By the deer-culler’s shot, or else in the north

Tribes of the shark and the octopus,

Mangroves, black hair on a boxer’s hand.

The founding fathers with their guns and bibles,

Botanist, whaler, added bones and names

To the land, to us a bridle

As if the id were a horse: the swampy towns

Like dreamers that struggle to wake,

Longing for the poets’ truth

And the lover’s pride. Something new and old

Explores its own pain, hearing

The rain’s choir on curtains of grey moss

Or fingers of the Tasman pressing

On breasts of hardening sand, as actors

Find their own solitude in mirrors,

As one who has buried his dead,

Able at last to give with an open hand.

88


THE COMMUNIST SPEAKS

Do not imagine I could not have lived

For wine, love or poetry,

Like the rich in their high houses

Walking on terraces above the sea.

But my heart was caught in a net

Woven out of strands of iron

By the bleak one, the thin one, the basket ribbed Coolie

and rickshaw boy

Who has not learnt the songs that ladies like,

Whose drink is rusty water,

Whose cheek must rest on a dirty stone,

In whose hands lie the cities of the future.

HIGH COUNTRY

WEATHER

Alone we are born

And die alone

Yet see the red-gold cirrus

over snow-mountain shine.

Upon the upland road

Ride easy, stranger

Surrender to the sky

Your heart of anger.

Photos on right by Anne Johnston: Above, a tribute to Mother

Aubert in Jerusalem; Jerusalem Village from the Whanganui

River; decorative panels at St Joseph’s Church in Jerusalem;

the mighty Whanganui River curls past the village. Above left:

The River Flows, by Rahabi Khan.


90

Hawke’s Bay Community College – it worked! So what happened?

chapter ten

HAWKE’S BAY

COMMUNITY COLLEGE

IT WORKED! SO WHAT HAPPENED?

A TIME OF ENLIGHTEN-

MENT — HB COMMUNITY

COLLEGE 1975 — 1985

John Wise, the former head of Community Education

at the Hawke’s Bay Community College

from 1976 until 1990, says the decade between

1975 and 1985 was an exciting period of “learning

and prototyping”. At the time, he said the college

was the first of five such pilot tertiary institutions

and the college’s clear mandate was to give life to

the fundamental belief that learning is a life-long basic

human right for all.

“It was an era of proud community ownership and

courageous educational innovation with unparalleled

community participation. Individuals, organisations

and communities across Hawke’s Bay were

discovering (or rediscovering) both the potential

and the pleasure that comes from learning”.

Below, John recalls the story of the college during

this significant time.

Image above: Hawke’s Bay Community College, Otatara,

outskirts of Taradale, Hawke’s Bay. 1976 — fresh pastures

for building a new way in community education. Image

courtesy Whites Aviation Ltd; Opposite: Artwork courtesy

Tamatea High School Art Department.

A UNIQUE DRIVING

FORCE

by dr john harré —

first hbcc director of the hbcc

From the very beginning

of the establishment of

Hawke’s Bay Community

College I worked closely

with Pat Magill, recognising

that he was a unique driving

force in the development

and implementation of programmes

to support disadvantaged

youth — particularly

Māori.

He was the inspiration for much of the innovative work

undertaken by the college in supporting the needs of

youth in Hawke’s Bay. The Downtown Y, The Pub With

No Beer and the creation of Napier as a Pilot City were

all initiatives of Pat’s which transformed Napier into a

place which cared about its youth and their problems.

Pat committed his all to the well-being of Napier’s youth

and he set us all an example of unparalleled community

service. Thank you Pat.

Hawke’s Bay Community College – it worked! So what happened? 91

AN EDUCATIONAL ADVEN-

TURE — THE COLLEGE OPENS

When the Hawke’s Bay Community College opened in

February 1975 it was a product of its times. The preceding

decade was one of radical social and educational

change driven by a number of influential forces:

• movement education swept the world

• UNESCO focused globally on promoting education

methods that would meet the needs of all adults

• and at home, the Kirk/Rowling Labour Government

(1972 — 75) had committed itself in its election

manifesto to expand community-based learning

The Labour Government fulfilled this commitment by

implementing a package of innovative social and educational

policies which aligned closely with UNESCO’s call

to action. Among them, a new kind of tertiary institution

— the community college; an institution “designed to

meet continuing education needs in provincial centres

particularly, that would incorporate adult and community

education on an equal footing with vocational education,

and set out to achieve increased representation

from groups traditionally under-represented in postschool

education.”

At the opening, Dr John Harré, the college’s first director,

spoke of his vision: He saw the college as “an

opportunity to put into practice his beliefs about community

development and the total involvement of the

adult population in the educational process”. He saw

the college as “an alternative type of tertiary institution

that would ignore the traditional boundaries…….to be

a place for people irrespective of their social, ethnic or

educational background”. Later, in an interview with the

Daily Telegraph he is quoted as saying, “We should have

people who are still at school, in mid-career and retired,

to break down the idea that education is only study in

a classroom rewarded with a certificate. I want to push

out into the community, not suck everyone up into a set

of buildings. Many of the drop-outs from education left

because they could not get on within a formal structure.

The last thing I want to do is impose yet another formal

structure on them”.

Like minds but different, Pat and John Harré on social justice

safari together; John Wise captions his cartoon: “The early

days were difficult at times”.

FROM VISION

TO REALITY

Wow! It’s easy to understand why Pat was attracted

to the idea of such an institution. His years of personal

commitment to the ‘forgotten people’ had found

a powerful ally, and, quite properly, he was quick to

see and pursue the possibility of on-the-ground support

for his community development work.

Pat was appointed to the College’s first (Interim)

Council, 1975-77 and I have no doubt that, over and

beyond this period, his pragmatic “foot-soldier” approach

and his extensive community networks inspired

the college council to support the implementation

of (then) innovative community development

processes.

No pressure! In 1976 there were just four full-time

community education staff. Unhelpfully, the Department

of Education was insisting (quite inappropriately),

on a minimum number of registered, fee-paying

students in each class so that we could generate

enough “student-hours” to get our funding. And lots

of people were upset because they wanted a university

— and it wasn’t even a polytechnic! “And why

92


Napier Daily Telegraph - 27 November 1977

Napier as the “social experimental

centre of New Zealand” where

problem areas in human relationships

can be studied was the theme

of a panel discussion recently

among experts at the Hawke’s Bay

Community College. One panellist,

Dr John Robson, who is a former

Secretary for Justice, thought . . .

The panellists invited have made distinctive contributions

in their fields.

Dr John Robson is now head of the criminology

department of Victoria University.

Dr Douglas Bray, professor of educational at Massey

University, has done sociological field studies in the

Napier area.

Dr John Harre is director of the Hawke’s Bay

Community College and a former professor of

anthropology.

Dr Vivian Cooper is a Napier jaw and face surgeon

who has observed closely the disadvantaged people

in the Napier area.

Napier - the

one place to

offer hope

Mr W. Te Moana, a Maori educational adiser, stood

in at short notice for the Race Relations conciliator,

Mr H Dansey. Questionamaster was the editor of

The Daily Telegraph

The brief put to the panel was: That Napier could become

the social experimental centre of New Zealand

where race relations will naturally play an important part.

An audience of about 100 listened to the panel, during a

discussion of an hour and a half. A précis of what they

heard is recorded herewith

was there no water-colour class this term?” “And were

we going to steal the high schools’ night classes?” The

task felt overwhelming and we didn’t know where or

how to begin!

Firstly, the community education department would

resist the temptation to second-guess community learning

wants and needs. We would need to learn appropriate

ways and means of engaging with our diverse

communities, for example with Tangata Whenua, with

communities of interest, communities of need, of location,

age, faith, ethnicity; communities of the ‘traditionally

under-represented in post-school education’.

We needed to take a breath, get off the college campus

and start listening, start paying attention. Many

communities appreciated and embraced these opportunities

to meet and talk. As did the college.

The process itself delivered many lessons, for example,

the importance of talking ‘with’, not ‘to’; the power of

community conversations, stimulating ideas and identifying

community resources to create new community

solutions. The power of this insight was a shared gamechanger,

showing us that working together, we can create

the road to improved personal and community lives.

Each of us, individually and collectively, holds the key

to our own learning…..to our own future. Together as a

The writings of Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu, seemed apt for the educational creators of the Hawke’s Bay Community College as

they established a place for community learning. Drawing by John Wise.


community we have a richness of experience, knowledge

and skills to share.

Within the community education department and

gradually throughout the college, the traditional institutional

way of doing things evolved into more inclusive,

more collaborative processes with outcomes we previously

could only have dreamt about. I recall having discussions

about these developments with Pat. “I’ve been

telling you that!” he said with that wry smile. He had.

In fact, very early in the piece, Pat had proposed that

the college appoint community-based ‘conversationalists’

to nurture closer college-community relationships

with the Maraenui community. This fitted our re-set well

and after discussions with the appropriate agencies;

community-based appointments were made in youth

development, parenting skills and youth unemployment.

These appointments greatly enhanced the college-community

relationship, leading to the establishment of the

Maraenui Learning Centre.

Growth in demand for all manner of personal and

community learning programmes was such that within

three years the community education department had

“You have arrived at a

remarkable answer to local

needs in community education”.

russell marshall,

minister of education, 1984 — 1987

expanded from its initial 4 full-time, 8 part-time tutors

to 27 full-time tutors and close to seventy experienced

part-time tutors on the register. In Term 1 alone, there

were 120 learning events (courses, workshops, community

planning meetings, conferences and seminars etc.),

with total “enrolments” exceeding 6,000. And, what’s

more, community education was paying its way.

The college’s increasing capacity to engage with its

many communities confirmed the level of mutual trust

that was developing between us. Over the first decade,

the range of off-campus and campus-based activities

grew by the week. Many were one-off events which in-

Above: A cynical response from John Wise to the notion that LEARNING FOR LIFE would, on its own, make continuing education

available to all.

94


spired further learning and in some cases, new organisations.

For example, the Napier Pilot City Trust grew

from such an event. (See article on page 93.)

In the following years to 1985, additional community

learning centres were opened in Waipukurau, Hastings

and Dannevirke (REAP — Rural Education Activities

Programme). The college had also received requests for

off-site centres from Maraes in Tangoio, Petane and Te

Haroto.

There would rarely be a weekend when facilities

were empty. At the opening of the Hetley Building in

1979, John Harré commented on the “dramatic growth”

in community education. He said “The diversity of our

community is reflected in the diversity of those who use

the college. At one time earlier this year, Black Power

members were screen printing arm bands and posters

for their convention while members of the Taradale Pakeke

Lions printed their presentation banners and engineers

and accountants were receiving their training

nearby. The community college is itself a community — a

community as diverse as that which surrounds it.”

At the 1985 10th anniversary celebrations, Russell

Marshall, the Minister of Education, said “You have arrived

at a remarkable answer to local needs in community

education.”

John Harré resigned in September 1985. The winds

of change were getting pretty gusty. It was time for a

change too and John took a senior role at AIT (now

AUT), co-ordinating special programmes. His decade of

inspirational leadership of the college had enabled a demonstrable

transformational leap forward in continuing

and community education practice.

But the already chilly southerly winds of political

change were to gather speed and force. Over the next

five years the college was to experience another transformation.

This time a transformation driven by economic

policies that would change the character, vision and

purpose of the college, and, in the process, substantially

dismantle affordable and accessible community learning

programmes.

So, yet again and at a time when economic and social

issues were causing high levels of personal and community

anxiety, the majority of the community were denied

their right to learn and grow.

However, looking on the bright side, there are some

positives to be thankful for. One of them is Pat — a force

for change. I deeply appreciate his wisdom, his unwavering

support and his loyalty through both the good

and the difficult times. His tireless commitment to improving

the lives of so many in Hawke’s Bay is legendary.

TIMELINE —

HB COMMUNITY COLLEGE

1975 — 1985

• 1972 — 1975: very supportive Labour

Government and Department of Education

• 1975 — October: a National Muldoon

Government is elected

• 1976 — 1980: Rapid expansion of community

education programmes, on and off campus. GDP

falling, unemployment rising, HB hit particularly

hard with closing of Whakatu Freezing works

• 1980 — 1982: Government focuses on

employment creation and regional think-big

projects. It decrees that Community education

is “less productive than vocational education”

and imposes “user-pays” rules for all Community

Education learning activities. Community

Education fees are increased substantially.

Unemployment peaks at 14% and the majority

affected are Māori and Pacifica.

Demand for community education classes and

other community-based activities continues to

increase, with a strong emphasis on art/craft

job creation, personal development, human

relationships, stress management, women’s

studies, counselling, volunteer community work

training, adult literacy and numeracy, parenting,

community solutions, work trusts, etc..

• 1983: Government changes funding formula

for polytechnics and community colleges. Big

impact on community education.

• 1985: Dr Harré resigns his position as director of

HBCC and takes up a role at ATI. Labour Party

wins election, David Lange becomes PM.

• 1987: College renamed Hawke’s Bay

Polytechnic. Tertiary education sector to target

vocational/professional training. Nationally

there is a rapid, continuous expansion of fulltime

courses and a rapid decline in community

education programmes.


Top: Pilot City Trust think tank back in the day, Bev Barron, Pat and John Harré; Middle: Pat makes a presentation at the former HB

Community College, now EIT; Bottom: Susan and Franz Muller arrived in Ahuriri from Germany in 1976 and became firm friends with

Pat soon after. In 2000 Franz enrolled at Te Whare Takiura o Kahununu/EIT in Te Manga Māori to study for a BA in Māori, and studied

under kaumatua, the Reverend Matiu Eru and other kaiako. The korero with Pat, Franz and Susan was always around the importance

of honouring the Treaty of Waitangi and strengthening community networks, instead of depending on prisons to solve its problems.

96


BEGINNING OF THE END

by jes magill

The college had become a “testament to inspired thinking

and community participation”, said John Harré. “It

was working”, cried Pat, and they weren’t the only ones

lamenting what looked like the ushering in, of a cold,

hard new world, as it dismantled a model that inspired

many new communities within the one, all focused on

learning.

It definitely was the end of an era when the college

was renamed the Hawke’s Bay Polytechnic. There was a

lot of protest from some in the community, at the ‘about

face’; the new broom sweeping away so much of what

had been gained by so many in the community. Dozens

of Black Power members formed a hikoi from Waiohiki

to the campus, to register their displeasure. They performed

a haka there which from every account was

powerfully poignant.

Maryan Moss, in her book on the HBCC titled Coming

of Age refers to the winds of change that started to blow

through during the early 80s, affecting the community

education landscape.

“Since the opening of the Community College in 1975,

great changes have occurred in education. An institution

which began by providing learning at minimal cost,

may have become “market driven” — and there are many

who question this economy — but the essential vision

with which the community college was conceived has

not been lost. The polytechnic remains a place where

those who seek increased learning and understanding

are stimulated to discover them.”

Make of that what you will, but the reality is that certain

sectors were cut out, again, from affordable, accessible

education opportunities. Looking back at the formation

of the college and the mandate that it had, to

truly serve the needs for community education; to see

the change coming, to a more market-driven, less community-focused

strategy would have been disappointing,

even heart-breaking for some.

PAT SUMS UP 1985 IN 2021

“The HBCC was successful, with its community based

education, including wānanga on maraes throughout

Ngati Kahungunu and on the streets of Maraenui. The

college had reached out into the community and the

community responded. John Harré was an excellent principal

under often difficult circumstances.

“John had a philosophy of egalitarianism — that education

should be available to all, and during his tenure at

the college he saw his philosophy become reality. It was

a huge job. He worked hard, achieved a lot in 11 years

and created a legacy to be proud of”.

So, things change. Governments, philosophies, mindsets

and ‘trends’ evolve with new styles of learning and

purpose of education. That seems to be life. One thing

that will never change though, is the model of community

education excellence that the Hawke’s Bay Community

College team created and the success it achieved

in that golden era of enlightenment, between 1975 and

1985.

Perhaps these trailblazers can take heart in an adapted

quote, apologies to Alfred Lord Tennyson; “It is better

to have created and succeeded, than never have created

at all”.


To the students

from Tamatea High

School Art Department who

so generously allowed the Magill

Whānau to reproduce your work

in Leading From the Front; Nga mihi

nui. This book has been created with

social justice at its essence and

with the driving motivation, to

see Ahuriri become a kinder,

fairer city, especially for our

tamariki.

98

Maraenui – by whānau for whānau, anything is possible

chapter eleven

Maraenui — BY

WHĀNAU FOR WHĀNAU,

anything is possible

Pat’s connection with Maraenui began in 1965

when the YMCA moved into the premises of a

former milk treatment plant on the fringe of the

‘Nui’ in Latham Street. He soon got to know the area and

its people well. As his father did before him, Pat felt a

connection with the Tangata Whenua; he had empathy

for where they were at and the challenges they’d faced

and are still facing, under colonisation and urbanisation.

“They’re warm and generous regardless”, says Pat.

As a community Justice of the Peace for 32 years, he

has attended Napier Court sessions in a volunteer support

role most Wednesdays for years and there he witnesses

week after week the stark reminders of the needs

in Maraenui.

“It will be a great day when Tangata Whenua can have

a go at self-determination again and that day will come

when we honour the Treaty of Waitangi. When our own

history is being taught in schools starting next year,

when the nation knows our own history, then Tangata

Whenua will be free to determine their reality in a way

that supports them”.

Since the middle of 2020 Pat has been an even more

familiar, friendly face around Maraenui Shopping Centre.

His deep connection with Maraenui is another example

of how he walks his talk, consistently raising and maintaining

public awareness around inequity in the community,

which is one of the three Pilot City Trust goals.

Opening up another ‘branch office’ of the Pilot City

Trust outside The Pie Man in the shopping centre, there’s

no way you can miss him. It’s an ideal spot for foot traffic,

a lot of people stop and chat, and Pat usually shouts

a coffee and a pie. “Being on the street is the best thing

you can do, just being there, listening to people and finding

out ways to help”.

The Pie Man outreach has doubled in people power

and expanded its services recently, with Lisa Rattray

joining the team. Several of his shipmates top up his

café account so he and Lisa can offer maanikitanga

trust-style.

The new Maraenui office joins Pat’s first “branch” at

Poppies Café in Hastings St, Napier, which has been

open for years now. Right next door to the Napier Court

House, Pat has had hundreds of koreros and coffee over

the years.

Opposite: Artwork from Tamatea High School Art Department; Above: The hugely successful Koha Shed in Longfellow Ave; Pat and

new Pilot City Trust foot soldier Lisa Rattray, sharing whānau advice at The Pie Man “office” at Maraenui Shopping Centre.

Maraenui – by whānau for whānau, anything is possible 99

INTRODUCING PAT’S

PILOT CITY TRUST OUTREACH

Roger Cathro, The Pie Man himself, opened his bakery in

Maraenui three years ago. Below he shares his journey,

getting to know Pat — this intriguing, popular community

figure who has become quite a fixture with his unconventional

‘business plan’: to talk to as many people as he

can, demonstrate that someone cares, and see what can

be done to help. Beneath it all there’s the consistent call

for a kinder, fairer, child friendly city.

Roger, can you tell us how this story unfolded.

It just sort of happened. Pat started turning up randomly,

sitting out the front, chatting with people, shouting them a

coffee and something to eat, and then I guess he saw potential

in it. He asked me if I minded him setting up properly,

and I was like, oh, well he was already doing it anyway.

So I was like carry on, no problem. Then Pat started

coming more frequently, he’s a bit of a crusader isn’t he?

Absolutely. Pat’s always smiling and talking to people

and smiles are contagious so it’s always going to lift the

energy in the area. That’s always a good thing.

What were your initial thoughts when Pat set up

his street office?

You can see that he has a lot of passion and he’s devoted

to the people of Maraenui. Our initial thoughts were, if he

wants to do it, let him go and we’ll just watch with interest.

He knows a lot of people, they stop and talk to him

and it’s been really good.

Do you think he’s making an impact?

I believe he is. It’s obviously going to be just small

steps though. it’s not an easy thing, what he’s trying to

achieve. It’s tough, it’s huge and uphill but you’ve got to

start somewhere.

Has he made a difference to the vibe around the

place?

Is he good for business?

Definitely. He buys people food and encourages them

to sit down and talk about their lives. He helps where he

can and encourages a meeting place. While they’re here

they buy too. It’s a collaboration. It’s win-win.

Have you named a pie after Pat?

No, I don’t think it would be a typical thing for the area.

Have you ever been involved in anything like this

before?

No. It has been a lot of watching and learning. Pat explains

a few things and we learn more about him and his

history and what he’s done over the years. We’re probably

still scratching the surface but we do know he’s a

very sharp and shrewd old businessman!

Above: Outside The Pie Man in Maraenui, there’s now a community hub. Frequent friendly faces are Pat, Martyka (Marty) Brandt,

Roy on work experience, and the Pie Man himself, Roger Cathro. Right: Pat is part of the urban, social Maraenui landscape.

100


Sallie

kindly gifted

Maraenui Green

to Pat’s art auction in

honour of the conservation

work he has carried out over

the decades, along with that

of the late Isabel Morgan,

another inspirational

conservationist.

MARAENUI GREEN

by sallie m dunford

Maraenui Green is part of an original design presentation

that a group of artists made to Napier City Council

back in 2012. A series of eight murals were installed

around the new Maraenui playground, at times an area

unsafe for children. A lot of healing energy was included

in each piece and I realise that my role now, as an artist

spending a lot of time in the Nui for more than a decade,

is more than simply using a paintbrush.

Over three months, myself and other artists and creatives

spent time with a core group of kids, many tamariki

and rangitahi, and police each week, designing this

project with them, and for the community. We worked

creatively with council members and even the skate

park designs started to evolve from that time.

I had the honour to spend time in all the kohanga reos

and kindys and schools in Maraenui to co-create this

piece. I have had a whānau connection there since I was

a child and I feel I weave my mahi subtly, through my

heart space and through art.

Eight panels stood when we completed the project,

representing the elements of earth, air, fire, water and

other powerful messages from our future leaders, our

tamariki. The paua in the piece represents harmony

and also references the iwi of Ngati Kahungnunu; pohutukawa

is the tree of life; and koro and frangipani are

for the two cultures strongly represented in Maraenui,

Māori and Samoan. The Māori kite refers to the heights

teachers can guide tamariki to, to reach the baskets of

knowledge. The flax and woven mat speak to how we

weave together as one, and the natural resources of flax

can be used as tools when cared for by us as kaitiaki. Te

Whāriki is the early childhood curriculum that I have advocated

for, and been inspired by, for my mahi for more

than a decade.

Like Pat, I am passionate about the community of

Maraenui and he has always been in and out of community

spaces that I visit. He always has a smile for me

and a warm word. There’s not much else we need in this

world but to be acknowledged and appreciated and I

feel he does that in a moment.

Above and right: Maraenui Green and Heart; two works by cultural artist, Sallie M Dunford.


KIDS TEACH DAD HOW TO LOVE

On the surface, Martyka Brandt is an anomaly. Marty —

aka Skin or Mad Marty — was a member of the Christchurch

Mongrel Mob in 1975 and a founding member of

Mighty Mongrel Mob Aotearoa in Christchurch, 1979.

(The Aotearoa Mighty Mongrel Mob chapter was founded

a year earlier in 1978 by Gypsy in the North Island).

Marty’s a Pakeha with Hungarian heritage, he gave up

the booze and drugs years ago and he’s still a patched

Mob member. “I used to drink every day and all night

until I got my kids but I stopped for them, and haven’t

had a drink since”, he says.

Living in Maraenui in the mid-80s at the time, Marty

gave up his signwriting business and speedway racing

to be the main caregiver to his four children. “Even

though she tried, the mother of three of my kids couldn’t

let go of drugs and alcohol so I became a solo dad. Social

Welfare gave me the children and never checked in

on me. I had to do everything myself but I found it all

common sense really”.

Marty’s the first to say that his kids saved him as a

person and in the process of parenting, he discovered

he was a natural, and applied through CYPS and Open

Home Foundation in Hastings to look after six more children.

To have the best chance of raising his kids in a healthy

environment Marty shifted the family to Tamatea. They

moved into a four-bedroom Housing NZ property which

was their home base for 19 years and for a time Marty

served on the board of trustees at the local school. “At

the time Tamatea had a different life-style than the Nui

and I wanted the kids away from the party scene, as well

as myself. I managed to keep my kids away from drugs

and alcohol and bring them up with the right morals. To

give your kids a chance to survive, you have to. I’ve always

wanted to write a book and I’d call it Turning Point,

because at a certain point that’s it — you go one way

or the other. Any kid will want to experiment but if the

morals are there they’ll come through. My kids made the

right choices and they’re in Oz now earning big money,”

says one proud father.

Back in 2013 Marty’s parenting skills were so wellknown

he was asked to run a programme for DOVE

Hawke’s Bay Family Violence Protection for a year or

so. “Initially the police or iwi wouldn’t let us put the brochures

in their windows but when they saw how successful

the programme was they got on board.”

Moving back to Maraenui seven years ago Marty’s

feeling proud and excited about the positive things going

on there now. “Media never picks up on the positives,

they always focus on the negatives. In terms of the Mongrel

Mob a lot more of the members are working, they’re

into fitness, going to the gym and they have two rugby

league teams that are doing well. A few have come off

P, some by themselves and some through initiatives. It’s

slow change but things are definitely changing.”

Whanau Transformation Wananga is one of the initiatives

Marty’s referring to and it’s turning lives around.

(See page 104.) The first wananga was held for 40 people

in November last year at Te Oranga Pumanawa in

Maraenui and a second course for another 40 people

was held at Waiohiki. The buzz around its impact is all

over the ‘Nui.

“My Bro’s who’ve done the course were taught using

Māori values and they’ve done wonders coming off P.

They were skinny as anything and now they’re into fitness.

They’re role models for others — it’s incredible”.

In the top left picture, inset, Marty and his three sisters, top right inset, daughter Tania-Marie, main photo, with Marty from left

are his children, Tynesha-Marika, Nikita and Martika; middle, Marty, Pat and granddaughter Jerri Magill catch up at The Pie Man,

Maraenui; Marty at a Mongrel Mob Christmas party for the tamariki at Eskdale Park.

102


AWARD-WINNING FILM ON MARTY’S

REDEMPTION GOES GLOBAL

When New York-based, Havelock North-raised filmmaker

Tom Gould was visiting Hawke’s Bay back in 2013 he saw

an article in the local paper promoting the DOVE programme

that Marty was presenting. Tom knew immediately

this was a story that needed to be told.

Gaining permission from Marty and DOVE he made a

start on the project. For an eight- minute long movie titled

Skin — Go Deep with this New Zealand Gang Member,

its impact was huge, sending ripples out globally for the

powerful, heart-wrenching redemption story that it shares.

Nominated for the New Zealand Film Awards in 2013 Skin

won the Short Films category and on one website in England

the film has received three million comments.

When you discover Marty’s backstory it’s a miracle that

redemption was even possible. Admitted by his mother to

a mental institution when he was 14, he was in and out of

boys’ homes and mental institutions during the 70s, even

Lake Alice. “A lot of people don’t realise, everywhere you

went in these places, there was abuse. The government

and society created us really. You learnt that you couldn’t

trust anybody and you had to get tough to survive”.

Living on the streets for a while, he eventually found a

whānau with the Mongrel Mob. Years in the gang scene

with plenty of drugs, alcohol and mayhem followed until

he was forced to make a choice — become a solo dad to

his kids, or lose them. Marty chose to become a better

father and he’s never looked back.

“My children saved me as a person but it was hard at

first. I’d never hugged or been loved. I was like an iceberg,

a solid rock. I first had to learn how to hug them and

then learn how to love them, and they showed me how.

My whole journey of bringing up the children was just an

amazing discovery of myself.

For a short film Skin has impacted so many people and

helped a lot of other people change as well. “People keep

telling me that what I’ve done is great but to me I’m just

doing my job. I believe if you have children you have a

responsibility, to clothe and feed them and give them a

chance in life. It’s as simple as that. You see so many who

can’t do that though, they put themselves first. I was the

opposite.”

Marty’s involvement in the Mob these days is pretty low

key and he supports all the positive things that are happening.

Asked how this responsible, sober family man fits

in with the Mob, “There’s no issue at all”, he replies. “They

like all the positive stuff.”

Like anywhere, lurking in the shadows of those glimmers

of hope there are of course, still challenges. Marty

has a suggestion though, “Let’s concentrate on the positive

stuff — that makes better communities for everybody”.

BIG P PROBLEMS

The stark dangers around drugs and the destruction

they bring to communities are still very real.

“P is a huge problem. I know a lot of people who

want to come off it but they can’t. Some can do it

themselves but most can’t and when P is cheaper

and easier to get than cannabis, that’s a really big

problem.

“The police keep busting the dealers on the street.

They take millions off gangs who are dealing in P

but that does nothing, meth still flows in. They’ve

got to go from the top to the bottom, not start at the

bottom, that’s not achieving anything. There needs

to be more prevention and rehabilitation to help

people get off drugs. That’s the only way you can

tackle it and there’s not enough of it”.

More consistent support is needed for successful

programmes too, according to Marty: consistent

support for successful initiatives that help create

healthier communities. Case in point, he lost the programme

at DOVE because of a management change,

and this one really was making a difference. Luckily

he didn’t lose any income — he wasn’t being paid.

Marty is grateful that 46 years ago he discovered

a passion for racing stock cars. Everything, from

making and fixing cars, to racing them on the track,

and taking the kids along too — gives him a buzz.

He’s had successes and sponsors too; Hell’s Pizza

Napier came on board at one stage. Marty’s selfstyled

rehab has kept him off the drugs and given

his kids a better life too.

“After I straightened myself out I’ve always taught

everyone that you don’t need drugs. You can get a

natural high from a lot of things. For me, that high

comes from speedway and also my signwriting

work”. Most people have their vices or addictions

and these days Marty’s are nicotine and coffee. He

understands addiction and doesn’t condemn hard

drug users but he’s the first to praise anyone who

wants to come off it and change. “Anyone can do

anything if they’re determined”.


SOMETHING GOOD’S

HAPPENING HERE

There’s a lot of buzz going on around Maraenui these

days and chances are it’s inspired by Whānau Transformation

Wānanga. This personal development journey

and a huge source of life arrived in Maraenui in November

last year. The initiative — a collaboration between

Ngarino Te Waati of Māori Movement, Theresa O’Brien

from Angel Promotions and funded by Napier City

Council — saw 40 people embark on a 10 week course

that literally transformed their lives.

The message and kaupapa of wānanga practise are

very powerful, and the effects are being felt right through

the community. Marty spoke of it earlier, and just about

everyone else is too. A second course for another 40

people was held in Waiohiki earlier this year, with Council

and MSD support. (Word spread so strongly about

the impact of the wānanga that 90 people wanted to

sign up.)

According to Ngarino, a lot of what wānanga has to offer,

stems from the healing element specifically focused

on inter-generational trauma. “A lot of our whānau are still

working through the impacts of colonisation, which has

affected their whakapapa and up bringing, and contributes

to a large percentage of Pākeha perceived poverty.

There’s a loss of connection and a wide range of issues

that stem from cultural suppression to their Identity”.

Theresa says people are responding really well to the

wānanga, “They’re feeling stronger, so much brighter

and the really good thing is that these benefits, these

shifts, are being taken into the homes and communities

of our people. To date Ngarino has facilitated over

130 wānanga and his skills and perception as a facilitator

are unique. He was brought up in a sacred space of

learning and raised by elders and teachers of traditional

wānanga concepts in what seems to be a very rare and

unique experience to non-Māori raised in the systemic

world view.

“When the Tohunga Suppression Act was passed in

1907 the kuia kaumātua seeded the knowledge in the

mokopuna and nurtured, cultivated and harvested the

knowledge and wisdoms in the Māori language. Over

time the calling of certain atua would reveal a skill set

which would eventually trigger your potential into a gift.

How you applied your gift and your teachings would be

your responsibility and would have a major effect in your

whānau and community life, which also meant good

health and well-being for your circle.”

The wānanga, for males and females, involves a 10

week transformational journey and the challenge is

for people to maintain the shifts that occur during the

course, and take those back into the home.

“Good numbers of gang members have signed up to

the wānanga and we’ve felt honoured and privileged

to engage them. Using the principle of Te Whare A-io,

which is the major unique point of difference with the

wānanga, we’re able to help lift them up. There’s a ripple

going through the brotherhood and it’s powerful and

exciting. And when we’re able to help the whole whānau

unit, when we get everyone on board, that’s where the

game changes”, says Ngarino.

Through these wānanga Theresa has gained a much

deeper insight into the values of Te Whānau Whero

(Mongrel Mob). “Gangs are always stigmatised but beyond

it all they want the same things as us, to be loved

and for their whānau to thrive”.

“To help bring tangible shifts and change to Māoridom

and the community through wānanga, taking things

back to Te ao Māori is the way. To achieve that, continuity

of funding is really important. We’d like to see government

departments, councils and community stakeholders

investing more wisely into change, instead of one off

funding”.

Some of the blocks for Māoridom going forward include

being Māori in a Pakeha world: “For example, some

organisations want us to show ‘quantifiable returns’ from

our wānanga but with this kind of mahi, quantifying results

isn’t always easy”, says Theresa. “This can be overcome

though I think by showcasing Māori and Te Tiriti.

There’s a long way to go but a lot of pioneering work is

happening. Te Tiriti is being taught in schools from next

year and that’s certainly going to help”.

104


WHOEVER PAT

WORKS WITH IS

SPOT ON

by reverend kaumatua matiu eru

I first came across Pat through Millie Moa, when he was

at the old carpet shop, and then I got to know him properly

through Pilot City Trust and the Community College.

Pat is a great believer in Māoridom. He doesn’t like the

way Māori people have been treated through colonisation

and he’s still fighting for us. I think, “What a man.

What are we going to do when this one goes?” He leads

everybody in the right direction, and he puts the Māori

people right up there.

He’s done so much for our culture and our people; the

Māori wardens, the maraes and the walks. I go back to

Joe Reti and his family who are great believers of Pat and

support him in whatever way they can and whenever he

asks for my help I go and support him too.

Last summer we visited the gangs and spoke with

them about the safety of our tamariki and it was a great

day for me. I used to work with the gangs — teach Māori,

support and help fundraise, and they’d come and get me

so it was great to support him in that.

Whoever Pat works with is spot on. He doesn’t just

pick anybody, he picks people who are perfect for whatever

has to be done.

Pat has made a heck of a difference and he has been

honoured by Pilot City and the community. Many people

who have worked in the community and supported

those who need it have gone and it’s just as well Pat is

still carrying on with the younger ones.

He Toa o Ngā Toa — A Champion of all Champions

MARY RECKONS PAT ROCKS TOO

Kia Ora, my name is Mary Mohawk, I am with the Hub

Maraenui City Rock Church in Maraenui Shopping Centre.

My goal and passion is to serve God and I believe I

was born for this purpose. When your life is for a purpose

I believe you will rise above all difficulties.

I honestly can’t remember how I personally met Pat,

but I had heard about him and seen small articles on

Facebook about the passion he has for the well-being

of young people, and that he believes the government

doesn’t do enough for our people who are being incarcerated;

being an advocate and voice for them.

But the first time I met Pat face to face was upstairs in

the old Napier Library where he was reading a newspaper.

I went and introduced myself to him and somehow

he knew who I was. Then he handed me a poster of him

and Minnie Ratima, taking a group of young people to

Taumarunui and the next trip up to Ninety Mile Beach in

the Far North.

At the same time the church was running community

outreach for a youth group. Friday night was pancake

night with yummy ice cream and lots of toppings. We had

board games, cups of tea and coffee for the parents. The

purpose was to engage and have fellowship with our communities,

a place where parents

and their children could come to

enjoy a warm and safe place, a non-judgemental place.

At the same time I was working for Māori Women’s

Welfare League in a programme called

Poipoia Te Mokopuna — Nurturing the Babies and

Parents. I was at work one day and one of the ladies,

who also works with me, told me that she and I had been

nominated for the Napier Pilot City Awards. I’m pretty

sure it was Pat who nominated me. I decided to receive

the award and I’m very grateful.

Pat has so much energy and passion. What inspires

me the most is that he gets on with anyone and everyone.

He has an “office” outside The Pie Man Bakery

in Maraenui and he sits there with two people from the

community, to korero with people, see that they’re okay

and how he can help. There are lots of posts on Facebook

too. One of his mates is a patched member (no

judgement), who I think Pat is “discipling” to hand the

baton of the Napier Pilot City Trust to the next generation.

Thank you for being you, Pat. Retire now and enjoy

the rest of your life!

With love, Mary Mohawk

Above: Korero, coffee and kai at The Pie Man, Maraenui; Pat, Marty and Matiu Eru; Below: Mary Mohawk, Maraenui City Rock

Church — a warm, safe and non-judgemental place for the community; Opposite: Ngarino “Beez” Te Waati of Māori Movement, the

creators of Whānau Transformation Wananga.


UNDERSTANDING ISSUES

FOR THOSE AT RISK

by paul trass

admin manager, mareanui rugby & sports association

I first met Pat Magill back in 1983 at a YMCA annual

conference when he and I were presenting papers. Pat’s

presentation was “The Pub With No Beer” concept that

the YMCA was creating, a concept that was to provide a

place for young people to call their own, like a Pub, but

without alcohol.

In the late 1980s I moved to Napier and attended the

Hawke’s Bay Sports Awards in this wonderful facility

called Michael’s Place, very modern, comfortable and

upmarket. I later found out this was Pat’s Pub with No

Beer.

Michaels Place showed Pat’s concern for our disadvantaged

youth and his desire to do something that was

based on the ideas of these young people’, rather than

some academic or council officer’s solution.

A few years later I was lecturing at EIT and we ran a

programme at Mongrel Mob headquarters in Onekawa.

For a white South Island boy it was initially quite intimidating

but early on in the week this guy wandered in

saying “Hi” to all and it was of course, Pat.

He had been working with the gang for some time to

make sure that they got a fair go from the system. The

course ran there for six months and it was interesting to

get to know the mobsters and their partners as people.

As the course went on it became apparent that they were

very intelligent and capable people who had opted to

become gang members for a sense of connection, or to

define a new sense of who they are which was not being

met by the education or community system.

Pat understood the issues of those at risk in our communities

and has not been afraid to challenge politicians

and those in power to do something about it. I’m sure

the Napier Pilot City Trust, set up to make Napier a Child

Friendly City, was based on Pat’s vision for the city.

At the Maraenui Rugby and Sports AGM who should

be there but Pat Magill and you learn from members that

he has been a supporter since the club was formed 40

years ago.

When the club was hit by the recent Napier floods, at

the lunch break for the first working bee, a car pulled up

and his sister delivered a pile of cherries and lots of ice

cream with a simple message, “These are from Pat”. He

was in hospital at the time. I’m sure that there are a heap

of community organisations who would say the same,

“Yep, Pat was on our committee a while back”.

At 90 he still drives this vision and he is never afraid

to mix it up with anyone from the local mob chief to the

Prime Minister to get things done.

Above: All keen supporters of Maraenui Rugby and Sports Association — Nadeen Wiparata, Maxine Boag and Pat.

106


GROUNDHOG DAY FOR

SOCIAL JUSTICE?

by doug laing

Herein are some quotes from the Pilot City Trust’s submission

to the National Seminar on the Prevention of

Violence in 1992, when Pat Magill was already a wellseasoned

social campaigner both searching for and offering

answers.

The frightening thing is that three decades later the

fight continues — remarkably with our Pat still in the

trenches and determined that one day he will see that to

which he most aspires.

“We exist to develop Napier as a bicultural community

involved in an ongoing process of improving the quality

of life for all its citizens, by encouraging and supporting

innovative approaches for preventing or minimising

social problems,” the Mission Statement of the NPCT in

that submission.

The submission was close to 50 pages of individual

support for the kaupapa, from people including a gang

leader, a school principal, a barrister, a lecturer, a surgeon,

a former police officer, and workers, many of them

volunteers, across the spectrum of social and youth

work, and sports.

Among the supporting papers was that of a gang

leader and work trust boss who in answer to the question

of what needed to happen to make Napier free of

violence, said: “More jobs. People need to work, it gives

them a purpose.”

They were chopping firewood, hard all-day manual

work, stacking by hand, tonnes of it, but there was a sad

reality when asked if there were any ways in which systems

worked to benefit that mahi. “Not for us,” was the

response.

A voluntary community worker, with a background of

family gang affiliation, spoke of her main motivation for

why she was involved in community work thus: “I feel

that if we leave things as they are we leave our kids at a

disadvantage…”

The waters have since passed under many bridges,

but many would say those bridges have often been walls,

and the waters have not passed them at all — merely

backing up and reinforcing, creating and recreating the

issues as they exist in modern society.

Nothing, however, has lessened the commitment of

Pat Magill in trying to help his beloved Napier become

the city he believes it wants, without the inequalities of

poverty and hardship, where everyone cares about each

other, perhaps best now envisioned in his hopes for

the Napier City Council to declare its environs a Child

Friendly City.

It’s a UNICEF-led initiative that supports municipal

governments in realising the rights of children at the local

level using the UN Convention on the Rights of the

Child as its foundation.

It would commit the council and its people incorporating

their vision for the future of its children in every

manner of planning, whether it be from the shape and

size of roads, footpaths and playgrounds, or the social

and educational conditions in which they will foster, as

individuals and a community.

It’s not only Pat’s 95th birthday this year, but also the

40th anniversary of the Napier Pilot City Trust, and it’s

worth harking back to page 2 of that submission, highlighting

a headline of that year, the Daily Telegraph,

November 21, 1992: “Napier’s crime increase tops national

figures.”

Hawke’s Bay Today, March 30, 2021: “Napier police

“stretched to limit.”

If these are accurate reflections of the times, then the

question has to be asked whether the city got what it

wanted, rather than what it needs.

The vision of the Trust, and the purposes of Pat Magill,

the trust’s arrow-headed protagonist, remain the ultimate

challenge.


108

Napier Pilot City Trust – for a kinder, fairer city

chapter twelve

Napier pilot city

trust —

FOR A KINDER, FAIRER CITY

Napier Pilot City Trust, the PCT — it’s a name many

people in Napier have read about and heard of

for nearly 40 years. The trust has been driven by

Pat, the city’s mostly popular, indefatigable peace loving

activist and his many foot soldiers over the years, as a

vehicle for hope. The trust’s essence, it’s kaupapa, is to

inspire the delivery of kinder, fairer attitudes and policies

to those in need of them and inspire positive alternatives

to handling violent crimes.

The birth place for the trust was the Hawke’s Bay

Community College (HBCC) back in the late ‘70s. This

new college was a hub for innovative thought and inspired

change and leadership. At the time it had government

support to initiate and implement an enlightened

blueprint for a new education model based on principles

of fairness and inclusion that would encourage people

to engage with the college, who previously felt alienated

and intimidated by such places of learning, and it was

successful in this.

Under the stewardship of social anthropologist and

educator, John Harré and his keen team of educationalists

inspired by the movements of social change of the

day, this institution was anything but staid, it was revolutionary.

It held a forum in 1977 to address social issues

and invited leading practitioners and academics who

seized the day and the opportunities to suggest a fresh

approach. Current models of law, order and incarceration

weren’t working and a new way needed to be found.

With government support at the time for their vision,

people like Pat, with not just dreams but strident desires

to see a healthier community, were to see their visions

become reality. At the forum, the now late Dr John Robson

uttered the phrase “Napier — the one place to offer

hope”. This had a profound impact on Pat. He grasped

that phrase, seared it across his heart. He then set forth

to spread the possibility ever since, and captain the Pilot

City Project.

In 1983, under a Muldoon National Government (a socialist

in a blue suit?) ,the Department of Internal Affairs

funded a study of the Pilot City concept and in January

1986 Napier was designated by Ann Hercus, the then

Labour Minister of Police and Social Welfare, as a Pilot

City for the study and implementation of positive alternatives

to violence. Mana from heaven, things were rolling.

Researcher Bev Barron was appointed and work got

under way on Napier’s trail-blazing “social experiment.”

Opposite: Pat doing what he does best, leading from the front and bringing the people along with him. John Wise is the artist, a long

time colleague of Pat’s from way back in the earliest days of the Hawke’s Bay Community College and the seeds of the Pilot City;

Above: John Robson. Through John’s inspiration and involvement with the Napier Pilot City Trust, a collection was opened in his honour

at the former Napier Public Library by mayor Alan Dick and John Harré. The collection is now available at the new Napier Library.

Napier Pilot City Trust – for a kinder, fairer city 109

Napier Daily Telegraph - 27 November 1977

Napier as the “social experimental

centre of New Zealand” where

problem areas in human relationships

can be studied was the theme

of a panel discussion recently

among experts at the Hawke’s Bay

Community College. One panellist,

Dr John Robson, who is a former

Secretary for Justice, thought . . .

The panellists invited have made distinctive contributions

in their fields.

Dr John Robson is now head of the criminology

department of Victoria University.

Dr Douglas Bray, professor of educational at Massey

University, has done sociological field studies in the

Napier area.

Dr John Harre is director of the Hawke’s Bay

Community College and a former professor of

anthropology.

Dr Vivian Cooper is a Napier jaw and face surgeon

who has observed closely the disadvantaged people

in the Napier area.

Napier - the

one place to

offer hope

Mr W. Te Moana, a Maori educational adiser, stood

in at short notice for the Race Relations conciliator,

Mr H Dansey. Questionamaster was the editor of

The Daily Telegraph

The brief put to the panel was: That Napier could become

the social experimental centre of New Zealand

where race relations will naturally play an important part.

An audience of about 100 listened to the panel, during a

discussion of an hour and a half. A précis of what they

heard is recorded herewith

The Napier Pilot City Trust was then founded, based

on the recommendation of the 1983 research initiative

supported by the council and Department of Internal Affairs,

and as a support unit for Bev. After work drinks at

the council boardroom in those days were abuzz. These

were heady days.

In 1979 a parliamentary committee visited Napier

and supported the concept of Napier becoming a Pilot

City. Innovative social programmes were already in

place, such as Teenareana, Omahu Youth Development

Scheme, the Jay Em Trust and YMCA’s Michael’s Place.

Pat was involved with all of these and was a founding

member of the Napier Pilot City working party, which

was subsequently established and chaired by David

Coles. The parliamentary committee said in its report:

“While it would be naïve to regard the Napier scheme

as the answer to all social problems, it is an innovative

pioneering approach to social and individual malaise,

and the committee notes with approval the measures

that are being taken.

“It would be an exciting exercise if civic leaders throughout

the country were to involve themselves personally in

the problems that abound in their communities.”

Since 1984, through Pat’s persistence, tenacity and his

strong, staunch army of supporters who’ve been beside

him every step of the journey, the recommendations of

the initial report have been progressed through the formation

and activities of the trust.

For nearly 45 years Pat has given it his all, to ensure

there’s a group that consistently lobbies council, social

agencies and central government to keep focused and

efficiently responding to and delivering on community

needs. “Pilot City status is an honour given to our city”,

Pat says. He still honours that status and urges those

who he thinks should honour it as well, to do so.

Bev Barron, the first researcher for the trust, says it

continues to identify and facilitate action where needed,

including through the Robson Collection, Unity Walks,

dinners, Treaty workshops, Robson Lectures and Pilot

City Awards. “Pat was, is and will be the key person in

the past, present and future of all that is good about the

Pilot City.”

Above: in 1977 a panel met at the Hawke’s Bay Community College to discuss the premise that Napier could become a ‘social

experimental centre of NZ. The ‘brains trust’ comprised academics to foot soldiers and the dreaming began this day. Hopes for the dream

to be realised continue — this is ongoing work. Opposite: marching on parliament to address Hon Annette King, Labour Minister (all

promises, no plan, Pat says), on state housing 10 years ago. Pat and a group bussed from Napier and stayed at a marae at Wainuiomata.

110



NAPIER PILOT CITY KAUPAPA —

INSPIRED BY WATERSHED MOMENTS IN

NZ’S SOCIAL JUSTICE STORY

THE ROPER REPORT —

TE ARA HOU

The late Dr John Robson was Secretary for Justice in the

1960s, chairman of the Social Development Council and

director of the Institute of Criminology at Victoria University,

Wellington. In 1962 he was responsible for the

abolition of the death penalty in New Zealand and later

became the first criminologist at Victoria University. Dr

Robson and Pat’s paths interconnected many times.

Although very different men, they shared fundamental

values, forever set after John spoke the immortal words

and Pat hasn’t stopped repeating them: “Napier, despite

its social, economic and cultural difficulties was small

enough to learn about itself.”

ROPER: BUILD COMMUNITIES,

NOT PRISONS

In Te Ara Hou, while Roper recommended that rehabilitation

centres be built instead of prisons, for many New

Zealanders, incarceration is preferred over rehabilitation.

There’s a sense that the latter gives those who are

sentenced a soft option.

In 1987 a Ministerial Committee of Inquiry into the prison

system was held. Chaired by Sir Clinton Roper, his report

Te Ara Hou: The New Way (1989), recommended

far-reaching changes for the justice sector. The main

proposal was to build community based centres for prisoners

that focused on rehabilitation rather than punishment.

There was strong emphasis too on galvanising

community support to help reduce the number of people

re-offending. Sir Clinton said the current system wasn’t

working, the Penal Reform Committee found prison an

“absolute failure” at deterring crime and rehabilitating

criminals. Critics claimed Roper’s recommendations were

too expensive and liberal and they weren’t introduced.

DR JOHN ROBSON:

“A CITY NOT TOO SMALL TO

LEARN ABOUT ITSELF.”

MOANA JACKSON’S REPORT

He Whaipaanga Hou 1989, also proposed fundamental

transformative approaches to justice in Aotearoa New

Zealand. Ever since there have been numerous reports

and reviews, none of which have led decision-makers

to undertake fundamental change. Moana is a staunch

Napier Pilot City Trust supporter and has presented at

Unity Day. He Whaipaanga Hou is as, if not more, significant

than the Roper Report and it too has been ignored.

FINANCE MINISTER

BILL ENGLISH, 2011:

“PRISONS ARE A MORAL AND

FISCAL FAILURE”

English made this headline grabber when he launched

National’s social investment strategy, based around a

‘cradle to the grave’ data-driven project that was to target

government assistance to those who needed it. Pat

couldn’t believe what he was hearing — at last the penny

was dropping, it seemed.

ICOPA

The bi-annual International Conference on Penal Abolition,

is the only group globally dedicated to penal abolition.

Pat has been to numerous ICOPA conferences

around the world — Auckland, Hobart, Toronto, Belfast,

London, Toronto, Lagos, Trinidad and Amsterdam. “You

can say it so many ways, and academics do, but cutting

through all that there is no doubt prisons aren’t good

places. Most people incarcerated aren’t bad people,

they’re simply not coping.”

112


NAPIER —

THE ONE

PLACE

TO OFFER

HOPE

1st Pilot City brochure.

THE FIRST PILOT CITY BROCHURE —

LOOKING BACK TO LOOK FORWARD

“We should strive to

develop a constructive

concern for others …Each

individual possesses his

own quality of life and his

uniqueness contributes

to the life of others and to

the richness of society…

acceptance of a nonconforming

individual

and minority groups

by the community is

important …I think Napier

is about the one place that

from my angle offers hope

of something that is going

to happen”.

Dr John Robson,

world renowned criminologist,

Wellington

“I don’t believe there

are Māori problems,

Pakeha problems, youth

problems, age problems.

I only believe there are

people problems and I

think if one starts from

this point of view, it

leads one to a different

solution … We have here

in embryonic form a

notion that Napier is

a caring place where

people care for people…

Voluntary helpers have to

be supported somewhere

along the line by real

money. It becomes a

political thing both in

terms of national politics

and local body politics.”

Dr John Harré, former professor

of Anthropology, former director

HB Community College

“It seems extraordinary

that a few devoted people

can produce remarkable

results on a shoestring

budget whereas by

comparison, the wellfunded

and equipped

traditional organisations

in our society such as

police, justice and prisons,

using a punitive approach

and absorbing millions

of dollars of tax-payers’

money, continue to fight a

losing battle with no hope

for reform, for, in the main

they treat effects only

and have no preventive

approach to disruptive

social behaviour. This

preventive work in Napier

has the potential for

becoming a significant

major social experiment

and a model for the rest of

New Zealand.

Dr Vivian Cooper,

Oral Surgeon, Napier


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Above: The Trust vision statement, 2020; Opposite page: Maxine Boag, Jenny Cracknell, Bev Barron and a mystery blonde with Pat

at Westshore, even change agents need a break and there’s nothing like a good wine to fuel the revolution; Fanfare and excitement

around the PCT as it takes its place in a ticker tape parade.


KEY PILOT CITY

SUPPORTERS SHARE

THEIR KORERO

A candle loses nothing

by lighting another candle.

Violence brings only temporary

victories; violence, by creating many

more social problems than it solves,

never brings permanent peace.

Be kind whenever possible.

It is always possible.

Poverty does not create our

social problems ... our social

problems create our poverty.

If we want to reach real peace

in this world, we should start

educating children.

Our unity is our strength and

our diversity is our power.

When the power of love,

overcomes the love of power,

the world will know peace.

Happiness is more than

doing fun things. It’s about

doing meaningful things.

Without a sense of caring, there

can be no sense of community.

PREVENTIVE &

PROACTIVE

by bev barron

Pat was involved with the Pilot City concept for over ten

years before it was actually deemed a Pilot City for New

Zealand in 1986. He was a major driving force behind it

until he ‘retired’ on his 85th birthday but nearly a decade

later he’s still going just as strong and in everything he

does, he continues to uphold and practice Pilot City values

— what a hero!

It was my good fortune to meet Pat in 1983 when undertaking

research into the feasibility of Napier becoming

a Pilot City. In 1977 the notion had been put forward

that, because of the many good things that were happening

in Napier, the city could become a social experimental

centre for New Zealand.

In 1984, the findings from the research were published

and addressed the questions: Is Napier a happy city? Is

it a violent city? Is it a caring city? Given that the name

Pat Magill is virtually synonymous with the Pilot City, it is

only right that we ask the same questions of him:

Is Pat happy? Is he violent? Is he caring?

In my opinion, he is invariably happy; he is about the

least violent person I know, and he is extremely caring.

In short, Pat Magill is someone who represents all that is

good about Napier. He walks the talk, literally and figuratively,

championing the wisdom in these quotes by famous

humanitarians.


FORMER NAPIER MAYOR

ON MEETING PAT IN THE ‘80S

by alan dick

Pat was a strong supporter, trustee, mentor and friend to

Jim Morunga, an amazingly effective community worker,

and his Jay Em Trust. The trust had a long history of assisting

unemployed and at-risk youth and continued into the

early 1990s to become the longest surviving work trust.

I also knew Pat through my involvement with the

Napier YMCA. Pat was a long-standing board member

and the inspiration behind its youth programmes including

the Tu Tangata awards for achievement and leadership

normally presented annually by Sir Paul Reeves.

Pat was also the inspiration behind Michael’s Place,

the ‘Pub With No Beer’ project, with most of the funding

obtained through Pat’s advocacy. While it ultimately

failed its objective because of the fickleness of teenagers,

it was a noble experiment that ran for a couple of

years.

Then of course the Pilot City Trust, with the Government

declaring Napier the Pilot City. It was a government

interdepartmental social initiative, producing the

Bev Barron State of Napier reports which led the council

to adopt a community development philosophy which

persists today. You will know the rest — the Walks for

Unity, Pilot City Awards and persistence with the notion

that Napier, a city with 55,000 [now 65,000] people is

large enough to exhibit society’s problems but still small

and cohesive enough to find solutions.

Napier is very fortunate to have a visionary like Pat

who charms and influences people with the particular

knack of getting people to think away from the norms,

without creating offence. He has made a lot of sacrifices

along the way, always helping other people but seldom

himself.

Above: Pilot City crew, late ‘70s in the Napier City Council board room, corrupting the halls of power with their goodness; it worked

pretty well until a new mayor came along.

116


THE DREAMER,

THE PLAY MAKER,

THE COACH

by jim morunga

Presented at one of Pat’s many farewell functions,

a few years before Jim passed away.

I remember arriving in Napier in 1976 and waiting to chat

to Pat Magill at the Napier YMCA. I’d just completed two

years studying sociology at Auckland University and

was looking for a job in Napier. Even then at 50, Pat had

energy and enthusiasm and brokered a deal to have me

shift to Napier and work in Maraenui (unpaid), but with

guidance and support, he was sure that paid employment

would happen. Even then a group of us assembled

around Pat, people like Wally Hunt, Mike McCullum, Rozie

Bartosh, Irma Higgs, Ann Minnell, Chris Mill, Marion

Taite and many others.

WHAT’S IT ABOUT, PAT?

I think Pat was the dreamer, the play maker, the coach,

the connector and finally, The Don. Pat had faith, hope

and was an extremely charitable person who saw the

best in people.

One day not so long ago Pat and I shared a bottle or

two of fizzy when out of the blue he quoted a father-son

statement: “Dad, I’ve tried very hard to improve the business.

I’ve developed new systems, new ways of increasing

profit, but Dad, you ignore it all. Why?”

“Son, it’s like this. Business is like a game of cricket

and I’m the batter and you are the bowler and until you

bowl me out, you continue to bowl.”

Many years on, again same setting, but Pat and I had

progressed to chardonnay, when he became insistent on

what he thought needed doing. I simply replied, ”Pat I’m

the batter.” Nothing was said for quite some time.

Pat has a thirst for learning about what makes people

tick, what makes communities hum, and what makes

life difficult for some. He is a man who without prejudice,

connects with all sectors in society. He accepts people

for who they are, warts and all. But hang on a minute, Pat

also enjoys little dramas, a sense of adventure and going

places totally unprepared and he’s happy to wing it.

Pat is a man without

prejudice, who connects

with all sectors in society.

THE FORMIDABLE YEARS

This is poetry in motion: Pat says, ”I’m going to a meeting.”

He’ll wait for you to ask, “What meeting?” His reply,

“You need to be there!” Again, “Pat, what’s it about?”

He replies, “Yes, and you need to let Mary, Sam and Joe

know.” “Right, but what’s it about?” To which you get

the time and place and he might even offer to pick you

up. That is after he’s asked you to photo copy two hundred

pages of scribble, or better still, could you type the

whole thing and photo copy the lot too.

Pat never takes things personally as he’s too busy

working through your personal issues, in a nice way. To

watch Pat operate is an art in itself. Pat enquires at the

front desk; “Who is the person I need to see about getting

my friend paid to do what needs to be done?” Of

course Pat is being deliberately vague, so he can move

up the chain of command without people thinking he’s

on a mission. He’s finding out who does what and he’s

then in a position to let you know, so you’re able to fire

the bullets at the right people. Again, formidable!

Above: Those 70s again, networking in the halls of power; old friends plotting new ways for the world — Jim, Pat and Colin Knox in

Pat’s garden, 2017, a few months before Jim passed away.


TWILIGHT YEARS —

REFLECTING AND OBSERVING

Yes, our same self-styled Pat continues to travel the

highways and byways nationally and internationally, but

he can still be seen most mornings walking the estuary

at Ahuriri with a bag collecting rubbish that some of us

casually drop, leave, or dump as we walk the same track.

Here he is, still caring, still passionate about life and

the environment. Only these days he usually has friends

or grandchildren in tow, in case he overlooks something.

For many hours and years Pat has spent rejuvenating

the bush at Puketitiri. He doesn’t just talk about conservation,

he practices what he preaches.

I’m often amused when visiting Pat. We exchange

normal greetings followed by Pat saying: “I’ll put the jug

on. We’ll have a nice cup of coffee.” To which I heartily

agree. Magic in motion as I sit and wait for the coffee. I

wait as Pat trades small talk, then there’s Pat’s version

of the news. I wait, as I know there’s more to come, like

his thought for the day. I wait, thinking I’m very patient,

as I know we have yet to get around to, how friends and

family are doing.

By this time the jug needs re boiling. Pat’s done something

on his computer as well as commented on the

state of his house and how he really needs to get a routine,

to which I say,” Oh well Pat, I’m off now and thanks

for the coffee!” I think Pat is perfectly entitled to confuse

me, ponder on the events of the world, and sometimes

forget what he intended to do. After all that’s what the

twilight years are about, don’t you think?

I have left out many things, events and challenges that

I know Pat has tackled or made a significant contribution

to in our city and so, I suggest the challenge is now to

have someone sit and record with Pat those events and

challenges most memorable to him. Who am I? I’m Jim,

one of Pat’s Mates.

THE

JOHN ROBSON

COLLECTION

Through his involvement with the Napier Pilot

City Trust, Dr John Robson became a “treasure” in

Ahuriri and in 1990 a collection was opened in his

honour at the Napier Public Library by mayor Alan

Dick and John Harré, former director of the former

Hawke’s Bay Community College.

Napier Libraries now holds the collection of Restorative

Justice items known as the John Robson

Collection, instigated by the Napier Pilot City Trust

/ Tō Mātou Taiwhenua Kōkiri o Mataruahau.

Robson’s opposition to capital punishment and

his support for the reformation of offenders, were

heartfelt and deep. The role he played in the death

penalty being abolished in 1961, brought him both

relief and satisfaction.

The trust — driven by the kaupapa, Napier Develops

Communities not Prisons — established

The John Robson collection as a community initiative

with the intention to gather resources and

inspire informed debate.

Also featuring an online prospectus, the collection

includes items relating to criminal, social and

restorative justice and receives donations of publications

from New Zealand and around the world.

Financial donations are also welcomed to ensure

the resource can continue to grow and be relevant.

The collection is now available in its entirety for

lending and is housed on the first floor of the Napier

Library, along with other relevant resources.

118


ROBSON LECTURE 2021

Professor Tracey McIntosh delivered the Robson Lecture

at this year’s Unity Day with the theme of her presentation

based around Criminal Justice Reform. Professor

McIntosh was a member of the Safe and Effective

Justice Advisory Group which was tasked with engaging

with the public about what type of Justice System New

Zealanders want to see, and to canvas ideas on how

these changes should be made.

Following several years of research, the result is Turuki!

Turuki! — a report providing recommendations for

a fundamental reshaping of Aotearoa New Zealand’s

Justice system to one which prevents harm, addresses

its causes and promotes healing and restoration among

individuals and communities.

It’s an ambitious call but one the committee is adamant

needs to be picked up immediately following years

of inaction to mend what is widely known to be a broken

Justice system.

”Reforming the Criminal

Justice System remains central

to the Trust’s vision for a

kinder and fairer Napier”.

Pilot City was established in 1986 and Unity Day programmes

have forged a reputation for curating high

quality, relevant presentations by leading and inspirational

voices in the Restorative Justice space. Included

within Unity Days are forums on restorative justice and

the roles that local and central government can play in

supporting the concept of Napier piloting lasting alternatives

to violence.

The John Robson Collection, a Pat driven initiative in the former Napier Library; brand spanking new books for the collection,

signed by the authors, Sir Kim Workman’s Journey Towards Justice and Professor Chris Marshall’s All Things Reconciled. Chris called

the modern restorative justice movement, “perhaps one of the most important social movements of our time”; Karakia following

Sir Kim Workman’s keynote address at the Pilot City Unity Forum, 2019.


A SHARED DEEP

COMMITMENT TO

SOCIAL JUSTICE

by jocelyn robson,

john robson’s daughter.

”The modern restorative

justice movement is perhaps

one of the most important

social movements of our time.”

professor chris marshall,

author of all things considered.

I first met Pat Magill some years ago at Napier airport.

I had contacted him because I was curious to learn

more about his friendship with my father — and as I left

the plane and walked across the tarmac that day, Pat

at once came up to me. He had recognised the family

likeness, he said. It was a good beginning, as far as I

was concerned! I knew he was an admirer of Dad’s and

though they come from very different backgrounds,

I soon understood that he and Pat had shared a deep

commitment to social justice.

My father had died a short time before. He had spent

most of his schooldays in Hawke’s Bay and had a strong

attachment to the place, the landscape, bush and native

birds. Pat told me stories of Dad’s later visits to Napier,

and the speeches he gave there as Secretary for Justice

in the 1960s. The one that sticks in my mind and also

seemed to resonate with Pat was when Dad told his audience

that Napier, despite its social, economic and cultural

difficulties was ‘small enough to learn about itself.’

Pat took this to heart. He has been ready to seize all

those learning opportunities ever since and I know how

much he is valued and loved by local people. He is a key

mover behind the promotion of The John Robson Collection

in the Napier Public Library and he remains an ardent

supporter of this community initiative. The items in

the collection are now devoted to the study and pursuit

of Restorative Justice and I know my Dad would have

been very proud of that.

I’ve stayed in touch with Pat since our first meeting

and though I live in London, I’m often back in New Zealand

and am always pleased to see him again. We talk

mostly about new developments in the field of crime

and punishment (not all of them good!) and I’m always

amazed by his endless energy. He is unfailingly kind and

practical. I know he campaigns tirelessly to help people

in need and over the years, I have come to love and admire

him. He’s a treasure, a good egg, and in my book,

a bit of a hero!

Image above: Napier Public LIbrary in Herschell St where The

John Robson Collection is held.

THE DRIVER

FOR A UNIQUE

RESOURCE

by emma shepheard-

walwyn

napier libraries

Pat Magill has been one of the stalwarts of the

restorative justice movement in Napier. His endless

enthusiasm and passion for the project have

been evident in everything Pat does, in the relationships

he continues to build, and in his tireless

advocacy for the underprivileged.

Pat was one of the driving forces behind the

establishment of the John Robson Collection in

Napier Libraries, in association with the Napier

Pilot City Trust / Tō Mātou Taiwhenua Kōkiri o Mataruahau.

The collection focuses on restorative

practice in New Zealand, including items relating

to criminal, social and restorative justice.

Having being developed as a community initiative

by Napier Pilot City Trust, it relies on donations

from the community and around the world.

Napier Libraries has been proud to work with Pat

and the Napier Pilot City Trust in building and

continuing to develop this unique resource for the

Napier community.

120


IT’S ALL ABOUT

UNITY

TAKE IT TO THE STREETS —

CELEBRATE ALL THAT’S GOOD

Over the years, the Pilot City Trust has become synonymous

with several leading annual Napier events that

spread the word on the trust’s vision and purpose and

hopefully raises funds too. In the past, celebrations were

held over a week. Lately, it’s more like two days, held on

and prior to Anzac Day. The programme usually features

the Unity Day Forum, the John Robson Lecture, Pilot

City Awards and a Walk for Unity.

Along with the keynote John Robson lecture, the Unity

Day Forum has become one of the country’s leading

events that is focused on the latest and most effective

Restorative Justice thought and practices. The presentation

of the Pilot City Unity Awards, held on the same day,

vitally acknowledge and applaud that selfless work that

individuals and groups carry out to help create a kinder,

fairer city.

The Unity Dinner is another special occasion where

trust members and supporters join together in supporting

world peace initiatives, finding innovative ways to

JOHN ROBSON

LECTURE

PRESENTERS:

• Sir Kim Workman

• Hon Dame Sian Elias Chief Justice

• Hon Doug Graham

• Dr John Harré

• High Crt Judge Hon Joseph Williams

• Pam Thorburn, fmr CEO NZ Corrections

• Dr Roger Blakely, Internal Affairs

• Henare O’Keefe

• Dame Tariana Turia

• Prof John Pratt, Head of Criminology,

Victoria University

• Prof John Stenning, Criminologist, London

• Raukawa Tait, Women’s Refuge

• Sir Paul Reeves

• Sir Michael Cullen

• Russell Fairbrother QC

• Judge Fred McElrea

(Judge McElrea also shared his family’s

collection of Restorative Justice books with

the Robson Collection, Napier Library.)

Image above: Combining Unity Walk and training for Te Araroa Offers Hope hikoi, directly behind Pat is Ngaire and Ross Duncan,

Pat Warren, right of Pat is Tanyon Ratima followed by the late Minnie Ratima, Mariese Keil and supporters.


Making a week of it

build communities not prisons, and continuing to lobby

for Ahuriri becoming a Child Friendly City — a UNICEF

initiative that the trust fully endorses.

The Napier RSA is now an important player within the

Pilot City Unity programme. “Amazingly, the RSA now

shares their ANZAC Day with the trust so we can jointly

honour those who have died fighting for Aotearoa”, says

Pat. “When you think about it there is a real synergy between

the trust and the RSA. Both at their heart strive for

peace, within New Zealand and around the world.”

The first Pilot City Dinner was held 30 years ago and

it soon became a regular feature to invite Wellingtonbased

ambassadors and high commissioners to take

part in the celebrations. The War Memorial Function

Centre on the Marine Parade was a popular venue, with

uber-talented all-rounder Denis O’Reily fulfilling the role

of MC for many years. More recently trust dinners have

been held at the Napier RSA, where the events are always

unique and the buffet hearty.

Ngatarawa Wines became another popular feature

at the dinners, with Alwyn Corban generously supplying

a variety of wine styles for the peace-loving dinner

guests. After nearly 15 years of presenting Ngatarawa’s

stellar product free of charge at most trust events, Alwyn

sold the company to the Marist Brothers’ at The Mission.

Hopefully the two events aren’t linked! The trust didn’t

lose Alwyn though; the councillor with the Hastings District

Council is now on the committee as treasurer and

in-house wine adviser.

The guest list at the dinners is always eclectic and interesting.

Even overseas EIT students are regularly welcomed

into the Pilot City whānau for the event, much

to their delight. Surprise entertainers turn up too, such

as Napier’s legendary Tabac Theatre star Buddy Collins,

whose melodramatic gestures and songs dripping

romance was one of the more memorable billings. Pilot

City Unity events are definitely occasions where people

have come to expect the unexpected!

Flags flying, spirits high, Walking for Unity hikoi are even supported in the rain; Pat with Alyson Bullock, one of the trust’s original

members and staunchest supporter.

122


Clockwise from top left: Alcohol in our Lives Forum; Pilot City Trust Unity Day 2019, Kaumatua Haami Hilton, Edina Hilton,

Matiu Eru, Robert Whaitiri and mokopuna; Moana Jackson presents at the 2010 Forum; Josie Kewley, Carolyn Winiata, Zita Smith and

Maxine Boag enjoy lunch at the Hawke’s Bay Club; Napier RSA’s Selwyn Hawthorn with Bubbles Munro; Noel O’Reilly from MSD

presents; strong numbers attended the event.


A LITTLE RECOGNITION FOR

HEROIC COMMUNITY WORK

2010

2010

2011

2012

2013

2019

Just a sample of greatness in the community: Unity Awards 2010 Left: Monica Stockdale, back: Moana Jackson (keynote speaker),

Te Rangi Huata, Ros Rowe, Haami Hilton, Toro Brown; Front: Genesis Keefe, Mihi Rigby and Edina Hilton; 2011: Left to right,

Whetu Tipiwai, Kathy Egan, Ngareipa Hawaikirangi, Judge Joe Williams (Robson Lecture speaker), Rosscoe Brown, Heitia Hiha

(Kaumatua), Peter Grant, Peter Gibson and Rev Bill Chapman; 2012: L — R: Phyllis and Henare Ratima, Maxine Boag, Andrew Becroft,

Will Jenkins; Front, Yvonne Aranui, Heath Skipworth; bottom row, Liz Ratima, Russ Spiller (deceased), and Tiwana Aranui;

2013 Recipients of the 15th NPC awards: Back row; Tom Hemopo, Tamihana Nuku, Waapu Clark, Nima Timu and Cyrus Tawhara.

Front row: Caroline Lampp, Prof. Mutu (Robson Lecture presenter), and Lou Halbert. Insert: Paki Keefe (posthumous award);

2019: Top left: Aaron Garnham Pitcher, Heather Ann turner, Joanne Gaudin, Sheridan Ihaia- Rogers, Jim Gaudin, Jan Hiha,

Belinda Pukeke, Ronnie Rochel and Vicki Julian.

124


AND CONGRATULATIONS TO

THIS YEAR’S WINNERS!

THE NAPIER PILOT CITY TRUST 2021 UNITY AWARDS

Tracey Benson: Tracy, a Residential Service Manager

for Whatever It Takes Trust, uses her experiences and

pitfalls in growing up to provide a strongly empathetic

service to her clients. She is driven by a desire to work

towards the hope in others for a richer life. She believes

it is such a privilege to offer much hope for her whānau

towards a kinder and fairer city of Ahuriri Napier.

Martyka Fleming Brandt: For services to the community.

After growing up in a struggling environment,

Martyka has used his personal experience in parenting

to provide grass roots advice to whānau. He organised

a successful mother parenting programme and now voluntarily

a makes himself available daily to all members

of the Maraenui community where his quiet advice and

support is popular.

Sallie Dunford: is an environmental artist and motivator

for peace with a focus on our environmental. She

gains motivation from others because Papatuanuku is

her life force, and she uses this to reflects the rich, fertile

soil upon which the community was founded. She has

recently completed a mural on the Maraenui Koha Shed

and believe that this speaks for her mahi.

Levi Harley Armstrong: Has become a familiar figure

in and around Maraenui where he is providing daily training

opportunities. As part of a Master’s degree in Health

he runs free classes daily from Monday to Friday and a

Saturday morning class as well in health and fitness. The

classes are very popular and are proving locals the opportunity

to improve their health and wellbeing.

Peter Eden: For services to his marae (Moteo) and to

the wider community of Napier. Peter has played an

important role in the revitalisation of Te Taiwhenua o Te

Whanganui ā Orotū. During both the November floods

and during the Covid-19 Crisis he was central to the efforts

to ensure whānau were supported physically, emotionally,

and spiritually.

Peter Findlay: For services to the community. For

years Pete has very quietly volunteered, particularly in

and around Maraenui on community projects that are

designed to make Napier kinder and fairer. Immediately

following the November deluge, Pete mobilised several

like mined people to support the clean up and the delivery

of care packages to affective communities.

Rose Hiha: For services to her marae (Petane) and the

wider community of Napier. Rose has played a strong

supportive role in revitalising Te Taiwhenua o Te Whanganui

ā Orotū. During both the November floods and

during the Covid-19 Crisis Rose was central to the efforts

to ensure whānau were supported physically, emotionally,

and spiritually.

Janice Keepa-Kahukiwa: For services to her marae

(Te Haroto) and the wider community of Napier. Janice

has played a strong role in revitalising Te Taiwhenua o Te

Whanganui ā Orotū. During both the November floods

and during the Covid-19 Crisis Janice was central to the

efforts to ensure whānau were supported physically,

emotionally, and spiritually.

Hōri Reti: For his tireless services to his marae (Tangoio)

and the wider community of Napier. Hōri coordinated

Te Taiwhenua o Te Whanganui ā Orotū response

to both the November floods and during the Covid-19

Crisis. His leadership of Te Taiwhenua o Te Whanganui

ā Orotū was instrumental in ensuring they were able to

respond so quickly and effectively in times of crisis.

Marewa Kuini Reti: For services to her marae (Tangoio

and Petane) and the wider community of Napier.

Marewa has played a key role in the revitalisation of Te

Taiwhenua o Te Whanganui ā Orotū. During both the

November floods and during the Covid-19 Crisis Marewa

was central to the efforts to ensure whānau were supported

physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Satyam Saha: For services to the International Student

community. During the 2020 Covid-19 Lockdown

Satyam played a vital link between the Institute and individual

International Students who were isolated and

lonely. Satyam’s efforts ensured that each of the students

were able to be supported both by EIT and by the

local migrant community.


IT’S UNITY AWARD TIME

Mark Sweet writes a tribute a few years back that still rings true today.

BAY BUZZ FEATURES

UNSUNG HEROES

When Tom asked me to contribute to the list of 100

Buzzmakers in Hawke’s Bay I was immediately resistant.

A passage from the Dao De Ching came to mind: Not to

value and single out men of superior ability is the way to

keep the people from rivalry. In modern parlance, I take

this to mean that in compiling a roll of significant people

there will inevitably be some equally deserving of inclusion

who will be overlooked, which is both unfair and

contentious. Tom then asked if I would collaborate with

Pat Magill in writing about those people who work in the

social services.

My first memory of Pat is from Westshore in the late

1950’s when the beach was still sandy. He and my father

would compete in who could land farthest up the beach

from body surfing a wave.

Sentiment, and admiration for Pat’s dedication to social

justice persuaded me to partake, but we were confronted

with the vexing decision of who should be included,

because in Hawke’s Bay there are legions of citizens

who work tirelessly on behalf of others; lives spent in

service to the community often working with those least

privileged in extremely difficult circumstances.

They are the unsung heroes of our society. Their substantive

contribution is mostly unrecognised, but the

character of these folk is such that they don’t seek or

need recognition.

These are our teachers, doctors, nurses, and social

workers, many working way beyond their contracted

agreements, because it is service they are dedicated

to, not remuneration or recognition. And lest we forget,

there are hundreds of men and women who coach or

support sports teams and cultural activities, visit hospitals,

the elderly, and the prison, and care in one way or

another for their fellow citizens.

So too do many family members, who put aside their

own needs and desires to spend time with children and

the elderly in their families, many with special needs for

caring.

Those who volunteer their time and expertise in supporting

the afflicted, the suffering, the struggling, and

the dispossessed are a foundation without whom our

society would collapse. And like the foundations of a

building they are under the surface, unseen, but absolutely

essential to the integrity of the structure.

Appreciation of the invaluable role played by the volunteer

sector, and those who go the extra mile in their

community service careers, is lost in a society increasingly

individualistic and obsessed with personal status

and the cult of celebrity.

So in naming a few, we must remember the many, and

that those mentioned are representatives of the collective

who do outstanding work in our communities.

126


“Anything

that improves

the well-being

of Māori improves

the well-being

of the whole

community.”

MAN ON A MISSION, AN INFLUENCER,

SO MUCH MANA

by maxine boag, napier city councillor

When I first ran for Napier City Council a few years ago

now I had a photo taken with Pat to put on my flyer and

added, Nominated by Pat Magill. This had to be changed

because Pat lives in another ward, however it didn’t do

me any harm. Pat has actively supported left-leaning

candidates in local body elections myself included, for

years.

A few years later, the Maraenui Shopping Centre toilet

(since demolished and replaced), in the shopping centre

reserve, was kindly decorated courtesy of Pat. You could

call him the project manager, with a group of youngsters

doing a holiday programme. I think he was supporting

an artist who was working with a group of tamariki, and

purchased paint and brushes, and they did a one-day

bomb of the toilet block, which was in a terrible state.

Unfortunately Pat didn’t have permission or consent,

which caused minor ructions at the council, and workers

were sent down to paint over the “mural” as quickly as

they could.

The graffiti project was a bit rough and ready but harmless

really, and I was enraged by an email sent around

council by a well-paid bureaucrat working in Maraenui,

ridiculing Pat for organising this and I made a complaint

to the Te Puni Kokiri regional manager at the time, which

he put in the too hard basket. Pat has a way of cutting

through bureaucracy you might say and sometimes gets

away with it and sometimes he doesn’t! And I learnt

early not to tell Pat anything you wouldn’t mind having

emailed out to a wide range of people in the community!

Pat is a nomad and he doesn’t waste time, feeling he

has to make the most of what there is left and there’s

much more work to do. He’s a man with a mission; he

can influence events and beliefs and he has so much

mana, with Māori and Pakeha who listen to Māori.

I have more to say about Pat but where do you start

or finish when he’s still on his skates all over the place,

literally and metaphorically. He’s like the Scarlett Pimpernel;

“They seek him here, they seek him there, those

Frenchie’s seek him everywhere. Is he in Heaven? Is he

in Hell? The damned elusive Pimpernel!”

Love you Pat! Your fearless advocacy for social justice

has shown us all a way forward in honouring the Treaty

in our daily lives.

He aha te mea nui o te ao, he tangata he tangata he tangata.

What is the most important thing in the world, it is the

people, the people, the people.

Image above: Maxine and Pat in a photo that featured in Max’s campaign brochures for Napier City Council.


Clockwise from top left: Let’s hear it for Unity; a pensive Pilot City crowd takes in the korero; Pat with Helen Lloyd, another staunch

supporter; another great night at the RSA, with mystery guest from left, then Minnie Ratima, Maxine Boag, Pat, Franz Mueller,

Rose Mohi and Winepare Mauger; Bevan Taylor wows the crowd and MC Denis O’Reilly enjoys a laugh and a nice Ngatarawa red.

128


STAMINA AND RESOLVE

WITH NO EQUAL

by martin williams, barrister

I first met Pat Magill in about May 2008 at our house

in Cameron Road, soon after we moved to Napier from

Auckland. My parents Jon and Helen Williams had met

Pat on several occasions, and knew that he used to live

in our house from the time he was born in the mid-1920s

until (I think) the late 1940s or early 1950s, when he was

married. My Mum had read a book written by his sister

Marie called Irish in the Blood which she loaned to me,

and I had read prior to meeting Pat.

This book tells the story of a family growing up during

the depression and post-earthquake era in a loving but

strict Brethren household. Many of the stories were of

course set within rooms of the house now occupied by

our family, and I found it fascinating to learn that history

through reading those stories about the house we now

lived in. Also, about Pat’s antics as a youngster, such

as getting hold of a transistor radio (which was strictly

banned in the household), or in later life, returning home

a little worse for wear after a football match and a few

beers with his mates.

Stories also of Marie sitting at the window seat of

the room my daughter now occupied, looking wistfully

out over the city and hearing the music of a dance in

town that she longed to be part of. Hearing how Pat’s

father had a premonition of the earthquake so the family

Through meeting Pat, my

world view was transformed.

I began to very much believe

in and still champion to this

day a model whereby social

wellbeing is best achieved

through enabling everyone in

our communities to realise

their full potential.

headed out of town for safety; then how they received

a message that there had been a catastrophe in Napier

and they quickly returned to help people out as a family.

Of how the house needed to be shifted back and reset,

having fallen off its piles. Of how the house used to be a

private school back in the 1890s and how Pat’s mother

Martin Williams and Pat, walking, talking and walking the talking.


was so excited to be able to get enough money together

to buy it.

On this first and over several visits since, Pat showed

me the room that he used to live in as a youngster, pointing

to the window that he leaned out of on one occasion

after a rugby match to clear his head. I recall Pat looking

into the downstairs cupboard and noticing the carpet,

exclaimed this was the very same carpet his parents had

installed throughout the house.

More important than all of this of course, I began to

learn about what community meant to Pat. When he

asked why we moved to Napier I said that I had wished

to be part of a stronger more caring and cohesive community

than my children could possibly hope to grow

up in in Auckland. This was all the encouragement Pat

needed to invite me to a Pilot City Trust meeting. Before

I knew it, I was a trustee and a year or two later, chair of

that Trust.

Through that experience my world view was transformed.

I began to very much believe in and still champion

to this day a model whereby social wellbeing is best

achieved through enabling everyone in our communities

to realise their full potential, without making judgments

of their worth based on how they might appear or their

background. Of Pat’s model (inspired by the late John

Robson), of a city of 60,000 people “not too large to know

itself”, and if Napier can’t make this model work, who or

where can. This is what his billboard Napier builds communities,

Not prisons was all about. Pat had worked at

the coalface of that vision for many years by the time I

met him, through his involvement with the YMCA and in

supporting the establishment of the Pilot City Trust in

the early 1980s.

I often thought of Pat as a bit like that toothbrush

they used to advertise “getting into those hard to reach

places”. Pat has through years of tireless effort and time

“I often thought of Pat as a

bit like that toothbrush they

used to advertise “gets into

those hard to reach places”.

spent, managed to establish trusting relationships with

people from all walks of life — whether they be patched

gang members, whānau of prison inmates, young rangatahi,

victims of domestic violence or abuse, local politicians,

members of the business community, or whatever.

He is able to draw on an immense and deep connection

with a uniquely wide range of Napier communities going

right back through his days of involvement with Hawke’s

Bay Rugby and in his drapery and carpet retail business

days.

Quite simply, in my view, Pat is a living legend or phenomenon.

He has a stamina and resolve which has no

equal. He is indefatigable. It has been a true blessing

to come to know Pat and I have learnt a great deal from

him. I can never pin him down and nor should you try. I

often felt that Pat talked in riddles or as I would sometimes

put it “figure 8s”, lurching from point to point, idea

to idea, but within the narrative always a gem and an

essential truth revealed.

Pat has lived and walked a very long life and continues

to walk long distances to promote the mental health and

wellbeing of youth at risk to this day. I believe Pat’s contribution

to Napier and his ethic is founded in the loving

and spiritually strong household that he grew up in,

known as Repokite to his family and which I am now so

fortunate to occupy.

Go well Pat, you’re a legend.

130


A MOTH TO THE LIGHT OF INJUSTICE

mark cleary,

spokesperson, napier pilot city trust

It’ll come as no surprise that Pat Magill has his own

folder on my computer! As you all know he writes lots

of emails and they need more than one reading. Pat

is an early adopter of technology and is the master of

the email especially the bcc: You never know where the

email addressed to you from Pat, is going.

I have known Pat for as long as I have lived in Napier

which goes back 41 years. Our first meeting was when

we needed a carpet on the attic stairs. I was playing for

Napier High School Old Boys’ and he was the go-to carpet

man. He did a great job, but there was no bill, despite

plenty of requests. It was too small a job to worry

about he said, and he enjoyed working on an old house

on the hill!

That’s not to say he’s an easy touch…he’s a canny negotiator

as was attested by the way he negotiated a very

generous $10 lunch from the Hawke’s Bay Club at the

2019 Unity Day. When we were organising this year’s

Unity Dinner at the RSA, the Restaurant Manager gave

us a meal price with the proviso that ‘Pat Magill is not to

come calling and ask for a reduction!’

I started to get to know Pat better when I started at

Colenso High School in 1991. The Pub With No Beer

and the Y were Colenso’s neighbours and I quickly recognised

that Pat and the Napier Pilot City Trust were

strongly embedded in the local community. Pat knows

where the needs are and is welcome everywhere. There

is mutual respect.

What is remarkable about Pat is that he is the very

model of what the social scientists see as change

agents. He understands the central need to respect,

support and empower the individual rather than to rescue.

Too many activists preach, know what is best and

remain completely out of touch. Pat remains grounded,

connected to his community and his people.

Pat operates on the kanohi ki te kanohi level; he’s

face-to-face, whether this is sitting chatting to rangatahi

in the Napier District Court foyer on a Wednesday

morning, outside the Pieman in the Maraenui shops, the

Westshore Pub or the RSA. His strong interpersonal and

empathetic skills have given him an extraordinary and

sharp insight into issues of equity and justice.

What makes him remarkable is that he calls out injustice

whenever he sees it without fear or favour. His commitment

to Te Tiriti o Waitangi drives so much of what he

does. This speaks volumes of his ability to understand

our history and the need for us all to know it if we are

to heal as a nation. He has fearlessly championed the

need for all New Zealanders to know and understand

the Treaty and I, like hundreds of others in Napier were

persuaded by Pat to attend Robert Considine’s Treaty

workshops.

Pat continues with this advocacy with increased passion

and enthusiasm. He is one of Andrew Judd’s (the

former New Plymouth Mayor and self-described reforming

racist) fieriest supporters in Andrew’s quest to remove

racist legislation that is aimed only at the Tangata

Whenua.

Pat is a moth to the light of injustice; strong and proud

and always ready to show his support in his mild, peaceful

and determined way.

This was clearly illustrated last year as the Ihumātao

occupation kicked off. Pat mentioned that he was heading

off to join and show support for the SOUL protestors…there’s

no stopping this man and aren’t we lucky

to have him.


A PERSISTENT, UNWAVERING

HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

by alwyn corban

You are a good man, Pat, a very good man with a good

compass and enviable vitality.

What’s more, you are living proof that Napier is a City

not too big to learn about itself.

Whether by design or coincidence you have embraced

this notion put forward by your friend Dr John Robson in

the 1980s. However, I suspect you made it your business

to know about Napier and know the people of your community

long before.

You knock on doors. You are a tireless networker and

relationship builder, and you do this across many divides.

I am sure you could knock on any door in Napier and be

a welcomed guest. You are an example to us all, working

one on one, listening to people and making small gestures

of kindness.

I met you 45 years ago, when I was a youth about to

marry Mary-Anne, and it has been my good fortune that

our relationship has seamlessly journeyed through the

years as a son in law, family friend and ultimately dear

friend. It has always been authentic, marked by respect

and transparency. I do enjoy our “wee chats over a glass

of wine” and you do have a way of “getting the sunlight in!”

You were younger than your generation, not in age but

in attitude. The 1970’s kaupapa of the Values Party sat

comfortably with your environmental and social activist

leanings. I heard stories of your term as President of the

Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union during the Ranfurly Shield era

and was a customer, or was it beneficiary, during the last

years of your carpet business.

You were an active member of the Forest and Bird Society

and President of YMCA New Zealand. The Downtown

Y and Michael’s Place (The Pub With No Beer) were

a focus as they successfully trialled alternative venues for

Napier youth to socialise safely. As a founding trustee of

the Hawke’s Bay Community College, you were a proud

and strong advocate of the non-vocational education it

provided, and in the 1980s, as a founding trustee, you embraced

the mandate of the Napier Pilot City Trust to pilot

innovative social justice projects.

Your tenacity has kept that flame alive and today it is

greatly rewarding to be a fellow Trustee with you and to

see its rekindling over the last few years.

I always enjoyed Magill family times. They were fun and

eagerly anticipated. “Family night” at 3 Whakarire Ave was

Above, Alwyn and Pat nearly 45 years ago; more recently, great mates on the same page at a wine and cheese board meeting,

Alwyn is now Pilot City Trust treasurer.

132


a Thursday tradition. Cath’s time-honoured roast dinner

was kept warm in the bain marie, we invariably drank too

much wine and finished the evening playing cards, always

many hands of 500. Often in weekends we would go to

the bach at Puketitiri to spend time re-establishing the native

bush and make a side trip to fish, swim and picnic at

the Mohaka river or tramp to Te Puia Springs for a “hot

dip”.

There was no generation gap. You make people feel

special, and you have always given me more credit than I

felt was due. I sense I am not alone in that. It wasn’t until

I read Irish in the Blood, the family history written by your

sister Marie Gray, that I started to think how your early life,

the principles of the Plymouth Brethren and the example

of your father’s acts of kindness could have shaped your

relentless social conscience.

This was reinforced when I read your Dad’s, Robert

Magill’s, tribute in the Daily Telegraph 19 November 1957

which included :

“Mr (Robert) Magill throughout his long life in the city

was always ready to assist, in tangible ways, those in

need. His cheery personality and generosity stemmed

from a strong character, and were well known in the wards

of the Napier Public Hospital, the Napier goal, and the old

people’s homes, where he was a regular and popular visitor.

“Mr Magill had a notable capacity for making friends

and, although ranked among Napier’s elder citizens, he

was well known and popular with the youth of the city.”

Pat, you are an inspiration. Your persistence and unwavering

hope for the future and your encouragement for us

all to make it better does not fall on deaf ears. You have

been patient, and we still have time. As the good book

says : “A thousand years is but a day to the Lord”.

He hoa pūmau koe, he rangatira anō hoki.

Nga mihi nui,

Ahuriri; Kia Kaha! Kia Toa! Kia Manawanui!

Top marks Pat for your commitment to the Pilot City

Trust, for gathering people around you who believe in its

kaupapa, to those who have gone before and supported

you in your quest for a kinder, fairer city; and to the future

foot soldiers you will get on board to share your vision and

mahi hard. You make Napier a better place.

Kia kaha, Pat.


“ Walking Te Aroha, our long trail, is an affordable

Outward Bound for many of our youth. They respond to the

wairua of long walking, the wairua of the hikoi.”

134


TE ARAROA OFFERS HOPE — TAKING THE

HIKOI ALONG AOTEAROA’S LONG TRAIL

Pat’s always been on the go, hyperactive some said. As

a kid, zooming all over the hill, finding larks, feasting on

being in the great outdoors. So as an adult, it’s not surprising

he would forge on with fun, friendship, fitness

and the environment guiding and inspiring him.

He relishes connecting with nature, appreciating the

treasure — the toanga that it is, and what it gives us.

Ask him his religion and he’ll say, “Nature is my god.” So

he puts the two together, environment and exercise, and

finds something magical every time and anywhere he

hits the trail.

As a gregarious ultra-enthusiast, of course he takes as

many people as he can along for the glorious ride. He’s

done it for years. Share the magic, have some time out,

take a deep breath, and in a small leaf of the forest floor

you might just see and feel a bigger, better world with

endless possibilities.

Te Araroa, New Zealand’s Trail, stretching end to end

3000kms from Cape Reinga to Bluff covers a mixture of existing

and new tracks, walkways and link sections alongside

roads. It fires up plenty of people’s excitement levels

and determination to tackle a challenge, with Aotearoa’s

stunning landscapes their constant companion.

Pat sees more opportunities for Te Araroa, past that of

Caging our youth is an

expensive failure. Instead of

imprisoning youth who aren’t

bad but simply aren’t coping,

why not take them out on the

trail?”

the tourism trade and those who notch up physical challenges

as trophies.

He wants to see this magnificent asset as an alternative

outward bound, as nature’s classroom, a trail for

healing and rehab, where time spent anywhere along its

pathway inspires opportunities and has lifelong, positive

impacts. When Minnie Ratima first hit the trail up north,

she too saw its potential and after they had completed

the first section she’d caught the bug. She wanted to do

more and that’s how the idea grew to start a trust, an

ideal, a dream, a challenge, to walk from Cape Reinga to

Bluff, when time and money allowed.

Above and opposite: Cape Reinga. Photos Andre Bernhardt/Will Li.


ALL INVOLVED WILL REMEMBER

THIS FOREVER

by tim magill

Here we are, on January 13, 2014 at the lighthouse. Cape

Reinga — Te Rerenga Wairua and Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe, and

the The Long Beach of Tōhe, Ninety Mile Beach. This

was named by Tōhe, a Ngāti Kahu chief who lived in Kapowairua,

Piwhane — Spirits Bay, east of Cape Reinga.

Travelling south to visit his daughter he named many

places along Oneroa-a-Tōhe, names that remain today,

places that we’ll pass on the way.

I’m part of the support crew for Te Araroa Offers Hope

(TAOH) hikoi, inspired by Pat Magill and Minnie Ratima,

to walk the special, northern most section of Te Awaroa,

The Long Walk. The kaupapa for the hikoi: Te Araroa as

an accessible Outward Bound, a new way forward.

Pat is 90ish now, so what has brought us to this adventure?

Pat is my father. A clue as to why we find ourselves

here, is that for us kids growing up at Westshore,

walking was big for us. We all walked the Milford Track

in 1967 and White Pine Bush was a nice walk before that,

where I’m sure, partly as a Pat-inspired project, we were

helping Prison Inmates cut a track that remains today at

the top of Esk Valley.

Going back further we walked and ‘mooched’ on Sundays

to the trawlers moored at Ahuriri, sometimes further

too, and on board ships docked at the big Port. Nice. A

YMCA Napier to Hastings ‘walkabout’ fundraiser followed.

At least two of these were in his sights and were

widely supported and a bit imaginative as I recall. Going

even further back, Pat’s mother Jessie loved walking too.

Jessie was fit, lithe and full of energy — sound familiar?

Time to get serious. Next came the five day Taupo to

Napier extravaganza as a YMCA Walkabout Fundraiser.

As always, a good cause, a lot of fun… slash mayhem…

slash aroha. Keywords: Dirty Dozen, a group of rugby

fellas as the caterers; Ena Sharples talking by phone

to my sister Jes at the event’s send off at the Municipal

Theatre, and Kelvin Tremain speaking with Albert Tatlock.

Novel.

Lesser walks between include Waimarama to Cape

Image above: Te Araroa Offers Hope Hikoi — 1st stage to Bluff! Back row: Bernie Te Ringa, Jo Magill, Travis Magill, Jerri Magill,

Pat Magill, Minnie Ratima, Rupene Murray (Ngataki), Beulah Murray, Maraea Barlow; front row, Tangiareta Wilson, Sonny Nathan,

Puawai Te Iringa, Cortez Te Ringa, Tim Magill.

136


Kidnappers with some Parkers and Magill’s. Then around

Lake Waikaremoana with Mum’s rellies the O’Donnell’s,

a part of the wonderful madness. We have to say our

Mum, Catherine, was up for all of this, in as much as she

was herself adventurous and that she supported Pat.

So why not have another walk and highlight how a

positive and simple activity can offer hope to those who

need it, or those who never had the chance for an adventure.

‘Te Araroa Offers Hope’ was on our tee shirts. The

main walkers were Pat, who walked most of the 88km

long Ninety Mile Beach. Minnie, Pat’s good social working

partner from Maraenui; Jo Magill, Jerri and Travis

Magill, our whānau, fit and keen. Me, Tim with helpers

Bernie, Puawai and Cortez. Some more whānau/ friends/

freedom walkers wanted to join the fun so Tangiareta,

Sonny, Briney and his two nieces joined the hikoi too. Jo

Magill was real keen to get to Bluff eventually — this was

her start — and by the end of the trip more on the team

including Minnie were keen to do that too. Walking the

entire trail as time allowed was in their sights.

DAY 1:

A photo and special kick off at the amazing Cape Reinga

Lighthouse. The walkers set out towards Ninety Mile

Beach and us supporters took the road back south, hit

the beach via a stream and drove back north to Scott’s

Landing to make camp. The Hiace van became the

“Mothership”. Carrying gear, kitchen/dining area. By the

time the walkers came down the huge cliff via steps, we

had base camp ready. They were buzzing, talking the

walk, a swim, meal and moi at this abrupt top of Ninety

Mile Beach and plenty of beach ahead.

to be going well and although they’re buggered tonight,

all are happy, and hungry.

DAY 3:

Pat has walked both days but on the third he opts to

join the support crew and although locals said with the

tide half out we would be fine driving the beach, we got

smashed by some big waves right through our Mothership.

Towed out an hour later, we gave refreshments to

the walkers on their way to camp 3 at Utea. Choices of

two commercial camps tell us we are re-joining civilisation.

This night was relaxed as all are a bit fitter and in

the groove plus the next day to Waipapakauri is the last

full day (around 20km). Pat has since made good friends

with Utea Camp owners as he promotes this trail and

researches accommodation options for further hikoi. Always

more, on, on.

DAY 4:

Still good hot weather so it’s up early, breaky and hit the

trail before it’s too hot. Us, the support crew are enjoying

the experience as spectators. We see walkers in an

almost desert-like situation; desolate and vast, whether

driving or walking, this part of Te Araroa is so unique.

Tonight we are in a proper motor camp with trappings

of society. A small stroll tomorrow and its over for this

section and this group, for now.

DAY 5:

DAY 2:

A great day dawns, surf pounding while we breaky and

see walkers trickle out in groups of twos and threes. After

Mothership crew break camp, we cruise the beach

passing the legendary gang and set up camp at The

Bluff. Surf, bigger and better amenities, a long drop even.

Again walkers trickle in — ones and twos now as it happens.

They think better alone?

Thinking of the plusses one can experience on a good

walk: Time to Think, Solve, Bond, Gain Hope, Enjoy Nature,

Get Fit, Think Fit, etc. Pat and Minnie are also using

any attention which this hikoi raises to advance their

suggestions for a better, fairer society. Anyway it seems

Pat has Hone Harawera interested in TAOH so Hone

walks with us on this last leg. As does Jim Morunga, another

legendary Napier crusader who with Pat over the

years has tried plenty of tricks to assist with equality. I

think Hone thought we were going to march as proteststyle

walkers, rabble rousers maybe, instead of cruising

at our own pace with our own thoughts. This walk to

Ahipara Motor Camp was so short the walkers beat our

Mothership to the camp. Whew! Lovely to have made it

and rest together… a bonded team for sure.

Writing this brings back a special time. Some of us

have travelled further afield yet this impresses us all

on so many levels. I think all involved will remember it

forever. Well done Pat.


Clockwise from top left: Lois Naera and whānau near Utea Park; Honourable Kelvin Davis, now Minister of Corrections and Rupene

Mare from Ngataki; these signs were a pleasing sight along the way; finally, Ahipara and the first segment of Te Araroa Trail is

completed; huge achievement for wahine toa Jerri Magill, Minnie Ratima and Jo Magill with koro Pat; the celebratory, proud group

shot; Pat loved Utea Park and could see its potential as a haven for TAOH hikoi.

138


PAT MAGILL —

HE WHAKATAUKI

In the context of healing future generations this Whakatauki reminds me of Pat:

Hapaitia Te ara tika pumau ai te Rangatiratanga mo nga uri Whakatipu —

Foster the pathway of knowledge to strength, independence

and growth for future generations.

My name is Lois Naera and I met Pat around 2012. I was

working for Pillars Incorporated at the time, an organisation

that has worked for over 30 years with children and

whānau of prisoners.

I’ve been a social worker for almost 40 years now and

I use that knowledge to lecture at the Manukau Institute

of Technology, shaping our future social work practitioners

— a job I love, next to working with whānau.

In 2012 I received an email from our Pillars Christchurch

office to say that there was a group of people coming

to Auckland with some children to a whānau day

at the Wiri Women’s Prison. I didn’t know whether the

email was meant for me and sent it back to Christchurch

as it didn’t say a lot aside of the fact they were needing

somewhere to stay in Auckland and did Pillars provide

accommodation.

The email went to and fro and eventually I figured I

would call the person who had sent the email, Berta

Ratima. Berta was bringing a small group of children to

Auckland to visit their mothers in prison. Although Pillars

doesn’t provide accommodation for children or whānau

visiting their parent’s in prison, I felt empathetic for their

cause and decided to find accommodation for these

people outside my work for Pillars.

My mokopuna attended a local kohanga reo at the

time and I made enquiries as to whether we could use

their small facility to host the visitors from Maraenui. Tahuri

mai kohanga at the time had a small prefab building

with a small kitchen but enough space to place mattresses

down to sleep. No showering facilities but the

local swimming pool was straight across the road which

could be utilised for showering the children and whānau.

My husband and I decided that we would host them

over the weekend. When they arrived on Friday night

we settled them in and left them to their own devices as

we lived very close and would check in with them in the

morning. The group had already set an agenda for the

weekend so we just spent the evenings with them.

This was our first encounter of meeting Mr Pat Magill.

It was a strange sight at the time because here was

this Pākeha kaumātua with a group of Māori and I was

curious to know his connection to them. We spent the

evenings of their visit getting to know the whānau and

Pat’s connection. This was the beginning of a journey

of friendship that would go further than we both anticipated.

I soon found out that Pat was passionate about the Te

Araroa Trail and how this could be a healing journey for

all; more importantly those affected by incarceration or

injustices. Pat was an avid social justice man, something

also close to my heart.

With a group of people from Maraenui, Pat was planning

to walk the first journey of the Te Araroa Trail from

Te Rerenga Wairua to Ahipara. I told Pat that the iwi in

the far north were my whānau and Pat said he would

like a kaumātua to do their karakia for them before they

began their journey. I then connected Pat to my father

Image above: Pat visits Lois Naera and the team for the official opening of the Pillars Manukau office, speaks with Pillars volunteers,

and participates in the annual ‘Children of Prisoners’ event.


WHANGANUI

TRIBES

“The great tribes of Whanganui take their name,

their spirit and their strength from the great river

which flows from the mountains of the central

North Island to the sea. For centuries the people

have travelled the Whanganui River by canoe,

caught eels in it, built villages on its banks, and

fought over it. The people say, ‘Ko au te awa. Ko te

awa ko au’ — I am the river. The river is me’”.

David Youn

Rupene Mare who Pat met prior to the group’s walk. Pat

and my father have remained firm friends. The rest is a

story for Pat to tell…

Pat soon became interested in my work and was invited

to an official opening of the Pillars Manukau office

and the following year while on a journey through Auckland

came to speak to Pillars volunteers and to participate

in an annual event for ‘Children of Prisoners’.

In 2015 our whānau decided to walk the first leg of the

Te Araroa Trail with invitations sent out to the local iwi,

whānau and friends. The walk was broken down into

five days with an average of 20k to be walked a day. The

walk eventually consisted of only four generations of our

whānau and on the final walk community, whānau and

friends walked the last leg with us. Pat with a friend travelled

up to walk the final leg with us; one of many memories

we as a whānau will never forget.

My husband and I travelled to Napier at Pat’s request

to talk about the work that we do, as my husband works

for PARS Incorporated as a navigator, working alongside

men and women who are coming out of prison and deportees.

I have also joined with Pat as he, Minnie and a

small group walked with Ian Upton from Petone to Wellington

Parliament House.

Pat is a Rangatira in his own right. He has become a

loved member of our whānau and is admired for his passion

and audacity to continue to fight for injustice for all

at his age. This is a legacy that we will always remember

him for, amidst other traits. He is humble, caring, giving,

loyal, stubborn, and will travel to the ends of the earth to

fight for causes he believes in.

Nga manaakitanga,

Lois Naera

Top two pics, the Puraroto Camp Ground near Jerusalem

/ Hiruhirama where Jay Cripps formerly of Napier, is host;

Jerusalem, home to Sister Mary Aubert and James K Baxter

many years ago.

140

TAKE ME TO THE

RIVER

In May 2018, Minnie, Pat and the staunch tight four

TAOH team, Tanyon, Jake, Bronson and Kaivah

head to Taumaranui and the Whanganui River, another

stunning section of the trail, that traverses

from the mountains to the sea, via the mighty waterway.

The history and mystery of the area made

such an impact on everyone, especially Minnie,

they all promised to come back and experience

the river fully when time and budget allow.

Visiting Puraroto Camp Ground further down

the river and just north of Jerusalem was definitely

on their wish list. Originally from Maraenui and a

former Mongrel Mob member, Jay Cripps established

the camp three years ago. Linking up with

other tourist providers along the river, he hosts individuals

and groups travelling the trail and others

exploring the area. Jay has a great set up offering

plenty of activities for living in nature and adjusting

to the river’s rhythm and on the land, including

how to put down a proper hangi.


HITTING THE ROAD

While the team didn’t spend much time on

the river they did plenty of walking, along the

Whanganui River Road, and following the trail

from Bulls to Woodville, where they discovered

great spirit and aroha on the way. The community

came out and greeted them, fully supported

them and various people joined them

on their journey. Memorably this included Iwi

Police Vinnie Heihei, who now fully supports

TAOH and Ahuriri Pilot City Trust kaupapa —

Build Communities not Prisons.

Walking the Whanganui riverside are (from left)

Vinnie Heihei, Pat Magill, Tanyon Ratima, Jake Carr,

Bronson Rehutai, Kaivah Cooper and Minnie Ratima.

Photo courtesy NZME.

Images above: Minnie and a tight team support Ian Upton on his peace hikoi from Petone to Parliament House, Wellington; Pat and

Minnie at Okato — they do get around; TAOH gets great media coverage nationally and the then local MP Marama Davidson joins the

hikoi for the day.


JO MAGILL INSPIRES TAOH

Jo embraced Pat’s notion of using Aotearoa’s long trail

for more than just achieving personal physical fitness

goals. She too saw broader benefits of the trail as an affordable

Outward Bound.

To celebrate his 89th birthday in September 2015,

Pat hit the trail again, taking the Te Araroa Offers Hope

(TAOH) hikoi through Auckland. This is the most urban

sector of the trail, covering 60kms and Jo was right there

alongside him.

Following the inaugural TAOH adventure the year before,

Jo took the challenge of walking the entire Te Araroa

trail seriously. She’d slowly worked her way down the

North Island in sections when time and circumstances

allowed, and by September 2015 she’d walked the entire

stretch from Cape Reinga to Auckland, mostly on her own.

Over time she reached as far as Wellington and hopes to

complete the entire length of Te Araroa in the near future.

She has great memories of TAOH adventures with

Pat. “Often we were ‘winging it’ which is unusual for me

because I’m quite organised. I always researched where

we were going, what to expect etc, but no amount of

research can prepare you for what you’ll actually find

out there. Encountering surprises, dilemmas and occurrences

that you’d never expect but you have to deal and

cope with — that’s the excitement and the challenge.”

As the pair covered the kilometres together Jo was always

astounded at Pat’s stamina. She couldn’t figure out

where it came from. “He had stamina with his vision too,

nothing could deter him from his vision. Any setbacks

along the way, he would just rise above them and carry

on. We shared a lot of comradeship along the way and

these were special times.”

Images above: Pat and Jo have fun on the trail. It was hearing about his daughter-in-law Jo Magill’s trip to Spain in 2013 to walk the

El Camino Trail that first inspired Pat to tap into the potential of the Te Aroroa Trail. New Zealand’s stunning 3000km trek through

Aotearoa’s stunning landscapes would be ideal for the long walks that Pat loves so much, to give youth who wouldn’t normally get

the chance to experience nature, an opportunity to embrace new experiences.

142


CHILD FRIENDLY CITIES PROJECT

by mark cleary, pilot city trust chair

Once Pat become aware of the UNICEF Child Friendly

Initiative he was in boots and all, recognising that Napier

was the ideal place to adopt this. The Child Friendly Cities

Initiative (CFCI) is a UNICEF-led initiative (launched

in 1996) that supports municipal governments in realizing

the rights of children at the local level using the UN

Convention on the Rights of the Child as its foundation.

Pat immediately got hold of the local head of the Ministry

of Education Roy Sye, a former school principal and

Napier City Councillor and gained his support to get

Napier to become part of the Child Friendly City Initiative.

Roy suggested that Pat visit all the local schools

and gain their support.

Within weeks Pat had visited all the Napier schools

and received verbal support and interest from each for

the Initiative.

In 2019 The Napier Pilot City Trust decided that it

would make the goal of Napier as a Child Friendly City

a key part of its vision of a kinder and fairer Napier and

held the first Napier Pilot City Trust Child Friendly Forum.

This was successful, and the event was repeated in 2020.

The 2019 forum deliberately aligned international

(UNICEF Child Friendly Initiative), national (Child

and Youth Wellbeing Strategy) and regional (Matariki

Hawke’s Bay Regional Economic Development Strategy)

actions to demonstrate that Napier as a Child Friendly

City was logical and had support at all levels. At the

2019 forum, newly elected Mayor Kirsten Wise gave her

strong support for the initiative and announced that

Councillor Richard McGrath would hold a special Child

Friendly portfolio. Pat’s vision appeared to be coming

closer.

The 2019 forum allowed tamariki from Maraenui Bilingual

School to share their thoughts with participants;

their message was powerful and demonstrated clearly

that the voice of our children must be central to any

strategy or initiative. This resulted in the focus of the

2020 forum being on the voice of tamariki and we were

thrilled that four other schools participated and shared

their powerful messages. The Tamatea Intermediate

School group were subsequently asked to share their

presentation and video to a full Napier City Council

meeting the next month.

While at the time of writing Napier City hasn’t adopted

the Child Friendly City Initiative, they are active in supporting

the regionalisation of the Government Child and

Youth Wellbeing Strategy and are very keen that Napier

develops its own unique Child Friendly Strategy. The

Trust is very keen to work alongside the Council with

this.


MARAENUI SCHOOL

MAKES POWERFUL PLEA

The presentation from a group of tamariki from Maraenui Bilingual School created for the

Pilot City Trust forum in 2019, made for a very powerful series of events. Called Napier — A Child

Friendly City this document was a heartfelt plea from some of Ahuriri’s young citizens to live in a

kinder, fairer place and for gangs to call a truce. This document has been reprinted here.

NAPIER — A CHILD FRIENDLY CITY

MARAENUI MANA, MARAENUI PRIDE, MARAENUI HARD

OUR YOUNG PEOPLE

• SAY adults

DO NOT LISTEN

• They are not being heard

• They see what’s happening, and are the essence

to the solutions of their own needs

Ko ahau Te Putake o Te Ao

Ko Ahau Rangatira mo apopo

He Taonga Ahau

STOP ALCOHOL, VIOLENCE,

FIGHTING, DRAMA AND

DRUGS!

Gangs should have a peace treaty,

so we can feel safe, so we can have

a better life.

MAYBE WE NEED

• Our shops need to stop selling alcohol and smokes

• Our young people and parents generation have

employment and hands-on learning opportunities

• Education on alcohol, drugs, health and safety

awareness and prevention as well as everyday skills

for a healthy lifestyle

IF KIDS CAN IN Schools

FAMILIES CAN in Homes

HOMELESS —

POVERTY

Limiting

our young

people to reach

their full potential is

like closing them in a

box and in that box

they will remain.

ECO-FRIENDLY APARTMENTS

• That people who are not well and

are mamae have the proper support and

help they need

• People with drug and alcohol addiction go to rehab

• They live in a rehab enviroment

• No drugs or alcohol

• Families CAN

144


WHAT DO OUR YOUNG

PEOPLE WANT?

• More basketball hoops

• Full sized basketball court

• A clean neighbourhood

• Stop littering and start recycling around the community

• Upgrade our parks

• Where’s our splash pad?

• Our skate strip leads out onto a main road

• Adding new play equipment each year

• A mini van and a community bus, shared between

the local kura, sports club, Church, Kohanga reo,

childcare centres and community events

A teacher aide at our Maraenui kura is taking out

young people as a class and the cost to hire a bus is

$1500 at least. This year our kura didn’t book the bus for

our kapa haka festival held at Te kura Kaupapa ki Heretaunga.

We were lucky that we have a good network

with supportive Kura in our area. Aroha mai, Aroha tu.

Many of our young people from Maraenui are elite athletes,

nurtured by not only school involvement in sports

but also Maraenui Rugby and Sports Association, producing

Hawke’s Bay representatives in rugby, girls rugby,

girls rugby league, touch rugby, and of course basketball.

• Our young people need transport! And, consistent

committed qualified driver/carers to get them to their

training and games

• Love kapa haka

• Love being Māori

• Love sports

• Love to dance

TOURISM

OUR

YOUNG

PEOPLE

• Love to have fun

• Love to learn

• Love to belong

• Love to be loved

We are keen for tourism employment opportunities for

our young people. Kapa Haka and Hangi to perform and

host/cater and feed visitors from overseas ships. Making

kete by our young people for our young people. To include

our pakeke and family members that are passionate

about kapa haka and love to serve others. This will

give our young people the chance to productively represent

themselves, their family, their community, their city

and their iwi.

WE NEED TO CLEAN OUR

GREENBELT & WATERWAYS

RECREATION AND EDUCATION

YOUTH CENTRE

The green belt could be a beautiful pathway for our community

to walk or run around and admire, but alas that

is not the beauty of it. It’s polluted, paru, and has rubbish

amongst the overgrown native plants and bushes.

Still in the paru waters the ducks paddle around looking

strangely small and sick.

Murals, art, and Māori art would be ideal along the

corrugated iron fences, brightening up our walkways and

our community.

• If our walkways and waterways were clean, cared for

and maintained maybe we could get those exercise

stations, similar to the ones by the Aquarium and

along Marine Parade

• CCTV cameras would make our community feel safe.

Our young people want to be actively involved with the

community and school gardens/mara-kai and being educated

on planting, with hands-on learning and giving

back to the community

• Our young people need a place to go to

• Somewhere safe

• Somewhere fun

• Somewhere where we are not judged

• Somewhere without alcohol, drugs or gang influence

• Somewhere that is ours and for us

We need to have a recreation and educational centre like

William Colenso College and Flaxmere’s Flax Rock, with

indoor basketball courts, darts and a classroom space.

A music studio — where young people can produce their

own music. A dance studio, a stage for performers, musicians

and kapa haka. A place where the young people

can have dance parties and formal events and be able

to cater for educational workshops and wānanga. A well

resourced centre, managed and staffed by people who

are passionate about young people and what they are

teaching and sharing, to become the best individuals

they can be in today’s society.


MARAENUI

BILINGUAL SCHOOL —

TRAILBLAZER

Maraenui Bilingual School has a long and proud

history. It was established 63 years ago and 33

years ago became the first bilingual school in

Aotearoa. Principal Christopher Worsley says the

school had huge foresight to focus on retaining Te

Reo.

There are two streams, or whānau, at the school,

the Rūmaki whānau which is total immersion with

five classes available, and the bilingual whānau

which runs four classes. According to Christopher,

Te Reo holds the key to New Zealanders coming

to value biculturalism, and the indigenous culture

of Aotearoa.

Clockwise from top left: Principal Christopher Worsley shares a special moment with a tamariki; keen and ready to learn; planting

day; scary water slide; Art Deco celebration time; building strength and resilience; and all lined up for swimming sports. Opposite;

Reverend Matiu Eru, with Black Power Spokesperson Denis O’Reilly and Pat, discussing peace with the gangs; Matiu and Pat before

presenting a plea from tamariki at Maraenui Bilingual School asking for peace between gangs and a bettter life.

146


TWO OLD MATES

IMPLORE THE GANGS

It sounds like the beginning of a joke: two old

mates, social justice campaigners from way back,

rock up to the Mongrel Mob gang pad in Maraenui

last summer. They’re emissaries; one carries a

document in his hand, a plea from kids at a nearby

school, a school that some of these gang members’

tamariki attend. But this is no joke. The kids, among

other requests, ask for a truce between the warring

gangs in the rohe, Mongrel Mob and Black Power.

That same night Mati Eru and Pat Magill, brothers

under the skin, also met up with lifetime Black

Power member Denis O’Reilly and presented the

same document. Pat and Mati said there was good

will on both sides but the community probably

doesn’t feel those good vibes. Over a year down

the track there’s still a lot of work to be done in

striking an accord. “A peace treaty is needed because

children have the right to feel safe and enjoy

a better life”, the emissaries said on the night and

that’s still the case.

As was covered in the previous chapter, there

is good stuff happening too and the ripples are

spreading, creating plenty of positives to help build

a better future.


TRUST’S RECOMMENDTIONS

FOR A CHILD FRIENDLY CITY

At the conclusion of the Napier Pilot City Trust’s second Child Friendly Forum

in November 2020 — the trust made the following recommendations:

NAPIER PILOT CITY TRUST

RECOMMENDATIONS:

• That the Napier Community develops a Child Friendly Strategy.

— That the Vision of a Child Friendly City in Napier is formed by the

voices of rangatahi and tamariki of Napier, especially those who are

currently affected by inequality and social exclusion.

— That the vision is shared widely with the community who will

participate in the creation of a Child Friendly Strategy based on the

Vision.

— That the strategy aligns with the city’s Vision and Mission, the

Government’s Child, Youth Wellbeing Strategy and Matariki Regional

Development Plan.

• That the Napier Pilot City Trust partner with Te Taiwhenua o Te

Whanganui ā Orotū to manage and support the development and

implement the Strategy.

— That the partners undertake a stakeholder map to identify key

participants in the development and ratification of the strategy.

— That a Steering Committee made up of Central and Local

Government leaders be convened to provide high level governance

of the project. (This group would meet no more than three times a

year).

— That early in 2021 a workshop with Rangatahi and Tamariki who

have presented at either the 2019 or 2020 Forums be held to begin

the process of shaping a vision and to create a school starter kit.

148


FOUR COOL CHILD

FRIENDLY SCHOOLS

The artwork that accompanies Neil Cleaver’s korero is

from a book titled Listening to Voices in Four Hawke’s

Bay Schools. Written by Roger McNeill and Kerry Kitione,

this special publication shows inclusion and transformative

values in action in a cultural context and shows how

four schools in different and exciting ways developed

caring connected communities, ensuring everyone is

treated with respect and compassion and exclusions are

rarely used. The schools involved were Flaxmere Primary

School, Camberley School, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori O

Te Ara Hou — Poupou of Tamatea Arikinui, Rongokako

and Te Awhiorangi, and St John’s College.

MINISTRY REFLECTS DYSFUNCTION

by neil cleaver

A LOOK BACK AT SOCIAL

WELFARE SERVICES IN NEW

ZEALAND FROM 1980–2021

After 10 years working as a teacher, Neil Cleaver made

the switch to Social Work while living in Northland. This

career switch lasted 41 years with Oranga Tamariki and

its forerunners. Throughout, he contributed to front line

social work, staff training, residential social work, management,

quality evaluation and policy advice.

Not surprisingly Neil has an encyclopaedic knowledge

and understanding of the Ministry — of its highs, lows

and challenges. “It’s a tough gig”, he says at the end of

this story but his determination to affect positive change

was strong and steadfast for the decades he worked

there.

The release of a report in 1988, Puao-te-Ata-tu, which

looked into racism in New Zealand, and especially within

the Department of Social Welfare, found that the state

system was failing the Tangata Whenua. The vision of

Puao-te-Ata-tu was for Māori to care for Māori whenever

possible. From that time, Neil was committed to see this

vision realised in every facet of the Ministry he was involved

with. This is an honest look at a tough topic.

IN THE BEGINNING

I was born and brought up in New Plymouth and after

leaving school I went to Palmerston North Teacher’s College

and followed that up with ten years of teaching in

South Auckland, Kaitaia and various schools in Taranaki.

While in Kaitaia I was a family home foster parent for a

short time which was my first introduction to the Department

of Social Welfare which would in some way be my

employer for the next 44 years.

I started as a social worker in 1977. In those days we

worked “patches” and mine consisted of a triangle with

corner end points at Midhurst, Eltham and Whangamo-

Artwork above by Herewini Nicholson, Camberley School.


mona. The bulk of the work involved visiting children in

their foster homes and recruiting and supporting foster

parents. There was very little engagement with the natural

parents apart from holiday arrangements if and when

deemed appropriate.

Nearly all children were removed from their families

and placed with state approved foster parents, or in one

of the many institutions (homes) run by the state. There

was no legal requirement to seek out family placements

or maintain children’s links with their families.

Handling adoptions was a significant part of my caseload,

I also oversaw the young who were placed on Supervision

Orders as a result of their offending.

There were very few of what we would now call reports

of concern to follow up on. Much of what we call

care and protection was managed by liaising on a daily

basis with others who had regular contact with children

and families. These were people such as teachers, Plunket

& Public Health nurses, local constables and Department

of Māori Affairs workers.

Of course it has to be acknowledged that the use

of physical discipline was common in the home and

at school and only the worst cases would meet the

threshhold for statutory intervention. Sexual abuse was

unheard of although it no doubt happened and went

unreported. There was a legal obligation on parents to

provide care for their children and also have them under

control. Often it was the failure of the latter that led to

children coming into care.

Children came into care through an order of the Children’s

Court and that order stayed in place until they

reached the age of 21. Children could be discharged

from care before that age at the discretion of the Director

General of Social Welfare (in practice a social worker).

Although I can’t provide any hard data, my recollection

is that the vast majority of the children in care were

Pakeha placed with Pakeha foster parents. Māori children

who were in care were also placed with Pakeha

care givers or in state run institutions. The only interaction

with Māori was through the Department of Māori

Artwork by Juanita Apu, Camberley School.

150


Affairs, there was no working with Iwi or other Māori

based organisations.

Although to some of us 1977 doesn’t seem that far

away, the world was a very different place and was about

to change even faster and more radically than we could

ever have dreamt of. There was full employment, gangs

were both small and their numbers had relatively little

influence. The scourge of “P” was well into the future

and we were yet to experience the upside and downside

of the internet. The new religion of seeking happiness

and fulfilment from material possessions and entitlement

to overseas holidays had yet to become the mainstream

belief system.

Yet in 1977 the welfare system was past its use by date.

In essence it was still based in the 1925 Child Welfare

Act. In 1989 all this was about to change.

THE WINDS OF CHANGE

In the early 1980s I was working at Kohitere in Levin, a

residence that looked after boys aged 14 — 17 who had

been made wards of the state due to their offending. By

that stage the percentage of Māori residents had grown

quite significantly. However, it is worth noting that until

the 1960s Pakeha made up the majority of boys sent

to Kohitere. I recall reading the admissions book going

back to before the second world war and there were

very few Māori names.

While at Kohitere we were visited by the Komiti

Whakahaere, an advisory group of kaumatua and kuia

who reported directly to Prime Minister Muldoon. They

expressed their disappointment that so many Māori

were in care and that the state system as it was then

was failing Māori. They were determined to push for

changes that would mean all Māori children and young

persons would be cared for by their whānau, hapu or

iwi. This, combined with other criticisms of state interaction

with Māori, led eventually to the creation of Puao

Te Ata Tu, which made several recommendations as to

how the Department of Social Welfare could address the

systemic institutional racism against Māori.

These recommendations included having Māori involved

in all decisions affecting their tamariki and that

Māori should only come into state care when they could

not be safely placed with whānau hapu and iwi. I recall

being very inspired by the words of Tūhoe leader John

Rangihau who eloquently and fearlessly challenged the

whole notion that Pakeha social workers with their so

called “professionalism” could do better than Māori with

their centuries old wisdom when it came to making decisions

for Tamariki Māori. This was the moment when

I was determined that I would do everything I could to

help realise the vision that was Puao Te Ata Tu.

So when the CYP&F Act came into effect in November

1989 there was real hope that we would work with and

alongside Māori to exercise rangatiratanga with respect

to their Tamariki. The keystone to the act was the Fam-

Artwork by Te Kura Kaupapa Māori O Te Ara Hou.


ily Group Conference (FGC). This was the vehicle for

determining the level of intervention and the forum for

devising and agreeing to plans. The FGC was the alternative

to seeking court intervention and state care. The

CYP&FA was also clear that it was the state’s role to support

whānau and where appropriate resource the plans

agreed to at the FGC. Residences were closed down and

funds reallocated to initiatives such as Maatua Whangai

which was resourced to find whānau/hapu placements

for Tamariki Māori.

SOUNDS EXCITING SO WHAT

WENT WRONG?

I delivered the initial training and it was clear from the

start that the notion of power sharing was both not understood

or in some cases not very welcome. Social

Workers were used to doing things their way and they

soon proved either unable or unwilling to change. In particular,

the FGC was viewed with suspicion, the key role

of the FGC coordinators devalued and in some instances

undermined. In addition, the role of the department to

resource FGC plans was obstructed by the way Departmental

budgets were allocated and managed, following

the advent of the Public Finance Act in 1989. The perverse

outcome was that it was easier to go through the

Court, get a custody order and pay board, rather than

fund FGC outcomes and keep kids out of care.

Things weren’t going much better when it came to

working with NGOs and iwi. There was a lack of leadership

and clarity around how the community sector

should work alongside the department and in particular

what work could be devolved and if devolved how it

could be funded. A competitive model was introduced

which left community based organisations fighting for a

place in the queue, with little thought as to how the best

overall outcomes could be achieved for the community

as a whole. Scant attention was given to capacity building

within the NGOs and iwi. While community based

services did great work with the families they traditionally

worked with, they struggled with the type of families

that were the core work of the Department.

Probably the most overlooked factor for the ongoing

systematic failures of the Department (by now restructured

several times) was the creation of a National Call

Centre. While created with a good reason, its impact

had never been accurately predicted. Almost overnight

notifications to the Department went from a few thousand

a year to tens of thousands a year. The organisation

was simply swamped, caseloads went through the

roof, there were delays holding FGCs and the quality of

Artwork by Byron Konia, Flaxmere Primary School.

152


intervention suffered accordingly. To add to the misery,

budgets were actually being cut resulting in social work

vacancies. The answer — as always another review and

another restructure. The result — the same.

THE PRESENT, THE FUTURE,

WHAT IS AND WHAT CAN

WORK

I shifted from New Plymouth to Hawke’s Bay in May

1992. I had been managing the New Plymouth Office of

CYF and was offered the Hawke’s Bay job on promotion.

I knew very little about Hawke’s Bay but my wife Helen

had grown up in Maraenui and we had some friends living

here so we thought we would come over for maybe a

couple of years and we are still here today.

I guess I had the common view of those outside of HB,

that it was a wealthy part of New Zealand, the wealth

built on sheep farming and horticulture, Leopard beer

and Morrison Motor Mowers.

Unfortunately my arrival in HB coincided with the two

big freezing works closing down and the impact of Rogernomics,

so illusions were somewhat dashed. We also

looked forward to living in a part of the country with two

cities within a few minutes reach, a pleasant change

from the isolation of New Plymouth.

Initially I had the overall managerial oversight of the

Wairoa, Napier, Hastings and Waipukurau offices and

within two years the Gisborne office was added. I soon

found that all these offices operated quite differently and

all had their unique culture. While on the one hand this

made things interesting, on the other it was difficult to

bring about changes and install consistent standards of

practice across the whole rohe. I found that the principles

of the CYP&FA were not well embedded in practice,

one result being that there were more children in care

than was the case in Taranaki.

The interaction with the community and iwi was also

inconsistent. All NGOs were keen to get their share of

the putea and apart from direct approaches there was

also considerable lobbying through the political system.

This did not always mean that resources went to where

they could be most effective. Also to an outsider the unbelievable

level of animosity between Napier and Hastings

meant getting “Bay Wide” initiatives to work was

challenging. It’s not surprising then with rising levels of

unemployment and poverty, that the organisation struggled

to meet demands and provide a quality service.

There were however some bright spots. The then

National Government was keen on devolving services,

thus providing the chance to give life to s. 396 of the act

and establish iwi social services. After much korero we

Artwork by Jesse Sipaia, Flaxmere Primary School.


managed to do this in a limited way with Ngati Kahungnunu.

Discussions were held with Ngati Porou and the

iwi of Turanganui A Kiwa, but these didn’t result in anything

concrete. If nothing else the seeds were sown for

advancing formal relationships with iwi that have progressed

to fruition today.

From around the year 2000 to 2006 I managed all

the coordinators across the country with the aim to get

consistent high quality practice that could revitalize the

principle of family decision making and empowerment. I

was also heavily involved in following up on the recommendations

of the ministerial task force into youth offending

which included delivering joint training with the

Police across the whole country. The result was that CYF

vastly improved its delivery of youth justice services to

the point where today it is fair to say that the aspirations

of that section of the CYP&FA are largely being met.

Why was this successful? Firstly, there was widespread

agreement that improvement was needed, secondly

there was strong hands-on leadership by the Principal

Youth Court Judges and senior managers in all the

agencies involved. Thirdly the training was based on the

legislation and supported by oversight and monitoring

of performance standards. The sad thing is that it has

never been able to be translated to care and protection.

The last 14 years of my career have been spent in

Napier working mainly as a senior advisor to either the

operations or regional manager, sitting through yet more

restructures, the most recent being the winding up of

CYPs and the creation of Oranga Tamariki.

THE BIG QUESTION — ARE

THINGS GETTING BETTER?

Oranga Tamariki has all the whistles and bells, is well

resourced and has a vision well aligned to the Oranga

Tamariki Act and in particular s. 7AA. I believe it has made

considerable progress in working alongside Iwi and other

partners. It has also moved to provide better targeted

services and facilities for the most vulnerable and difficult

to manage Tamariki. Despite what you see in the

media there has been strong leadership and a consistent

message to all staff as to the vision and aspirations of the

organisation. Yet despite all that, it seems to me it still

struggles against the tide. At the macro level I don’t think

the organisation will ever be able to match the political

aspirations of Māori and at the micro level there are still

significant challenges with the recruitment, training and

competency building of front line staff. The latter also applies

to the non-governmental sector. Everybody struggles

with the ongoing and seemingly increasing effects of

poverty, gang culture, family violence and drug and alcohol

abuse. As long as we live in a society where a young

man has the choice of aspiring to riding around coloured

up on a $5000 Harley Davidson or picking apples on the

minimum wage, we will always swim against the tide.

Unfortunately, Oranga Tamariki and its predecessors

always seem to be the centre of media attention when

things go wrong. They have an absolute statutory responsibility

to protect vulnerable children yet when they

consider the only safe option is to uplift children they

get criticised. Then, when a child who is left in a dangerous

situation suffers harm, it is always Oranga Tamariki’s

fault that they didn’t do more to protect the child. As they

say it a tough gig.

NEIL’S LAST LOOK AT OT

• What I loved about the work — there was never a

dull day. In the early days I liked the variety especially

working alongside others in the community like

Public Health Nurses, school guidance counsellors,

etc. I also really liked leading through the move to

put Family Group Conferences at the Centre of our

work and doing the hands on stuff, training the FGC

Coordinators, etc. I also really enjoyed working in

Youth Justice. It is a really sound model and one we

are starting to do really well.

• Reflecting on progress at OT — one of our early

General Managers who came from a civil engineering

background observed that the organisation reflected

the dysfunctional families it worked with. I’m sorry to

say he was probably right. What is often overlooked is

the fact that the “organisation” has never been stable

nor has it been adequately resourced. There was a

hope that OT could start from scratch with sufficient

funds to build a stable knowledge- based organisation

working to kaupapa Māori principles. But as events

transpired, it hasn’t got off to a good start.

• There were a number of initiatives such as Maatua

Whangai in 1983 and Puao-te-Ata-tu in 1988 that

acknowledged that the system was failing Māori and

the new kaupapa was intended to give more power to

Māori to look after Māori. But somehow that seemed

to get undermined by the bureaucratic orthodoxy. (I

guess that’s institutional racism at play.)

154


“Take care of our children.

Take care of what they hear, take care

of what they see, take care of what they

feel. For how the children grow so will

be the shape of Aotearoa”

- dame whina cooper


Te Taiwhenua

O Te Whanganui Ā

Orutu is the mandated

Iwi authority for Napier and

works across five different

whānau-centric areas —

housing, health, education,

employment and

environment.

PERSISTENT, PASSIONATE MAHI

by tania eden

CEO Te Taiwhenua O Te Whanganui Ā Orotu

I first remember seeing Pat when I was around 12 years

old as I used to go to the Downtown Y in Napier. He

helped set up the Y which was amazing because there

was nothing else going on for young people in those

days. I didn’t have anything to do with him then but I

knew he was working hard in our community.

It wasn’t until I was policing in Hawke’s Bay that I met

Pat properly. I worked for the Ministry of Defence in Wellington

when I left school, then joined the Police and

came back to Hawke’s Bay in 1989 to 1993. It was then I

remembered about Pat, and he was still pioneering, still

working in the community.

I left again in 1994, working for the Police and I visited

Hawke’s Bay frequently during that time. Some of the

Police were working with Pat in the Youth Aid area, mid

-1900s to early 2000s, so he still had his hand in there!

Pat is very special to Māoridom and our Taiwhenua,

even our young ones hold him in high esteem. He has

worked tirelessly on the Napier Pilot City Trust kaupapa

for years. He’s 94 and he calls himself a foot soldier and

that’s what we are too, because on the ground is where

the real work happens.

Pat for us and the community is an honorary kaumatua

because he walks both worlds. For us he is very wise

and has been around a long time. He walks the talk,

whether he’s out there shaking hands or having a hongi

with the Mongrel Mob and Black Power, or meeting with

chief executives from central and local government. He

has the strategic view of things and he has the common

touch too, which is special because not a lot of people

have both.

In the Māori and Pakeha worlds there is a lot of politics

and differences in viewpoints but I believe both worlds

can work together. Like our tipuna Sir Apirana Ngata,

who famously spoke of having, “One hand in the Māori

world and one hand in the Pakeha world”, that is how

we will go forward. We know that’s what Pat is doing. He

honours and values Te Tiriti and he wants everyone to

understand the Treaty because he knows this is essential

if the people of Aotearoa are to move forward together.

Top: It all seems better after a rosé at the Boardwalk; Tania and Pat sort the world’s challenges in an hour; Opposite: Standing,

Hori Reti, Te Taiwhenua board chairman, speaking at the Pilot City Trust AGM in 2020. Pat and the Reti whānau have a long and

special connection and Hori’s grandparents joined Pat on the Taupō to Napier YMCA hikoi in 1970; Tania Eden, Te Taiwhenua CEO is

to Hori’s right, and to his left, the Trust committee.

156


Te Taiwhenua’s vision for a Child Friendly City is one

where all our children feel safe and can play safely and

that they have parents who can give them the quality

of life they deserve. That our children can grow up in

a Child Friendly City that provides them with all their

needs around education, health and housing and their

mum and dad are in good employment.

Currently a lot of our tamariki feel unsafe and that has

to change. The latest crime stats for Napier are damning.

Flaxmere’s crime stats have gone down because

they’ve adopted a community-friendly Kaupapa. They’re

all in there working together and people like Henare

O’Keefe, Peleti Oli and Les Hokianga are helping drive

this, whereas Napier’s crime stats continue to trend up.

We have to work across government, across agencies,

Taiwhenua, and organisations such as the Trust to put in

place a Child Friendly City strategy that actually makes

a difference.

In terms of achieving a Child Friendly City Pat has experienced

many blocks over the years while he’s been

trying to change things. Going forward it’s all about

working with what we’ve already got. We don’t need

to reinvent the wheel but we need to make the wheels

stronger and sturdier to achieve outcomes because at

the moment, there are a lot of people out there with the

greatest of intentions but change is incremental. More

resources have to be given to organisations who can

make a difference on the ground with the whānau —

something Pat has been advocating for years.

We have a new Mayor and Council CEO in place now

but we need the Council to step up and bring some key

people on board to focus on this Kaupapa. The Council

needs to make friends with central government and

work together so we can get foot soldiers on the ground,

checking that our families are safe, okay and thriving.

The Council cannot keep saying it is not their role, or

that it’s the role of central government and the community.

I know there’s a lot of funding going into Maraenui

for social services but I’m keen to see what is being

achieved with the funding and how we can be more effective.

There’s a lot of mahi going on with programmes

that are game changing. Annie Aranui from the Ministry

of Social Development supports many programs including

Whare A IO, Te Kupenga Hauora, Kings Force Health,

Te Ropu ā Iwi and the Taiwhenua; they’re all in there

working with many others to make a difference.

Pat makes a huge difference to the community and Te

Ao Māori as well. He religiously goes to the Napier court

and holds his office outside The Pie Man in Maraenui.

He continues to do his work here, advocating on behalf

of our people; on behalf of families who have nothing,

being kind, caring and giving them a voice.

Pat is loved by our people and by our community and

we will forever support him and the mahi he continues

to do.

Aroha Mai, Aroha Atu, Aroha Nui, Pat


158

Restorative Justice – for an unjust justice system

chapter thirteen

restorative justice

— for an unjust

justice system

”A broken system by its very

nature cannot heal”.

Support to the principles of Restorative Justice has

been a key mover and inspiration to Pat’s actions

to improve the treatment of criminals and to assist

them to reintegrate into society as productive and

contributing citizens. Restorative Justice principles have

been central to the operation of the Pilot City Trust and

Pat’s work within it.

Pat believes you can’t keep punishing the problem

and any changes to the Justice system in managing

Māori offenders need to be Treaty based to work, or “it

will just be more do-gooders tinkering at the edges”. His

view is that structural damage has been caused to society

by the Treaty of Waitangi not being honoured, that

the nation needs to be restored, that it needs Restorative

Justice, that it needs to be healed.

“Salaries are pouring in to Police and Corrections

every day but sadly not for someone or something like

the Pilot City Trust, which focuses on what is generally

agreed to be the most important aspect of crime prevention

— intervention”, he says.

To quote the Centre for Justice and Reconciliation, Restorative

Justice views crime as more than breaking the

law — it also causes harm to people, relationships, and

the community. So a just response must address those

harms as well as the wrongdoing. If the parties are willing,

the Restorative Justice approach believes the best

way to do this is to help those involved meet to discuss

those harms and how to bring about amicable resolution.

Other approaches are available if they are unable

or unwilling to meet. Sometimes those meetings lead to

transformational changes in the lives of the perpetrators

and lasting friendships with victims.

The three major concepts are : (1) Repair: crime causes

harm and Justice requires repairing that harm; (2)

Encounter: the best way to determine how to do that is

to have the parties decide together; and (3) Transformation:

this can cause fundamental changes in people, relationships

and communities.

So Restorative Justice is a different way of viewing

crime and an innovative model that attempts to eliminate

violence and crime from communities. It is in the

intention to “repair” and “to heal” that lies the difference

with Aotearoa’s current adversarial, retributive Justice

system.

New Zealand’s justice system is constantly labelled

Opposite: Photo by Lee Pritchard, the setting sun on Ahuriri.

Restorative Justice – for an unjust justice system 159

“broken”. It incarcerates and punishes offenders while

providing little to no rehabilitation, and for the most part,

there’s little healing for the victims as well. It’s a broken

system which by its very nature cannot heal.

“The ignorance is astounding”, Pat says. “People working

within the Justice system, not knowing The Treaty, not learning

our history. Every Wednesday I’m in court, witnessing

the tragedy, following the same people going through the

“drafting pen” that is New Zealand’s Justice system. Napier

Court on a Wednesday morning is a hell hole.”

FIRE BRAND FOR

TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE

A step on from Restorative Justice is Transformative

Justice, first advocated by Canadian Ruth Morris in her

1992 booklet, A Practical Path to Transformative Justice.

A transformative model, she claimed, “helps all of us include

those who fall through the cracks of society, and

transform negative forces into resources for change”.

One of the world’s leading Restorative Justice champions,

(1933 — 2001), Ruth became a close personal

friend of Pat’s when they met in Auckland in 1994 at an

ICOPA conference. Ruth had a deep commitment to, and

achieved much in justice reform and was the epitome of

someone who walked their talk. In fact, in her case she

ran with it!

After gaining a PhD in sociology and social work, she

honed her skills and became a passionate social activist,

university lecturer, community organiser, writer and

speaker. As a Quaker she led the Canadian Quakers

group to consensus in 1981 to become the first religious

group in the world to call for the abolition of prisons.

It follows that she had a deep commitment to the wellbeing

of prisoners and former prisoners. Through her

petitioning, more prisoners were granted bail and she

was instrumental in securing accommodation and establishing

half way houses for released prisoners.

Her life’s vision was, “To help all of us include those

who fall in the cracks of society, and transform negative

forces into resources for change”. Sadly her booklet on

Transformative Justice is just as relevant today as it was

nearly 30 years ago. In terms of Justice reform, she saw

this as a “practical way, a cheaper way, and a more healing

way.”

Pat remembers Ruth as a firebrand, very experienced

and very educated and she had a firm vision as far as

incarceration was concerned. After the 1994 conference

in Auckland she came down to Napier to find out about

Pilot City. She liked what Pilot City was doing, and the

Robson Collection and got in touch with Alan Dick, congratulating

him for supporting both initiatives. Ruth was

keen to establish a Restorative Justice exchange programme

between Canada and New Zealand and send

students back and forth for research purposes. Sadly

this never eventuated because Alan Dick didn’t have the

support of council.

When Pat attended an ICOPA conference in Toronto,

Ruth had the group picketing outside Cadbury’s and

other multi-nationals. She was very challenging and her

debating and knowledge were respected by everyone.

Pat stayed with her and her husband in Toronto for quite

a while. Because she worked so hard, her husband was

always concerned for her health.

“Transformative Justice is really what we’re on to in

Aotearoa with the Treaty. It means that you don’t just restore;

restoring is only patching things up. When Ruth

witnessed Restorative Justice in the court in Napier with

Pakeha carrying it out, and it wasn’t Treaty based, she

Above: Pat outside court.

160


INTRODUCING

ICOPA

ICOPA stands for the International Conference

on Penal Abolition. The conferences are held

bi-annually and gather supporters from around

the world — academics, activists, practitioners

and people who are currently or were previously

imprisoned. ICOPA’s guiding purpose is the

abolition of prisons and to encourage dialogue

for new ideas to help achieve their goal.

Pat has attended conferences in Auckland,

Hobart, Toronto, Belfast, London (twice), Lagos,

Trinidad and Amsterdam. He also visited

Mexico City to research how the largest city in

the world copes.

realised that change had to be transformative at a government

level, Pat says.

“We’re not quite up to the Transformative Justice stage

here yet but we’re getting nearer. A case in point is the

victory for Māori ward representation on local councils.

Eventually, it has to come. People are looking for it

and asking for it and, with the Treaty and Te Tiriti being

taught in schools, that will make a huge difference. ‘The

prison walls have got to crumble’, as Ruth used to say”.

NORWAY’S HUMANE,

SUCCESSFUL RJ MODEL

It was at an ICOPA conference that a colleague opened

the door to Pat visiting Norway. Pat points out that if you

had to do time, Norway would be a good place to do

it. Prisoners are treated humanely, there is a focus on

Restorative Justice, rehabilitation and healing. The Scandinavian

model of justice speaks to the sense of caring

for the offender in such a way that they can successfully

re-enter society. And it works. Norway’s justice system

sees the lowest recidivist rates in the world and one of

the lowest crime rates. In open prisons, clients live pretty

much like your everyday citizens while under supervision.

As well as being a humanitarian model, it is simply

sound management; to achieve rehabilitation of members

of society for their reintegration back into the community

for the next phase of the lives, crime-free.

PAT VISITS

NORWAY’S

FOUNDING

CRIMINOLOGIST

Nils Christie was Norway’s founding criminologist. He

campaigned long and hard against traditional prisons,

liberalising drug laws and against the negative impacts

of industrialisation. Modern punitive punishment practices

around the world really concerned him, especially the

mass incarceration model followed in the U.S.

“An eye for an eye will leave

the whole world blind”.

m.k. gandhi

A criminologist Pat met at ICOPA in Belfast in 2010

emailed Nils to let him know that Pat wanted to visit him.

Nils was constantly in demand and when Pat fronted up

to his office, Nils had just returned from Georgia in the

US where he was trying to rescind the death penalty,

which had been reintroduced there in 1973.

Above: Pat’s days involve assisting others to strengthen our communities: “We’re really in trouble if politicians keep “copping out”

and insisting on building more prisons”.


“When Nils realised I was staying at a backpackers

and wasn’t a criminologist but was in Oslo for two

weeks, he made a deal with me. ‘Read my books and

then we can talk’, he said. So I went away and read his

brilliant and sobering Beyond ‘Gulags Western Style’?

and Crime Control as Industry and we met up a few days

later over a beer for a Q&A. We kept in touch too following

that visit.”

Twenty years ago Norwegians moved away from their

harsh Corrections model, which Pat put down to the

country being a mature society and having strong, inspired

leadership at the time. Norwegians started paying

higher taxes, which helped fund early intervention.

He saw prisons where there was little evidence of retribution

and reoffending rates dropped dramatically.

If Pat hadn’t talked to Nils, he would never have braved

meeting Stewart Murray Wilson — one of New Zealand’s

worst sex offenders — in his cottage on the grounds of

Whanganui Prison and he wouldn’t have felt confident

enough to challenge Whanganui Corrections, who as a

result, often weren’t happy with him.

“Wilson would have had a better chance at rehabilitation

in Norway. Politicians there aren’t allowed to promote

prisons as places of punishment and he would not

still be locked up or supervised in a cottage on prison

grounds after 25 years.”

In Pat’s view, the best thing New Zealand could do

would be to adopt the Scandinavian Restorative Justice

model, based on enquiring why people fall through

the cracks and then trying to prevent it from happening

again, instead of letting people rot in prison.

Thinking about Anders Behring Breivik in Norway, and

the mass shooting in 2011 where 77 people were killed;

Pat says the object of the Norwegian system was to

work with Breivik, find out what hurt him and get him

back into the community, “As yet, forgiveness is not in

our culture”.

“Wilson

would have

had a better chance at

rehabilitation In Norway.

Politicians there aren’t

allowed to promote prisons as

places of punishment and he

would not still be locked up or

supervised in a cottage on

prison grounds after

25 years.”

FRIENDSHIP AND

THE BEAST

Lack of forgiveness was not a consideration

for Pat when he came up with the idea of

meeting “The Beast of Blenhiem”. Pat likes

a challenge. He doesn’t shy away from high

profile situations either and he sure found

both in Stewart Murray Wilson. People’s

reactions to Pat visiting Wilson a few years

back ranged from: “Why waste time on

him?” or “You’ve gone too far with this one,

Pat”, through to, “It’s good you went to see

him”. Born in 1946 in Timaru, Wilson is known

as one of New Zealand’s worst sex offenders.

He was jailed for 21 years in 1996 for offending

involving 42 women and girls. In September

2012 he was paroled under the most

severe release conditions ever imposed in

New Zealand. The public and Whanganui

City Council were outraged that Wilson was

accommodated in a house on the grounds

of Whanganui Prison and not in more secure

conditions. Wilson is still there today, following

a return to prison in 2013 after allegedly

making a phone call to someone he wasn’t

permitted to contact.

Above: Open prisons in Suomenlinna Island, Helsinki, Finland: “There is no punishment so effective as punishment that nowhere

announces the intention to punish”. Doran Larson, in GLOBAL.

162


PAT ON MEETING

STEWART MURRAY WILSON

Here we have an example of Pat walking the talk, the inimitable foot soldier, where he

applies principles of compassion and forgiveness, the principles of Restorative Justice —

in the real world, and in real time.

“Michael Laws, mayor of Whanganui, was the first to call

Stewart Murray Wilson the Beast of Blenheim — Laws

didn’t want Wilson in the city. I’d never talked to a human

beast before and wondered what that would be like. I got

in touch with Corrections and asked whether I could visit

Wilson and when I got the green light, I went over. The

place where Wilson stayed was well managed, there was

a long list of instructions, and the visits would be supervised.

Wilson had already done 21 years inside. He was

intelligent and I could see there were two sides to him.

“I visited him over a five year period. We fished together

down at the wharf and Wilson baited my hook

for me. His minders had to conceal him give him recreation

time and if there was any trouble, with the public

getting stroppy about him being out in the community,

gang members would often support him. Wilson appreciates

people visiting him and he wants to make a

good impression. There’s not much conversation with

his minders and there’s nothing stimulating going on for

him. Contrast that with Scandinavian guards, who act

more as mentors and guides.

“I wanted to find out what went wrong for Murray. I

talked to his mother in Temuka and several women he’d

been in relationships with. It seemed he was rejected at

birth. He was a loose cannon but not as bad as Corrections

often implied. I could understand the staff being

nervous though. They probably feared that if there was

a breach under their watch they would lose their jobs.

“Wilson was a brilliant gardener. He grew a lot of vegetables

and gave a lot away. Several groups offered opportunities

for him; the Quakers contacted Corrections

and asked whether he could garden at their settlement

but this wasn’t allowed. We suggested Wilson walk parts

of the long trail with us, on Te Araroa Offers Hope, but

that was turned down too.

“When Michael Laws was in full retribution mode

about Wilson, a member of the public wrote in to the

Whanganui Chronicle, saying perhaps the city’s notorious

prisoner needed help, rather than ostracisation. The

editor at the time, Merania Karauria, agreed with this

and continued to try and educate about Restorative Justice

models whenever there was coverage on Wilson.

“I think the community should visit and support Wilson

more. He was having a battle with the Catholic church

one time when I was there. The women in the church

were prepared to accept him but he wouldn’t confess

his sins. There’s no doubt he’d been damaged. He had

received beatings as a child and had been given shock

treatment at a number of psychiatric hospitals throughout

the country.

“Steve Trelour of Whanganui PARS [Prisoners Aid &

Rehabilitation Service] has a lot of wisdom and PARS

staff are keen to support Wilson, as were Corrections

staff in general but the system as it is prevents any innovation.

A fresh approach is needed to heal this broken

system. Steve says, “It’s much better to make inmates

into taxpayers who benefit the economy instead of

draining it”.

Above: Pat thinks more people should visit Stewart Murray Wilson.


Māori, the most incarcerated ethnic race in the world.

Photo by Lee Pritchard, sculpture installation by Para Matchitt, Jacob Scott and Riks Terstappen, Ahuriri.

164


Tributes to a Restorative Justice foot soilder

AND THE GREATEST OF YOU

SHALL BE YOUR SERVANT

BY TORO WAAKA,

CHAIR OF NGATI PAHAUWERA

DEVELOPMENT TRUST

I first met Pat in his work in the Courts in the 1970s where

he, along with Māori wardens, provided moral support

for people whose mistakes too often made them the

victims of an ambitious constable’s career path. Young

Māori were the prime targets. New Zealand has a justice

system where you are guilty as charged until proven

innocent. Given the Court is more likely to support a

constable steeped in the dark art of crafting an incriminating

case, the outcome is set. Hence the position of

Māori being the most incarcerated ethnic group in the

world. I picked up Pat walking at Westshore recently

and asked him where he was going. He said drop me

off at the courts. So he is still doing that support work to

help the young caught up in the court system.

Pat believes people are inherently good and that their

lives and place in society should not be destroyed by

Court systems that dehumanise its victims. A few kind

words go a long way when one feels confused and powerless

in the grip of a soul-destroying court machine.

Pat has also been committed to bringing out the

best in young people and I served with him when I was

a director on the Napier YMCA board. Alan Dick who

became the Napier city Mayor was the chairperson of

the YMCA Board. With a group of young Māori social

workers, Pat helped set up the contact Centre next to

the Napier YMCA. It was a safe place where those with

problems could meet informally with people who in the

first instance would listen and if possible, provide support.

Some of the team at the contact centre included

Whare Te Rekia, Mark Kururangi, Huriana Lawrence,

John Bishara, Mere Ruru and many others.

Such was his genuine nature Pat was able to progress

his ideas by getting the support of important heads of

Government departments like Pam Thorburn, lawyers

like Russell Fairbrother, as well as sociologists and leaders

in the community.

As well as running a gymnasium, the Napier YMCA

delivered a number of training programmes to support

unemployed youth who lacked basic life skills and

sometimes whānau support. I was one of the training

staff. The youth we worked with suffered from hunger,

sexual abuse, dysfunctional families and many were lost

souls.

Pat was also an early practicing Conservationist and

he was a long term advocate for the cleaning up of our

ocean and the Ahuriri estuary. One would often see him

walking that area picking up refuse.

While at the YMCA I became the chairperson of the

Taiwhenua o Whanganui a Orotu. Pat often attended

our meetings and supported many of our projects and

Employment training courses. Such was the relationship

that when his wife died she was laid to rest for a period

at the Taiwhenua urban marae.

I also served with Pat for a while on the Napier Pilot

City Trust. Pat believed we were a small enough community

to engage in initiatives in the Napier community

that could show the way for the rest of the country. With

the support of Alan Dick and other leaders in Napier,

they achieved some great outcomes including the Napier

Goes for Goals conference.

Whilst Pat and I are not in contact as much as previously,

our paths still cross and Pat continues to spearhead

initiatives to support his Big Napier Whanau.

Such is the magnitude and longevity of his empathy to

support the less fortunate Napier people at the coalface,

and actively preserve community amenities for all, he is

deserving of a knighthood.

Toro is currently the Chair of Ngāti Pāhauwera Development

Trust, Director of Ngāti Pāhauwera Commercial

Development Limited, Chairperson of Māori

Battalion D Company Research Committee. Toro and

his wife Marion own Napier Prison Tours and Citywalksz

Ltd.


WORKING FOR

CHANGE IN THE

HELL HOLE

Napier Court is a “Hell hole”, says Pat. “It

has to be worked on. You can’t continue to

punish these people with the result, being

more prisons”. Talking with Kina, acting head

of the Mongrel Mob in January this year, he

said he liked the way Pat doesn’t stand in

court when the attendant says before the

judge enters, “All rise”. Perhaps given Pat’s

impressive age, the authorities turn a blind

eye to his possibly subtle protest. The real

reason, Pat says, was due to a sore hip while

he waited for a replacement. “It was too sore

to keep getting up and down”, he says.

Clockwise from top left: Pat at his Poppies “office” by the Napier Court; the mural “Build Communities, not Prisons” by Jan Marie

Cook at the Napier Police Station which has since been demolished; a quiet moment between mates; highly respected, late

Kaumatua Joe Northover, Pat, Court Services Manager Chris Greaney and Russell Fairbrother; Māori Warden Legends, Zita Smith,

Tom Hemopo and Josie Kewley.

166


PAT IN ACTION

by russell fairbrother

queen’s counsel and

former napier labour mp

Pat is the most loyal, kind, sincere and doggedly determined

person I’ve ever had the privilege to know. I’ve

known Pat for 50 years. I’ve seen him move on but, never

in the process, forgetting his life as a married family man

and background of running a successful business. He

is most likely the most well-known individual in Napier.

He is the living conscience of Napier.

The causes he champions are many and varied. None

is too unpopular or too small. Underlying each is a drive

to make better an individual, a group or a city. He does

not do that by imposing any set beliefs. Instead, he

shines a light on processes that from within generate a

respect for difference, diversity and community connections.

His skill is to enable the individual or collective to

convince itself of its own self-worth. Everybody is improved

by Pat’s processes.

I have seen Pat courageously address hostile audiences

about alternatives to the expressed kaupapa of the

gathering. Whilst Pat’s remarks may be dismissed or trivialised

by the mood of the meeting, some attendees will

have left that meeting with a nagging thought that perhaps

things were not as the meeting was meant to show.

Pat does not get his point across through stirring oratory.

He drives his message home with an innate sense

of timing. With two exceptions, he thinks well of his critics.

If their behaviour or words are hypocritical or if they

have the power to make a difference and refuse to use it,

Pat will say so and why.

Pat lives a biblically Christian approach to personal

wealth or accumulation of assets. He has moved from a

home of architectural value in a wealthy inner city area

to a humble home alongside a busy road. The vehicle

he drives is the one available to him at the time, albeit

not running quite as designed. If he was a capitalist, he

would be a Warren Buffet.

I often reflect on the irony that Pat, once a staunch

rugby administrator, played first five-eighth for the

Hawke’s Bay provincial rugby team; the “Magpies”. The

first five-eight is both a playmaker and a first line of defence.

I am sure he was selected for the vision and bravery

required for that position. I can just imagine a fierce

tackle by Pat followed up with an immediate inquiry as

to the welfare of the tackled player; meanwhile the game

pounding on around them.

Pat appreciates the importance of gesture. In tough

personal times, it is not uncommon to arrive home to

a gift of handpicked flowers or fruit or vegetables left

anonymously on the doorstep.

I believe Pat is able to walk into any gathering of a

community focussed meeting and be immediately welcomed

in the knowledge that he brings with him an important

presence. Although Pat works with groups, his

message defies organisation into the formalisation of a

committee. Many have tried. Some have learned Pat is

an inspiration. He cannot be contained within the agenda

of a meeting.

I cannot offer any humorous anecdotes about Pat.

There will be some, but to make humour out of Pat’s

contribution is to debase that work. I have often thought

Pat should be knighted, but I think his gifts to Napier

defy summation in a manner necessary for a knighthood

and anything less would be a travesty of the man.

Above: Painting, Mountain Stream, by John Ruth.


CORRUPTING THE

HALLS OF POWER

WITH GOODNESS

by philip jensen

barrister, ahuriri

I met Pat in ’91 or ’92, more likely ’91 because Pat is not

one to let a good prospect go. I had come to Napier as an

older new lawyer, and I was saying things in Court. I was

most likely recommended by Russell Fairbrother. I was

invited, on a sunny Sunday for a drive into the hinterland

to Puketitiri, to a bach Pat had in the wilderness, a walk

around the property, a chat and a cuppa afterwards. We

probably pulled some weeds as well because that’s what

we were there for. From this walk and a chat and a cuppa

I forged a long comfortable and rewarding friendship

with Pat. I think he is just amazing. I haven’t met anyone

quite like him and long may he remain with us.

In hindsight it is easy to see how Pat works his magic.

He has a keen eye and good ear for identifying and recruiting

acolytes to his kaupapa. I am merely one of a

long, long line preceding and following. One at a time he

collects us up, over a walk and a chat and a cuppa. Long

may we continue that walk and talk with others.

In the decades I have been a working lawyer, I have

been astounded by the amount and variety of ways in

which hurt and harm is visited, one human to another,

and returned in kind. How easy it is to be angry and

judgemental and correctional towards all this. Detaching

from the awfulness of it all, searching for the good

and the redemption and the sunshine in such a murk of

horribleness is hard work. Very hard work. Pat has been

doing it all his life. I only know of the latter 30 years but

the talk I have heard at Napier Pilot City Trust AGMs is

from people who have walked with Pat since the 1970’s.

I would like to sup on some of that elixir Pat partakes

of. What it is I am not quite sure. I think perhaps it is

just a bedrock belief in the rightness that if you dig often

enough you will find little nuggets of gold goodness in

every person, and if we continually look for the good in

everyone then everyone’s life is improved. Such a simple

“In the decades I have been a working

lawyer, I have been astounded by

the amount and variety of ways in

which hurt and harm is visited, one

human to another, and returned in

kind. How easy it is to be angry and

judgemental and correctional towards

all this. Detaching from the awfulness

of it all, searching for the good and the

redemption and the sunshine in such

a murk of horribleness is hard work.

Very hard work. Pat has been doing it

all his life.”

proposition. And Pat imparts and propagates this simple

proposition by simply walking his talk. By the simple

expedient of turning up to someone with a muffin, or a

dinner box, for a cuppa and a chat. One person at a time.

What a life’s times work. Pat you are a wonder.

The great beauty is that he is so middle New Zealand.

Pat, as far as I know, is no tree-hugging, god-botherer

sect believing, hippy oriented lefty. He is as middle Kiwi

as they come. He was a business man, big business. He

follows rugby, was president of the Hawke’s Bay Rugby

Union at a grand time, and he likes a beer!! Pat is able

to walk in and talk with the ruling classes because he

comes from them, and they are comfortable with him because

he is from them. Yet the message he brings is so

different. In days of old the Soviets called them sleepers,

persons who infiltrate the power structures, and corrupted

them from the inside. Good on you Pat. Long may you

continue to corrupt the halls of power with goodness.

Above: Pat’s bedrock of belief in rightness, revealed to Philip Jensen as he walks around Pat’s bush at Puketitiri. Painting by Pat’s

friend John Ruth.

168


#PAT-SPEAK

The big question is, how do you go from ignorance to enlightenment? Do we

accept that we are what we are and not bother to try and evolve? Surely doing

the same old thing is ridiculous. Very few of the staff from the social agencies

who direct people to the court come and see the results. Most of the people in

court, going before the system and through it, aren’t bad people, they’re just not

coping. Putting a Māori judge in the court isn’t going to fix it either.

PAT’S FRESH, UNENCUMBERED PENAL

ABSOLUTIONISM: NO MORE PRISONS

by hon. russ immarigeon

town court justice

hillsdale, ny, usa

When Pat and I first met over two decades ago, prison

populations were much, much smaller in both New

Zealand and the United States than they are now. At the

time I had been kindly invited to come to New Zealand,

about which I then knew very little, to talk about alternatives

to incarceration.

To talk effectively about alternatives to prison, you

need to believe that prisons are overused and that, simply

put, there are better ways and means for responding

to crime and its consequences. Like me, Pat believed

that, plus he was very cheerful and friendly.

I forget where we first met, but I suspect it was in

Napier, a small, warm, walkable city I can still picture

several decades later. When we first met, I was immediately

embraced with Pat’s fresh, unencumbered penal

abolitionism. Pat’s simple message, “No more prisons,”

remains a wise and necessary message, even more so

considering Pat’s message comes not from academic

study or even “correctional experience,” but from basic

human decency, a motive for action deserving much

more appreciation.

Pat, as I recall, was instrumental in starting the Robson

Collection at the Napier Public Library. I was at the

collection’s opening, a wonderful affair, and Pat has remained

a strong advocate of it for all these many years.

I wish Pat and the collection, both, a long, long life span.

Over the years, Pat has kept in communication. At one

point, I am not good at remembering dates, Pat visited

my wife Gretchen and me here in Hillsdale on one of his

world tours.

His world tours, seeking out more information about

penal abolition, were self-guided and self-funded. In

venturing forth, he brought with him an enlivened spirit

and a bottomless cup of energy. And a wonderful smile

and great laugh. I’m sure I don’t speak only for myself,

but these are generous resources to receive and witness.

On this day, and into the future, I say to Pat: te mihi mo

te mea he marika nui

– thank you for being a great friend.


Justice Action is a not-for-profit

community organisation in Sydney,

Australia, focusing on abuses of

authority in the criminal justice and

mental health systems, with Brett

supported by a team of student

interns.

A STALWART

COMRADE,

BRINGING ENERGY

& SPIRIT

by brett collins

co-ordinator,

justice action

Pat and I have spent lovely and very productive times

together. I love his statement that he would crawl over

broken glass to get to the London ICOPA. He always is

a stalwart comrade, bringing energy and spirit that engenders

others to do more than they thought themselves

capable.

At times he has arrived in Sydney when I was exhausted

from my work, and his presence brought more

grounding to my effort that allowed me to fire up once

again.

We have drunk beers from Bondi to Toronto to Auckland

to Trinidad to Tasmania and always celebrated with

Pat’s generosity of spirit.

TWO

PEACEMAKERS

TOGETHER

by hal pepinski,

atlanta, usa

”As yet,

forgiveness is

not in our

culture.”

“Great times in ICOPA togetherlove

and peace, Pat.”

Hal is Professsor Emeritus, Department of Criminal

Justice at the Indiana University Bloomington. Trained

in law, sociology and Chinese, Hal has spent most of

his academic career describing crime and violence,

their roots, their antitheses, and the ways in which

people can, and do, make peace.

HAL’S MESSSAGE TO PAT: “Love is patient, love is kind.

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does

not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily

angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight

in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects,

always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” Corinthians,

chapter 13, verse.

Top left: Justice Action meeting with Mental Health Commission, NSW, discussing disrespect for consumers in forced medication.

Brett is on the right; Right: Famous quote by Nils Christie; Peace dove. Photo Nowshad Arefin.

170


HOSKING INTERVIEWS PAT

ON STEWART MURRAY WILSON

by jes magill

Talking to Pat on the phone one night, he mentioned he

was being interviewed by Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB

the next morning; topic, Stewart Murray Wilson. “Shit!”, I

thought. “Pat will get eaten alive”.

Pat can be a convincing public speaker, getting his

points across beautifully, most of the time. At other

times he can ramble. He’s fond of the ‘stream of consciousness’

delivery, where he leaves it up to his audience

to connect the dots and if you know him well, you

can. Speaking in riddles is another of his verbal devices,

where he lets his mind wander where it will, picking out

a few key phrases and hoping their meaning will land

somewhere accessible to his audience.

The caustic king of the airwaves, Mike Hosking, could

really have a field day with the idiosyncratic elder statesman

of Napier’s Restorative Justice campaign crowd.

“Please prepare thoroughly,” I implore Pat. “Write down

what you’re going to say and PLEASE mention the victims.”

“Yes, yes”, he says.

Pat and my husband Richard, have some robust discussions

on law and order in Aotearoa and I’m pretty

adept now at diverting potentially tricky conversations

that lead nowhere and simply raise blood pressure levels.

When Richard heard that Pat was visiting Stewart

Murray Wilson, the Beast no less, in Whanganui Prison,

his reaction was extremely strident.

Next morning I made sure the radio was set on National

and Richard left the house without hearing a peep

from 1ZB. I’d forgotten about the car radio though and

20 minutes later he rang. “You’ll never guess who I just

heard being interviewed …”

But, I needn’t have worried. The interview went superbly.

Pat spoke a pro, like the genuine Restorative

Justice campaigner that he is. Mike, in a rare display

of civility on topics not dear to his heart, simply asked

questions and listened. In the interview Pat ventured a

claim for visiting society’s most marginalised and Mike

said, it was hard to argue with that. A valuable morning’s

work at the office, Pat. Well done!

TRANSCRIPT OF PAT’S

INTERVIEW WITH MIKE

HOSKING, 7.20AM,

JUNE, 11, 2015

Mike: Here’s a request out of left field. Pat Magill is looking

for people to visit Stewart Murray Wilson at his home

in the grounds of the Whanganui Prison. You know Wilson

of course, he’s known as a prolific sex offender but

Pat Magill has been visiting him for years and hopes others

will start and do the same.

Morning Pat. Are you his only visitor?

Pat: I think a priest calls on him from Marton but I think

there’s very few who have visited him.

Above: ‘Having someone for breakfast’ could easily have referred to Mike Hosking’s interview of Pat one morning on NewstalkZB.

Mike was uncharacteristically mellow however, throughout the korero, asking questions, listening and seemingly agreeing with Pat at

the end. That’s one for Restorative Justice!


Mike: I’m not surprised. Why did you start?

Pat: I went to Norway to visit Nils Christie who looks at

prisons and Restorative Justice. The way Scandinavians

look at justice is, ‘Let’s help fix this person up, he belongs

to us”, and when I came back to New Zealand and saw

the way that Laws, the [former] mayor of Whanganui,

castigated him, humiliated him, I thought that wasn’t

right. Plus, I’d never seen a human beast before so I

thought I’d go visit and see what one was like.

Mike: What’s he like?

Pat: He’s a survivor. He’s had an horrific life, which he

isn’t blaming on anybody but on the other hand, given as

Corrections say themselves, given a fair go, who knows?

But they said to me that they can’t do anymore, it’s over

to the public, it’s up to the community. So why did he fall

through the cracks? If we try and find out why he did

and try and help him, there would be fewer victims. But

we don’t look at it like that. We just keep filling the prisons

and prisons don’t turn out people who create fewer

victims.

Mike: What do you talk about?

Pat: We talk about fishing and I go out on the wharf

fishing with him, he’s a brilliant fisherman. Sometimes

he needs the protection of a few unemployed people,

or from the gangs. I think Laws has created a situation

where people go and hunt him out. We talk about gardening.

He propagates seeds, something he learnt from

his mother. I’ve rung his mother to find out how he lived

and I’ve even quietly been in touch with several of his

victims.

Mike: Do you reckon you’re making a difference?

Pat: Well, you must deal with human nature, because

if you ostracise and alienate people you turn them inwards.

At least he writes me a letter and occasionally

rings me up, and I’ll stick to him.

Mike: Good on you, Pat. Pat Magill — who visits Stewart

Murray Wilson and wants others to do something similar.

You can’t argue with his argument really, can you?

Above: Image by Shane Rounce

INTRODUCING

PARS — DRIVEN

TO TURN

PRISONERS

INTO

TAXPAYERS

Prisoners Aid & Rehabilitation Service Trust

(PARS) operates in New Zealand and had its

beginnings in Dunedin in 1877. It is guided by

the mission statement, ‘Supporting offenders

and their families’. The trust spread to the major

centres by 1900 and Whanganui District PARS

was established in 1967.

Services are varied and cover assistance to

find suitable and sustainable accommodation,

wrap around support in the community where

needed and support with physical, mental and

emotional wellbeing.

Clients range from people held in custody

(sentenced and on remand), those recently released

from prison, as well as other offenders;

people charged with offences, plus family and

whānau of people in the above categories.

“We aim to treat everyone equally, with respect

and understanding of cultural differences,”

says PARS Whanganui manager, Steve

Trelour. “Criminal behaviour affects not only the

immediate victim but also the offender, their

family/whānau and the community as a whole.

All individuals need to be responsible for their

actions and the consequences.” www.communityhouse.org.nz

172


PUTIKITIA TE AROHA

by hon dame tariana turia

One of my favourite memories of my childhood is my

years growing up at Putiki Pa in Whanganui.

The original name of the pa was Putiki-wharanui-a-

Tamatea-pokaiwhenua. Its name is sourced back to Tamatea

Pōkai Whenua Pōkai Moana, who visited the rohe

of Whanganui in the 14th century, accompanied by his

son, Kahungunu.

As a young woman I was involved in the Putiki Youth

Club, formed in May 1952. The ideals of the club were

to preserve our reo, haka, waiata, poi but also to bind

together in love — Putikitia te Aroha.

It is with these thoughts that I think of my relationship

with Pat Magill — the shared learning between our peoples

in Whanganui and Kahungunu; the vision of a foundation

of shared interests; the aspiration for our communities

to be learning, mana-enhancing, health-giving.

All of these thoughts come together in the person

that is Pat Magill. Pat has been a champion for social

justice, a hero for prison reform, long before it became

fashionable. Many years ago he initiated Treaty seminars

throughout the Hawke’s Bay way before the State took

up the responsibility.

He is a thought leader and a shape shifter: establishing

Unity Week; the Unity Robson Lecture; the Unity

Forum, the Unity Dinner — all designed to recognise

the contribution to community development and bicultural

partnership. The Walk for Unity has been occurring

for well over thirty years since the inaugural hikoi from

Taupo to Napier in 1990. Of course the walk itself has

never been an issue for you — even in your 90s I understand

you have been walking the 3km track around

the Ahuriri Estuary in Napier with characteristic commitment;

a source of inspirational motivation for us all.

The Walk for Unity always culminates in a presentation

of Pilot City Trust Awards and the Robson Lecture on

social justice issues, which has strengthened our conversations

around nationhood, around community, around

fairness, around equity.

Pat’s vision for the Napier Pilot City Trust was indeed

legendary. Over thirty years ago, in January 1986, Hon

Anne Hercus nominated Napier to be a pilot city for the

study and implementation of positive alternatives to vio-

Above: Dame Tariana travelled from Whanganui to Waiohiki to personally present Pat with a korowai on his 93rd birthday hikoi

celebration, in 2019. (The above photo is from another event.)


THE DAME AND

THE DUDE

Pat’s 2019 93rd birthday extravaganza, comprising four

events over one weekend, saw the last of those events

happening at Waiohiki Creative Arts Village. We were

lucky to again have Denis O’Reily, as our go-to-guy-tomake-good-stuff-happen,

as party sorcerer and MC.

Of course the mood was celebratory — Pat and Denis,

Irish and more to the core, both had a fun chip installed

at birth. That light buzzy mood did turn a tad emotional

though when Dame Turiana Turia presented, and draped,

Pat with a korowai — a huge honour. Dame Tariana had

driven all the way from Whanganui to get to the event,

spent some time at the party, bestowed the honour upon

her mate Pat, and then drove all the way back home to

Whanganui that day.

Pat says he’s not sentimental. The jury is still out on

that. He was undoubtedly, momentarily overcome by

Dame Tariana’s tribute. It was an amazing moment that

revealed the depth of their friendship and mutual respect

and there was ‘nary a dry eye amongst the crowd

of 100 friends and whānau.

lence. At its essence the Trust represents the distinctive

nature of your communities, and values that diversity as

the foundation for the concept of community. It is a diversity

which has encouraged creativity in letting all the

voices be heard.

The Pilot City Trust spear-headed the creation of a

large mural in the Napier Court House — designed and

painted by rangatahi Māori and promoting the concept of

Restorative Justice. The Napier Pilot City Trust also commissioned

a talented group of taggers to cover the wall

alongside the Napier Police Station. You never forgot

the enthusiasm of galvanising youth-based volunteerism

that you experienced when you set up Downtown Y in

Napier and in your various roles with the YMCA.

I really wanted to pay tribute to Pat for your ongoing

and persistent advocacy of difference. You have worked

so hard to create connections and initiate conversations

of meaning. You have gone out on a limb to look for the

unity that binds us together, both in small ways and significant.

You have championed the call, “Build communities,

not prisons!”

Your advocacy at local and regional council is impressive.

You told the Local Government Commission that

the city should be divided into wards to ensure fairer representation

for its different groups. You argued that there

was no social advantage in merging the Napier and Hastings

local bodies into one council. The genesis for the

Unity Walk was in itself to provide a forum for tentative

conversations that enlarge our horizons, build opportunities,

paving the way to bigger and greater possibilities.

You have been recognised and valued for your contributions

at international gatherings focusing on hardship

and social justice and penal reform. You have taken up

every opportunity to grow Napier into a Child-Friendly

City, coinciding with the United Nations Universal Children’s

Day. Closer to home you scuttled the campaign to

build a marina in the estuary; arguing again for solutions

which embrace all, not just the wealthy.

Your lifelong mission has been to focus on what it is

that unites us as peoples; to promote the universal truth

that the city can provide answers to its own social problems;

that our future lies in the connections that bind us

together, Putikitia te Aroha.

Heoi ano

Above: Dame Tariana Turia presents Pat with a korowai — a huge honour — on his 93rd birthday celebration held at the

Waiohiki Creative Arts Village.

174


THEN THERE WAS PAT MAGILL

kim workman

knzm, qso

Between 2006 and 2008, Prison Fellowship New Zealand

ran an annual conference at the Silverstream Retreat

in Upper Hutt. Over three days, prison volunteers

would interface with speakers and presenters; victims,

ex-offenders, academics, judges, criminal justice experts,

Corrections and Justice personnel. The Notorious

Chapter of the Mongrel Mob came in significant numbers,

and while they were regarded initially with suspicion

and reserve, people left the conference with a better

understanding of their lived experience.

And then there was Pat Magill. He came to our first

Conference in 2006; a sprightly 80 year old; inquisitive,

gregarious, talkative and totally present. The social barriers

that existed for most people did not exist for Pat,

conversing freely with parliamentarians, gang members

and volunteers. I soon realised that while Pat held strong

views about social justice, and was unafraid to express

them, he was also a good listener. There was no such

thing as a shallow conversation with Pat. He was on a

learning journey, and he would take you along for the ride.

I knew little of Pat’s background, and assumed that his

passion for social justice was a product of Catholic social

teaching; but he was hard to pigeon hole. Over the next

15 years, he would turn up at a range of conventions and

conferences, always the willing listener and learner — but

with the end view to promoting social action of some

kind. He was an ardent advocate for social change, and

was always looking for a way to do something now — in

order to make a difference.

I learned over those years, that some advocates for

social change are fair-weather friends. Their support

for a particular cause dwindles at the first sign of public

or political resistance. Pat does not qualify. His role in

establishing the Napier Pilot City Trust in 1986, and his

insistence that the city can provide answers to its own

problems, continues to evolve. The Unity Walk, the Unity

Week, the Unity Dinner, the Robson Lecture on social

justice issues, and presentation of the Pilot City Trust

Awards engages participants and presenters from across

the social, ethnic and cultural spectrum.

Pat is a persistent and tireless advocate for issues he

believes in, and the Napier Pilot City Trust has been the

beneficiary of that. But there are others. I have heard

him promote Robert and Joanna Consedine’s wonderful

book ‘Healing our History — the Challenge of the Treaty of

Waitangi’ many times. Pat has been an active supporter

of my own work in criminal justice reform over the years.

His emailed messages of support are legend, and always

encouraging.

I am not as closely acquainted to Pat as others, and

most of my engagement with him has been at public

gatherings and conferences. But there is another side to

Pat that it has been my privilege to witness. Over the

years, I have participated in the annual Society of Friends

Retreat on Prison and Justice Reform, at ‘Quakers Acres’

in Whanganui. It was there that I witnessed another side

to this amazing man. During periods of silent reflection

and prayer, of quiet sharing, I came to understand that Pat

was a man of deep spiritual insight; a compassionate and

loving man whose beliefs transcended religious, cultural

and ethnic barriers.

That is the Pat Magill that I will treasure above all else.

Above: Sir Kim Workman


PAT DRILLS A LITTLE DEEPER

WITH SIR KIM WORKMAN

Do we have to wait for Aotearoa’s history to be

taught properly in schools before our Justice

System takes the Roper Report recommendations

seriously or is influenced by similar enlightened

and effective strategies?

While a better understanding of our colonial history

will contribute to a more tolerant and enlightened community,

that will in and of itself, be insufficient to bring

about transformational change. Government agencies

have a rangatiratanga of their own, and are reluctant to

either surrender or share power and authority. I was in

the Department of Justice at the time Te Ara Hou was

published, and it was clear from the outset that justice

officials opposed the recommendations, and over the

next few years, ensured that prisons continued to be run

along traditional lines. Let’s not forget that those who

join the justice system have attitudes toward crime and

punishment issues that are shaped early in their lives by

their social identity and values. In order for our thinking

to make the shift, it requires us to undertake a shift in our

personal values and attitudes.

From my “office” on the street in Maraenui I am

heartened by Children’s Commissioner Andrew

Becroft lobbying for the thorough transformation

of Oranga Tamariki for Whanau and Rangitahi

to look after their own Rangitahi and Tamariki.

Do you agree that Barristers remaining as Solicitors

and focusing mainly on Pakeha issues will

help with the transformation?

Not necessarily. Like it or not, we are stuck with an adversarial

Justice system, which relies on a complex system

of legislation, precedents and principles. There are

increasing numbers of lawyers who understand family

harm and cultural issues, and are able to stand alongside

their clients as powerful advocates.

What else do you think could assist with the

transformation of Oranga Tamariki?

Children’s Commissioner Andrew Becroft’s advice is

‘Start again — build a new system from the bottom up’.

I agree.

I visit the Napier Courthouse every Wednesday

and see the misery caused when Rangitahi

are caught up in the system. As of now

barristers, police, reporters, court guards and

admin staff are living off the minor offending of

mostly young Māori. Do you have faith that this

system can be transformed, given how many

stakeholders are invested in it? And when is

it reasonable to expect to see transformation?

In 2007, the then Principal Youth Court Judge, Andrew

Becroft, delivered a speech entitled, ‘Time to

teach the Old Dog New Tricks’ He argued that there

was much the Youth Court could “teach” the adult

courts and that the revolution associated with the introduction

of the Children, Young Persons and their

Families Act in 1989 could be replicated in the adult

courts. Since then, we have seen the introduction

of Rangatahi Courts, Pae Oranga (Iwi Community

Panels), pre-sentence Restorative Justice panels,

and increased police diversion. But these changes

are marginal to the system, and while they have improved

the system, they fall well short of transformation.

That will require the kind of political appetite

for change, that foresaw the revolution of the youth

justice system.

176


Pat’s

driving.

OMG! I’ve even

seen him get out of

the car while it’s

still moving!

THERE SURE IS SOMETHING ABOUT PAT

by ros bartosh

• Unbending, unwavering support for equity,

Māori, Maraenui

• Solution focussed

• Like a tohe — persistent, never gives up

• Uncompromising in sticking up for his beliefs

• Considerate and generous — often turns up with gifts

• Sends me requests when he or the kids next door

would like some home-baked biscuits

• Meeting for coffee or going to dinner and

forgetting his wallet!

• Uncanny ability to get you to agree to something,

‘Got a spare $20 for …..?”

Pat was friends with one of my university lecturers —

Merv Hancock. Merv suggested I leave Uni and get into

the real world and Pat offered me that opportunity in the

mid 70’s. I moved to Napier as a Social Action Volunteer

(something Pat set up). I was provided with a caravan, a

backyard to put it in and $20/week in wages. The next

thing I knew we were three years growing and maturing

in this role. Friendships made then have withstood time.

I found myself running the Downtown Y and a work

co-operative for unemployed young women. I had no

idea what I was doing as Pat set us up with a commercial

carpet overlocker and a space to work in! Life was

good in the 70’s!

Pat and I can get together over a bottle of wine, solve

the problems of the world in an hour and I will be left

struggling to remember what we had talked about as we

went from one topic to the next, all related and disconnected

too.

So many attributes of Pat’s which I am witness to:

• His cunning ability to get what he wants is an

admirable attribute

• Unafraid of criticism, committed to his beliefs and a

vision for a better world

• His commitment to Te Tiriti and particularly his

support of Healing our History and Treaty training

never falter.

• He struggled to learn Te Reo but I was delighted to

attend his graduation from a Māori language course

at TWOA. What a proud moment! He said they

allowed him to graduate to avoid him coming back

and repeating the course! Yes his pronunciation is a

bit “off” at times but he never stops trying. How many

times has he sent me his little mihi, we go over it

together, I resend it. Then about a year later he sends

me the old version yet again! So the cycle goes on.

• Nights with him and Jim and too many wines!

• Pat’s driving. OMG! I’ve even seen him get out of the

car while it’s still moving!

• Great fisherman. My only regret is we haven’t been

out on the water more often. He has a knack of

knowing too when I’ve gone out and asking how

many we caught — all the while wanting some fish!

• Fearless. He’s not afraid to ask the hard questions

and face tough situations, like rocking up to the

Mongrel Mob pad and wanting to talk about child

abuse. I totally admire him for these stands.

Above: To cherish: the many happy hours spent with Pat out on the water or on shore, chatting and debating, about the challenges of

community development work, social justice, what needs to be done, and how, and now!


CHESTER’S

EPIPHANY

“What is

needed are people

in Corrections and

across relevant ministries

who are totally engaged

in keeping people

out of the Justice

system”.

Chester Borrows served as an MP

for National from 2005 to 2017. He

broke ranks with his party though

in 2017 when he condemned the

“discriminatory” policies of US

President Donald Trump. A liberal

Christian, a lay preacher and an artist,

Chester was initially opposed to same-sex

marriage but also condemned Joseph Falau’s homophobic

comments made a few years ago.

“My opinions have changed significantly in recent

years,” he says. Visiting Parihaka in 2018, he stated,

“There needed to be wider teaching and acknowledgment

of New Zealand history, especially regarding historical

injustices committed against Māori”. Borrows

also condemned National’s then leader Simon Bridges

for the party’s ‘tough on crime’ approach, in an article in

The Spinoff in 2019. He stated there was no evidence it

would reduce crime rates and has since lobbied for an

approach that is rehabilitative, which he sees as better

supported by evidence.

It’s Chester’s depth of experience in the Police force,

his later training as a lawyer, his transformation from a

conservative Christian to a liberal and his career of service

to the community, that saw him appointed to head

the Safe & Effective Justice Advisory Group which is

tasked with guiding the reform of New Zealand’s criminal

justice system.

”Basically Turuki! says

we need the Government

to start this yesterday.

It’s incredibly urgent.”

CHESTER BORROWS

PONDERS:

WHY ARE WE SO

PUNATIVE IN NZ?

“I find this difficult to fathom. Perhaps because

of our egalitarian roots and because we’re an

isolated country, we’ve lived largely by community

enforcement and ‘good will’. We’ve set

the public bar of expectations. Because of our

colonial roots we’ve happily created an underclass

and put people in it and continued with

contemporary colonisation, where Māori and

Polynesians are largely corralled into lower

socio-economic groups. That has an impact on

education prospects, jobs, health, welfare and

housing. Because Pakeha are the vast majority

and made all the rules we have this Victorian

sense of propriety which means that we just

condemn anything that goes wrong in society

as bad decisions and bad choices, without taking

any responsibility as a community.”

Q & A WITH CHESTER: TURUKI!

IT’S THE ROPER REPORT REHEATED

Turuki! Turuki! is another bold and brilliant report

calling for transformational change in the Justice

system. Will it be different this time? How confident

are you for change, that the Government will

begin to adopt the recommendations made?

We are confident for change. This work was tasked by

Labour and the Greens and Labour is in government

now without New Zealand First. They have big numbers

so the Government can get on and do it, there’s nothing

holding it back. We’ve been waiting a long time, since

the release of two reports in 1989, the Roper Report and

Moana Jackson’s He Whaipaanga Hou. Both reports

called for fundamental, transformative change to the

Justice system and all the recommendations in Turuki!

appeared in both reports 32 years ago. Turuki! is both reports

reheated. The sadness is that the reports and recommendations

are so similar 30 years apart. The need

is 30 years more urgent and the time and lives wasted in

the interim is a travesty.

How has response been to Turuki! Turuki! and

what are the time frames for adopting the recom-

178


CORRECTIONS VS

TE ARAROA

OFFERS HOPE

In 2018 when the Te Araroa Offers Hope hikoi

hit the trail between Bulls and Woodville, an

Iwi Policeman liked what the group was doing,

offering an alternative school. He walked

with them part of the way and a friendship was

formed that remains today. On the same trip the

crew met a woman who’d recently landed a job

at Corrections. Pat again explained what they

were doing, adopting Te Araroa trail as their

affordable Outward Bound, getting kids out of

town for a while, experiencing how the long trail

can enrich their lives, keep them out of trouble,

maybe even out jail. “I hope you’re not too successful,”

she said. “This is the first job I’ve ever

had and I love it.”

mendations?

There has been quite a lot going on behind the scenes

with the Justice ministries working together — Corrections,

Police and Justice. We made a strong point that

this consultation needs to be across government. It

needs to involve Education, Health, Mental Health, Oranga

Tamariki and MBIE. All these different agencies

need to get together on it or we’ll still end up with the

under-educated in jail. Basically we say this needs to be

started yesterday. It’s incredibly urgent.

The Justice system has been called broken so often

but there are a lot of people whose livelihoods

depend on it. Is this dependency preventing the

transformational change that is required?

In our public meetings we often heard that Corrections

had become the new Ministry of Works but what we

really need in Corrections and across relevant ministries,

are people who are totally engaged in keeping

people out of the system. Within Corrections we

see people with incredibly good will and the fantastic

pockets of excellence that operate across the board.

Corrections has had such a rapid rise in prison population

that it has needed to employ staff quickly, and has

taken people from all walks of life. Some of them are

there to make the world a better place and some of

them are there just to collect the pay packet, like any

other occupation.


MY FRIEND PAT

– LEGEND

by pam thorburn

former head of nz corrections

I first met Pat when I was appointed to the role of District

Probation Officer Napier District in 1986. I had not

been there long when Pat decided to acquaint me with

some of the facts relating to the community particularly

around how he saw things developing and the vision for

the city. I recall being somewhat bemused by the rather

insistent gentleman in front of me and his views. It soon

became apparent to me that, given Pat’s propensity for

very long-winded engagements, I would need to fairly

carefully manage all the interactions. Perhaps this was

due to his Irish heritage and a certain stone known as

Blarney? If I had not managed our time, undoubtedly I

would have been dismissed for being slack on the job.

As time went on Pat insisted that I join Napier Pilot

City Trust. On many occasions, usually over a glass or

two of red wine, we have debated many initiatives and

opportunities relating to how Napier could develop as a

fairer and more just bicultural city that enabled all citizens

to thrive. This led of course as to how we could

influence the rest of New Zealand and beyond toward

being a better society. We served on a number of community

boards together which was often fun. We also explored

the local wineries, a must-do living in the Hawke’s

Bay. Again, we spent many happy hours tasting the best

reds often joined by friends and yarning away the day.

My admiration for Pat grew over the years and our

friendship has endured and grown. I recall Pat as a very

loving family man as well as caring for the welfare of

those well beyond his wider whānau. Pat worked tirelessly

to develop and support many community initiatives

within the Ahuriri /Heretaunga districts and gave

generously to others. He holds a special place within

the community and his energy and activism are legendary

as are his punishing Walks for Unity followed by the

wonderful Unity Dinner at the Napier RSA. Happy and

joyful events were always special to Pat especially being

amongst whānau and friends. His energy and enthusiasm

are boundless!

His energy, passion and commitment to projects and

the support and guidance he provides to others is reflected

by the trust and respect he receives from his

many local, national and international contacts. To me

Pat is a unique person and with his caring and positive

approach I can do nothing but admire him and value

him as ‘kaumatua’ to me and many others, particularly

those that are vulnerable and often experience deprivation

socially and economically.

While in Napier Pat became a part of my whānau, often

dropping in to share in social activities with my parents

and wider family. He was embraced by my parents

who enjoyed many hours sharing stories and putting

the world to rights.

In a strange twist of fate after my father died his

clothes were sent to a local op shop. Who should turn

up at the funeral in my father’s lovely blue suit — none

other than Pat! A wonderful if unintended tribute to

my father’s life could not have been better planned —

although maybe they both were up to a bit of their usual

mischief that day!

My journey with Pat has been an interesting, challenging

and at times frustrating one but one that has

always been filled with positivity, care and aroha.

Pat, you taught me so much about the power of family,

community and friendship. You showed me what can

be achieved with listening, supporting and empowering

others and not simply being a government bureaucrat

that never leaves the swank and comfort of the office

suite. You showed me the art of humility and the importance

of simply being human.

My life has been so much richer as a result of my

friendship with you. Although we do not meet very often

these days we just pick up as if no time has passed

at all. The red wine is perhaps a little more aged along

with the both of us. You and I have shared a journey

over many years and I am proud to call you my friend.

Pat Magill you are a legend!

180


LOVE OF ECOLOGY AND PEOPLE

– PAT IS AHEAD OF HIS TIME

PAT CERTAINLY HAS THE

COMMON TOUCH AND SPEAKS

TRUTH TO POWER

Although I grew up in Hawke’s Bay in the ‘50s and ‘60s,

I never actually met Pat Magill until I returned to Heretaunga

to live in 1995 after more than 20 years absence.

It was soon after that that I joined the Probation Service

and my work in the social justice field inevitably led Pat

and me to meet and become firm “shipmates” to use

Pat’s common turn of phrase.

One of my abiding memories of the unique man that

Pat is, was the day I left my job as a probation officer after

seven and a half years. I had resigned as service manager

at the Napier Office after less than a year in that

role, aware that I no longer fitted into the box-ticking,

template-focussed compartments that the Probation

Service had increasingly become. Pat had heard that

there was a farewell morning tea and he and his lovely

companion Helen Lloyd arrived at reception with a huge

bucket of wild flowers that they had picked that morning

on their daily walk around the Ahuriri Estuary. What

tugged at my heart strings and reduced me to tears was

the thought that had gone into picking those flowers for

me! No $60 bouquet ordered from a local florist, which

is how people are often farewelled from Government departments

— instead their taonga to cheer me up was

the result of their morning ritual walking around one of

their favourite natural places — no doubt picking up rubbish

as well as garnering the wild flowers.

Pat has been a staunch supporter of Restorative Justice

for decades. When Restorative Justice was just getting

off the ground in Hawke’s Bay in the late 1990s, a

group of us from the area travelled up to Auckland for

one of the first national Restorative Justice conferences.

We stayed at Muriwai at the beach home of Helen Bowen

and Jim Boyack — two of our early Restorative Justice

mentors and trainers. Unlike the rest of us, Pat insisted

by marilyn scott

“If you can

talk with crowds

and keep your virtue

or walk with kings

nor lose the common

touch...” Rudyard

Kipling

on sleeping on the large deck outside “under the stars”

snuggled up in his sleeping bag where he could reflect

on the wonders of the universe and no doubt think about

his next community project or plan of action.

For decades before many of us were even born, Pat

had been busy pioneering social justice initiatives and

promoting Restorative Justice principles and practices.

He has always been an ally and a champion for the disenfranchised

and those on the margins of society but

what is particularly special about Pat, is that he not only

cares for people, but he also cares deeply for the environment

and his life-long actions have shown his passion

and commitment to both. For years he has attended

the Napier Court weekly to offer support and encouragement

to those who find themselves on the wrong

side of the law. His Napier Pilot City vision and his international

trips to ICOPA (International Conferences on

Above: At his Maraenui ‘office’, Pat with Marilyn Scott and artist John Ruth, whose beautiful paintings appear throughout Leading

From The Front.


Penal Abolition) are testimony to his commitment to a

fairer, more just and inclusive society. Similarly, Pat’s tenacity

and eternal optimism are evident in his ongoing

drive to have the true history of Aotearoa taught in all

schools and to promote the Te Araroa Trail — not just as

a tourist venture, but as a vehicle to offer hope and opportunity

to at-risk youth.

But what amazes me most about Pat, is the vision

he had 57 years ago to buy and rejuvenate a piece of

bare land at Puketitiri (at a time when planting trees was

hardly fashionable, let alone spoken about). In this relatively

remote spot he and his family planted what is an

amazing native forest of his own — the ‘little sister’ of

Balls Clearing. What a treasure and a legacy to leave for

future generations.

Pat’s actions in support of people in need will always

be admired and remembered and his prophetic courage

to speak out and challenge the powers-that-be are

equally inspirational, but perhaps his most tangible and

lasting legacy will be his foresight and environmental

wisdom encapsulated in this age-old whakatauki from

tangata whenua:

‘Whatu ngarongaro he tangata, toitū te whenua’ — People

disappear, but the land remains.

Painting by Marilyn Scott’s husband John Ruth, Seascape at Dawn II.

182


AN ABSOLUTE RJ POWERHOUSE

by jackie katounas

My earliest memory of Pat was probably during the

1960’s at the home of my grand-parents in Waghorne

Street, Ahuriri, Napier, where Pat was a regular visitor.

He grew up with my Father, Ray McKee and as boys,

they went to school together.

I have so many memories of Pat over the years, but

for me the most significant time was Pat’s involvement

within the Restorative Justice (RJ) movement. He was an

absolute powerhouse at endeavouring to educate people

about the huge benefits of RJ. If not for Pat I would

not have become so passionate about RJ.

In the early 1990’s Pat arranged to bring a guest

speaker to Napier, Father Jim Consedine, former Chaplain

at CHCH Men’s prison for over 20 years. The advertisement

in the paper called it, ‘Creating a peaceful

pathway to our criminal justice system’ — I had to go!

That speech changed my life forever and Pat supported

and encouraged me every step of the way over

the next 20 odd years. I went on to pioneer the implementation

of Restorative Justice into prisons, starting at

Hawke’s Bay prison, and Pat encouraged me when I was

feeling isolated. He would pop in for a cuppa just to chat

or hear me vent. He was a constant unwavering supporter

in all I took on in the prisons. Pat was never frightened

to knock on anyone’s door if he thought it could help

improve the justice/prison system.

His vision is to “Build Communities Not Prisons” and

he is 100% committed to do all he can to make it right

and just for all.

We became close mates over those years. While there

were times I’d roll my eyes at him, I admire, respect and

love him dearly. Pat is a man who is on earth to bring

hope to those who are marginalised, those who struggle

and those who are often living on the fringes of the community.

Pat has a huge heart for the fallen, the unloved,

the ostracised, the outcasts and he sees good and potential

in every single one of them.

One other significant thing that impacted me as a teen

was the Downtown Y, a venue Pat created for the youth

of Napier when there was nothing. I was a frequent patron.

Much fun was had at the Y and finally there was

somewhere to go instead of hanging around the streets.

I remember a little gold stick pin I had with the Downtown

Y logo on it.

One of the funniest

stories I remember,

although it probably

wasn’t that funny at the

time, and I’m not even sure

it’s appropriate; however, I’ve

always lived on the edge and

pushed the boundaries, so here goes!!

Just to give a little context, my Dad died when I was

11 years old. I don’t remember too much about him and

I would often ask Pat to tell me things about Dad — I

wanted to know what kind of a guy he was.

Back in 1998, there was a van load of us, about eight if

I remember, travelling from Napier to Auckland to attend

an RJ weekend gathering. We were all going to stay at

our friend Helen Bowen’s Muriwai beach house. We had

been on the road about four hours, some were snoozing,

it was quiet, then this voice from the back of the van

says….”Your Father taught me how to wank, you know.”

Oh my gosh, I nearly choked and everyone was awake

and alert now! I was bright red in the face, Pat was giggling

and all I could say was, “Too much information,

Pat”. Now, all these years later I burst out laughing every

time I think of it.

Dear Pat, his name will be associated with many individuals,

organisations, NGO’s, gangs, many Marae, also

many prisons. The list is unending. A valuable legacy he

will leave is the Robson Collection at the Napier Library,

a huge collection of books regarding social justice issues,

abolition of prisons and Restorative Justice.

He will offer his support to anyone who endeavours to

make the world a more caring, loving and compassionate

place.

What I do know about Pat, is that if you were sitting in

the gutter a broken mess, he would sit right alongside

of you and work out a way to make it better — without

judgement, just compassion and understanding. He is

truly a unique and beautiful individual.

This man has a heart for Justice as huge as Africa and

my life is certainly richer for having the opportunity to

benefit from his wisdom and never doubt his friendship.

Always “me ol’ shipmate”!

Loyalty is not negotiable in my circle. I love to laugh

until my sides ache.


TIRELESS ADVOCACY

FOR THOSE ON THE MARGINS

from: merania karauria

I met Pat Magill when I was working as a jounalist on the

Whanganui Chronicle.

As arranged, Pat arrived in Whanganui and I collected

him from the bus and took him to where he was to stay.

The place was a bit of a ‘joint’ and luckily he hadn’t paid

so I was able to ’rescue’ him from this ‘den of iniquity’,

and took him back to my home. This was the start of a

long, and present friendship.

Pat’s sense of social justice and tireless advocacy for

those people on the margins, is beyond compare. His

tenacity is like a dog with a bone, in his quest for equality

and social justice. Do I mention age? Only that Pat

shares the same birthdate as my father.

To sum up what I think of Pat, there’s one word that

comes to mind — Legend. But there’s more. Pat’s legacy

is one of love to continue his mahi.

He told me when he and his wife, Catherine, were in

a car accident in Australia which was fatal for her, Pat

wanted to give up. But his wife came to him and said he

must continue with his work. This is why I think this mahi

from Pat’s heart is so extraordinary and so courageous,

so tika (right).

Ngā mihi e rangatira Pat

Photo by Anne Johnston, Whanganui River mouth.

184


THE GENTLE

REVOLUTIONARY

by sally crown

napier city councilor

What to say about a man with such depth? Not an easy

task and for those lucky enough to have known him

longer than I, I’m sure the assignment is even more difficult.

We are all a sum of our parts and Pat has so many.

Following is a bit of a round-up of the Pat that I am lucky

enough to know.

“As you start to walk out on the way, the way

appears” — Rumi

One can’t think about Pat without thinking about

walking. Out there each day at the estuary. The power of

walking. His resolute commitment to it in his own life as

a tool to not just physical but also emotional and mental

wellbeing. The adventures he’s taken others on with him

all through the simple action of going for a walk. The

young, the not so young. The trails traversed, the realisations

had, the bonds built and the shackles broken. Pat

walks the talk and magically makes others walk too.

“A city not too large to learn about itself” — Napier

Pilot City Trust

In the short time that I’ve been a part of this community

I have had many conversations with Pat about Napier Pilot

City Trust. Its conception, its intention, his crusade for

social justice and belief in our city and its people. That we

have the ability to be kinder and fairer. The trust is a vehicle

to help us learn about ourselves and face the realities

of the society we’ve created but it is also a vehicle of hope.

“People need meeting places. You need places

where ideas are exchanged and you see each other’s

faces once in a while” — Debra Granik

Pat and his meeting places. The couple of hang outs I

connect with Pat are the café called Poppies and more

recently, outside The Pie Man in Maraenui. I remember the

first time I met Pat at Poppies. Busy with folks from the

civic precinct. Lawyers and loiterers, council workers and

justice staff. I knew none of them but they all knew Pat.

We ended up crashing Philip Jensen’s lunch when I was

interviewing Pat for a story in He Ngakau Hou. It was a

memorable exchange involving false teeth. I still laugh

and I still remember my first trip to Pat’s Poppies. The

place where the real conversations go down. That’s what

Poppies and “Outside the Pie Man” have in common.

You catch people in the throes of their day and ambush

them with real talk. A very smooth operation!

“Good company in a journey makes the way seem

shorter” — Izaak Walton

A people person is our Pat. Working for the people,

surrounded by people, cajoling the people, supporting

the people. But there is one person I think about most

when I think about Pat. Minnie Ratima. For as long as I’ve

known them both she’s been the salt to his pepper and

the reliable shipmate to his many adventures. Bound by

their beliefs of a greater cause and belief in each other.

Oh the stories they could and sometimes do, tell.

“The Revolution has not yet succeeded. Comrades,

you must carry on” — Sun Yat-Sen

From all my dealings with Pat I am always buoyed by

his conviction and energy. He is a fighter for the underdog

and a chap that truly sees the potential in his fellow

humans; often when others have thought that light

of potential has been extinguished. I know that he has

done many great things and led in lots of different areas.

Rugby, YMCA, Pilot City Trust and so on. So what does

success look like for Pat? I know it’s not accolades and

acknowledgements and though these aren’t his words

this is what I think Pat stands for. He stands for revolution.

For change that sees all of us live kinder and more

equitable lives. Revolution for Maraenui. Revolution

for minorities. Revolution for people whose hope has

dimmed but have so much to give. I’m so grateful we

have Pat. I’m so grateful to know Pat even just the little

bit I do. He is a “can’t quit, won’t quit” kind of guy and we

need that. That revolution goes on.

Above: Sally Crown and Pat have been comrades on the hustings for years.


“A people without the

knowledge of their past

history, origin and

culture is like a tree

without roots.”

marcus garvey

Photo and cartoon: Waitangi Associates Treaty/Te Tiriti Workshop team in Napier in 2005, Kerry Kitione, Robert Consedine,

Janet Galloway and Pat; humour is a great way to get messages across.

186

Healing our History through Te Tiriti

IT’S TIME WE KNEW

OUR HISTORY

Those who know Pat, know of his passionate

support for Robert Consedine’s book Healing

Our History and of his persistence in encouraging

people to read it and understand why we’re

at where we’re at in terms of biculturalism in

Aotearoa. Pat believes if everyone in the country

read it, or undertook some Treaty training,

they would begin to discover life from another

perspective and our race relations would come

from a more kind and fair place.

who organises the Workshop. Kerry and I need to get to

the local hall and set up to start the next day.

The local hospitality is superb. The Napier Pilot City

team in a variety of roles are all working to ensure the

success of the two days that the 20 participants will

spend together.

On the following afternoon Pat arrives at the Workchapter

fourteen

healing our history

through te tiriti

A ROLE MODEL FOR

THE COMMUNITY:

“THE JOY OF HIS PRESENCE,

HIS COMPASSION FOR ALL

HUMANITY”

by robert consedine

Author of Healing Our History —

The Challenge of the Treaty of Waitangi

Another beautiful afternoon as I land at Napier

airport. On the way to town I know where to find

Pat because of the magnificent sign on his front

lawn — BUILD COMMUNITIES NOT PRISONS.

Pat rises from his slumber in his comfortable armchair.

He has probably had a busy morning at the courts making

sure that the latest group of mainly poor have lawyers.

Then manaakitanga takes over. We hug as he boils

the jug for a cuppa.

This is the first stop on my arrival in Napier to deliver

another (two day) Treaty Workshop. Pat and I forget the

time as we have so much to share. We are both story tellers

and laugh often. I realise I need to ring Kerry Kitione

Healing our History through Te Tiriti 187

shop for lunch. Pat has great Mana. He is known to most

in the group, which he joins after lunch. As the Treaty

Workshop proceeds Pat goes into deep meditation.

Pat is one of the main drivers behind the workshops

in Hawke’s Bay. He estimates that we have now provided

Treaty Workshops for over 800 local people. Pat

does not discriminate between Councillors and CEO’s

and the wider community. If you have not done one of

“Robert’s Treaty Workshops” he will want to know why/

when. I have sometimes suggested to Pat that people in

Napier probably cross the street if they see him coming!

The Treaty book Healing our History — the Challenge

of the Treaty of Waitangi co-written by this writer (with

daughter Joanna), is one of Pat’s bibles. I am told that he

never goes anywhere without it and currently he is paying

for the book to be mailed to influential people.

We are both excited at the evolution of changes in

Aotearoa, emanating from the Treaty, driven and inspired

by the Tangata Whenua. The richness of this debate, and

the inevitable resistance is enabling Māori to move away

from an adolescent relationship with the Crown and begin

to share real power envisaged at the time Te Tiriti

o Waitangi was signed in 1840. The Treaty relationship

is beginning to permeate nearly all areas of Aotearoa.

The settlements, minute as they are, have enabled some

Hapu to begin to build an economic base.

Pat is in his 95th year. At 78, I still feel like an adolescent

when I meet him. His life has had the tragedy of losing his

beloved wife and great joy in his six wonderful children. I

am in awe of him as the former President of the Hawke’s

Bay Rugby Union and a successful businessman. The joy

of his presence, his compassion for all humanity.

There are no words in my heart that can describe the

love and admiration I feel for Pat. He has been a role

model for me for a long time. I bless the gift of his presence

in my life.

A golden field in Napier. Photo Stephen Paterson.

188


#PATSMANTRAS

“New Zealanders

— read your own

history.”

Above, clockwise from top left; Pat and Wahine Toa spreading the good word; Pat peddling the good book; rockstar Treaty workshop

presenter Robert Consedine; walking the talk by bus; Robert & Pat take Treaty korero outside.


This article is abridged from the 2005 reprint of Robert

Consedine’s seminal book Healing Our History and is

arguably the most powerful chapter in the book.

190



192



194



TE TIRITI O WAITANGI

HE KUPU WHAKATAKI,

Ko Wikitoria, te Kuini o Ingarani, i tana mahara atawai ki nga Rangatira me nga Hapu o Nu Tirani, i tana

hiahia hoki kia tohungia ki a ratou o ratou rangatiratanga, me to ratou wenua, a kia mau tonu hoki te Rongo

ki a ratou me te ata noho hoki, kua waka(a)ro ia he mea tika kia tukua mai tetahi Rangatira hei kaiwakarite

ki nga tangata Maori o Nu Tirani. Kia wakaaetia e nga Rangatira Maori te Kawanatanga o te Kuini ki nga

wahi katoa o te wenua nei me nga motu. Na te mea hoki he tokomaha ke nga tangata o tona iwi kua noho

ki tenei wenua, a e haere mai nei.

Na ko te Kuini e hiahia ana kia wakaritea te Kawanatanga, kia kaua ai nga kino e puta mai ki te tangata

Maori ki te Pakeha e noho ture kore ana.

Na kua pai te Kuini kia tukua ahau, a Wiremu Hopihana, he Kapitana i te Roiara Nawi, hei Kawana mo

nga wahi katoa o Nu Tirani i tukua aianei a mua atu ki te Kuini; e mea atu ana ia ki nga Rangatira o te

Wakaminenga o nga Hapu o Nu Tirani, me era Rangatira atu enei ture ka korerotia nei.

KO TE TUATAHI,

Ko nga Rangatira o te Wakaminenga, me nga Rangatira katoa hoki, kihai i uru ki taua Wakaminenga, ka

tuku rawa atu ki te Kuini o Ingarani ake tonu atu te Kawanatanga katoa o o ratou wenua.

KO TE TUARUA,

Ko te Kuini o Ingarani ka wakarite ka wakaae ki nga Rangatira, ki nga Hapu, ki nga tangata katoa o Nu

Tirani, te tino Rangatiratanga o o ratou wenua o ratou kainga me o ratou taonga katoa. Otiia ko nga

Rangatira o te Wakaminenga, me nga Rangatira katoa atu ka tuku ki te Kuini te hokonga o era wahi wenua

e pai ai te tangata nona te wenua ki te ritenga o te utu e wakaritea ai e ratou, ko te kaihoko e meatia nei

e te Kuini hei kaihoko mona.

KO TE TUATORU,

Hei wakaritenga mai hoki tenei mo te wakaaetanga ki te Kawanatanga o te Kuini. Ka tiakina e te Kuini

o Ingarani nga tangata Maori katoa o Nu Tirani. Ka tukua ki a ratou nga tikanga katoa rite tahi ki ana mea,

ki nga tangata a Ingarani.

KO TE TUAWA

E mea ana te Kawana ko nga wakapono katoa o Ingarani, o nga Weteriana, o Roma, me te ritenga Maori

hoki e tiakina ngatahitia e ia.

Na, ko matou, ko nga Rangatira o te Wakaminenga o nga Hapu o Nu Tirani, ka huihui nei ki Waitangi. Ko

matou hoki ko nga Rangatira o Nu Tirani, ka kite nei i te ritenga o enei kupu ka tangohia, ka wakaaetia

katoatia e matou. Koia ka tohungia ai o matou ingoa o matou tohu.

Ka meatia tenei ki Waitangi, i te ono o nga ra o Pepueri, i te tau kotahi mano, e waru, e wa tekau o

to tatou Ariki.

196


THE TREATY OF WAITANGI

AN EXPRESSION IN ENGLISH OF THE TEXT IN TE REO

(Signed at Waitangi on the 6th February 1840 and afterwards around the country by over 500 Rangatira)

Victoria, the Queen of England, in her gracious thoughtfulness to the Rangatira and Hapu of New Zealand,

and in her desire to record both her recognition of their paramount authority and that the lands are theirs,

so that all may live in peace and good order, has thought it right to send an officer to make arrangements

with the Maori people of New Zealand. Let the Rangatira agree to the Kawanatanga (governorship – the

delegated duty to govern Pakeha and other non-Maori) of the Queen over all parts of this land and its islands.

This is to be done because a great number of her people have settled in this country, and others will come.

The Queen desires to arrange Kawanatanga so that no evil will come to the Maori people or to the Pakeha,

who are living here in a state of lawlessness.

Now the Queen has been pleased to send me, William Hobson, a Captain in the Royal Navy, to be the

Kawana for all parts of New Zealand which have been allocated, or shall be allocated, to the Queen. And

she says to the Rangatira of the Confederation of the Hapu of New Zealand and the other Rangatira, these

are the laws spoken of:

THIS IS THE FIRST

The Rangatira of the Confederation and all the other Rangatira who have not joined that Confederation

delegate Kawanatanga to the Queen of England forever for lands entrusted to Pakeha and other non-Maori.

THIS IS THE SECOND

The Queen of England will make the arrangements and recognises the Tino Rangatiratanga (retained

paramount and ultimate authority, which includes sovereignty) of the Rangatira, Hapu and all the people of

New Zealand over their lands, villages and everything else that is held precious. But the Rangatira of the

Confederation and all the other Rangatira allow the Queen to trade for the use of those pieces of land that

the owners consent to allocate, subject to agreement over payment which will be agreed to between the

Rangatira and an agent who will be appointed by the Queen.

THIS IS THE THIRD

This is the arrangement for the agreement to the Queen’s Kawanatanga. The Queen will care for all the

Maori people of New Zealand and ensure that they have the same access to the laws and customs as the

people of England.

THIS IS THE FOURTH

The Governor says that all faiths - those of England, of the Wesleyans, of Rome and also Maori custom

and religion - shall all alike be protected by him.

(This fourth article was agreed to before any of the Rangatira had signed the Treaty. It came about when the

Catholic Bishop Pompallier asked Hobson that there be a guarantee of freedom of religion. The Anglican

missionary William Colenso subsequently worded the article then Hobson and the Rangatira agreed to it.)

Now we, the Rangatira of the Confederation of the Hapu of New Zealand, assembled here at Waitangi and

we, the other Rangatira of New Zealand, understand the intent of these words and agree to their entirety,

and so we put here our names and our marks.

Done at Waitangi on the 6th day of February in the year of our Lord 1840.

Network Waitangi Otautahi www.nwo.org.nz April 2018


An English Version

PREAMBLE

Her Majesty, Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, regarding with Her Royal

Favour the Native Chiefs and Tribes of New Zealand, and anxious to protect their just Rights and Property,

and to secure to them the enjoyment of Peace and Good Order, has deemed it necessary, in consequence

of the great number of Her Majesty’s Subjects who have already settled in New Zealand, and the rapid

extension of Emigration both from Europe and Australia which is still in progress, to constitute and appoint

a functionary properly authorised to treat with the Aborigines of New Zealand for the recognition of Her

Majesty’s Sovereign authority over the whole or any part of these islands. Her Majesty therefore being

desirous to establish a settled form of Civil Government with a view to avert the evil consequences which

must result from the absence of the necessary Laws and Institutions alike to the native population and to

Her subjects has been graciously pleased to empower and to authorise me William Hobson, a captain in

Her Majesty’s Royal Navy, Consul, and Lieutenant-Governor of such parts of New Zealand as may be or

hereafter shall be ceded to Her Majesty, to invite the confederated and independent Chiefs of New Zealand

to concur in the following Articles and Conditions.

ARTICLE THE FIRST

The chiefs of the Confederation of the United Tribes of New Zealand and the separate and independent

Chiefs who have not become members of the Confederation, cede to Her Majesty the Queen of England,

absolutely and without reservation, all the rights and powers of Sovereignty which the said Confederation

or Individual Chiefs respectively exercise or possess, or may be supposed to exercise or to possess over

their respective Territories as the sole Sovereigns thereof.

ARTICLE THE SECOND

Her Majesty the Queen of England confirms and guarantees to the Chiefs and Tribes of New Zealand

and to the respective families and individuals thereof, the full exclusive and undisturbed possession of

their Lands and Estates, Forest, Fisheries, and other properties which they may collectively or individually

possess, so long as it is their wish and desire to maintain the same in their possession; but the Chiefs of

the United Tribes and the Individual Chiefs yield to Her Majesty the exclusive right of Pre-emption over

such lands as the proprietors thereof may be disposed to alienate, at such prices as may be agreed upon

between the respective Proprietors and persons appointed by Her Majesty to treat with them in that behalf.

ARTICLE THE THIRD

In consideration thereof, Her Majesty the Queen of England extends to the Natives of New Zealand Her

royal protection and imparts to them all the Rights and Privileges of British Subjects.

Now therefore, We the Chiefs of the Confederation of the United Tribes of New Zealand being assembled

in Congress at Victoria, in Waitangi and We the Separate and Independent Chiefs of New Zealand claiming

authority over the Tribes and Territories which are specified after our respective names, having been made

fully to understand the Provisions of the foregoing Treaty, accept and enter into the same in the full spirit

and meaning thereof. In witness of which, we have attached our signatures or marks at the places and

the dates respectively specified.

Done at Waitangi, this Sixth day of February in the year of Our Lord, one thousand eight hundred

and forty.

NOTE: There was no record on the English version of the agreement on the protection of religious freedom and customary

law. (The Fourth Article).

198


AS YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE TWO DOCUMENTS:

THE TREATY IN TE REO

(including its expression into English)

AND THE ENGLISH VERSION

The Treaty in the Maori language was signed by Captain Hobson and over 500 Rangatira, over 40 of them

at Waitangi on February 6th 1840.

The English version, only written after February 6th, was signed at Port Waikato/Manukau, where the

discussion would have been of the content of the Maori text, but the English version was signed (by

approximately 40 Rangatira).

WHEN TWO DOCUMENTS CONFLICT

In International Law where there is any ambiguity

• the contra proferentem principle applies, which means that a decision is made against

the party that drafts the document

• the indigenous language text takes preference.

In oral cultures such as Maori, verbal agreements take preference over what is written.

This means that for the Treaty of Waitangi the text in te reo takes precedence on all these counts

IN NOVEMBER 2014 THE WAITANGI TRIBUNAL SUMMARISED THEIR

CONCLUSIONS ON THE NGA PUHI CLAIM (WAI 1040):

• The rangatira who signed te Tiriti o Waitangi in February 1840 did not cede their sovereignty to Britain.

That is, they did not cede authority to make and enforce law over their people or their territories.

• The rangatira agreed to share power and authority with Britain. They agreed to the Governor

having authority to control British subjects in New Zealand, and thereby keep the peace and

protect Maori interests.

• The rangatira consented to the treaty on the basis that they and the Governor were to be

equals, though they were to have different roles and different spheres of influence. The detail

of how this relationship would work in practice, especially where the Maori and European

populations intermingled, remained to be negotiated over time on a case-by-case basis.

• The rangatira agreed to enter into land transactions with the Crown, and the Crown promised

to investigate pre-treaty land transactions and to return any land that had not been properly

acquired from Maori.

• The rangatira appear to have agreed that the Crown would protect them from foreign threats

and represent them in international affairs, where that was necessary.

THE TREATY

is an instrument of the Declaration of Independence of New Zealand – He Wakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o

Nu Tireni – which was made on 28 October 1835. It is between the Crown and the many Hapu.

• Tino Rangatiratanga was retained by Maori in Article Two of the Treaty.

• Kawanatanga was granted to the Crown in Article One.

• Article Three assured to Maori access to the same laws and customs as the people of England.

• The Fourth Article guaranteed Crown protection of religious freedom for all.

It established a relationship with Maori, giving Pakeha and other settlers a place - if it is honoured.

In 1840 ‘Pakeha’ referred to all those who were not Maori - now often referred to as ‘tangata Tiriti.’

Network Waitangi Otautahi www.nwo.org.nz April 2018


HE WAKAPUTANGA O TE RANGATIRATANGA O NU TIRENI

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE OF NEW ZEALAND

28 OCTOBER 1835

• is an international declaration

• was signed on 28 October 1835

• was witnessed by the Crown Resident

1. Ko matou, ko nga Tino Rangatira o nga iwi o Nu Tireni i

raro mai o Hauraki kua oti nei te huihui i Waitangi i Tokerau

i te ra 28 o Oketopa 1835, ka wakaputa i te Rangatiratanga

o to matou wenua, a, ka meatia ka wakaputaia e matou he

Wenua Rangatira, kia huaina ko te Wakaminenga o nga

Hapu o Nu Tireni.

2. Ko te Kingitanga ko te mana i te wenua o te wakaminenga

o Nu Tireni ka meatia nei kei nga Tino Rangatira anake i to

matou huihuinga. A, ka mea hoki e kore e tukua e matou

te wakarite ture ki te tahi hunga ke atu, me te tahi Kawanatanga

hoki kia meatia i te wenua o te wakaminenga o

Nu Tireni. Ko nga tangata anake e meatia nei e matou e

wakarite ana ki te ritenga o o matou ture e meatia nei e

matou i to matou huihuinga.

3. Ko matou ko nga Tino Rangatira ka mea nei kia huihui ki

te runanga ki Waitangi a te ngahuru i tenei tau i tenei tau ki

te wakarite ture, kia tika ai te wakawakanga, kia mau ki te

rongo, kia mutu te he, kia tika te hokohoko. A, ka mea hoki

ki nga tauiwi o runga, kia wakarerea te wawai, kia mahara

ai ki te wakaoranga o to matou wenua, a, kia uru ratou ki

te wakaminenga o Nu Tireni.

4. Ka mea matou kia tuhituhia he pukapuka ki te ritenga o

tenei o to matou wakaputanga nei ki te Kingi o Ingarani hei

kawe atu i to matou aroha nana hoki i wakaae ki te Kara

mo matou. A, no te mea ka atawai matou, ka tiaki i nga

pakeha e noho nei i uta, e rere mai ana ki te hokohoko,

koia ka mea ai matou ki te Kingi kia waiho hei matua ki

a matou i to matou Tamarikitanga kei wakakahoretia to

matou Rangatiratanga.

Kua wakaaetia katoatia e matou i tenei ra, i te 28 Oketopa

1835, ki te aroaro o te Reireneti o te Kingi o Ingarani.

1. We the hereditary chiefs and heads of the tribes of the

Northern parts of New Zealand, being assembled at Waitangi

in the Bay of Islands, on this 28th day of October, 1835,

declare the independence of our country which is hereby

constituted and declared to be an Independent State under

the designation of the United Tribes of New Zealand.

2. All sovereign power and authority within the territories

of the united tribes of New Zealand is hereby declared

to reside entirely and exclusively in the hereditary chiefs

and heads of tribes in their collective capacity, who also

declare that they will not permit any legislative authority

separate from themselves in their collective capacity, nor

any function of government to be exercised within the said

territories, unless by persons appointed by them and acting

under the authority of laws regularly enacted by them in

Congress assembled.

3. The hereditary chiefs and heads of tribes agree to meet

in Congress at Waitangi in the autumn of each year for the

purpose of framing laws for the dispensation of justice, the

preservation of peace and good order, and the regulation

of trade. They also cordially invite the southern tribes to lay

aside their private animosities and to consult the safety and

welfare of our common country by joining the Confederation

of the United Tribes.

4. They also agree to send a copy of this Declaration to His

Majesty the King of England to thank him for his acknowledgement

of their flag. In return for the friendship and

protection that they have shown and are prepared to show

to such of his subjects as have settled in their country or

resorted to its shores for the purposes of trade, they entreat

that he will continue to be the parent of their infant State, to

protect it from all attempts upon its independence.

Agreed to in its entirety by us on this 28th day of October,

1835, in the presence of His Britannic Majesty’s Resident.

• was the forerunner of the Treaty of Waitangi

• has a flag to symbolise tribal rights to trade as independent nations

More information available from Network Waitangi Otautahi www.nwo.org.nz, September 2018

200


“The crux in fully honouring Te Tiriti is about

power, about rebalancing and redistribution and that’s

a significant challenge but also a great opportunity.”

INTRODUCING

SHARON

ANNETT

Based in Ōtautahi, Christchurch, Sharon,

who runs Treaty Education, has led Treaty

workshops in Christchurch, Te Waipounamu,

Hawke’s Bay, as well as throughout the country.

She has more than 20 years broad teaching

experience from early childhood through to

adults, as well as in mainstream, bilingual, total

immersion and rural and urban locations. With

her life-long passion for Te Reo Māori, Sharon

weaves together her diverse experiences, skills

and knowledge to facilitate Te Tiriti learning,

and nurture change with people from a broad

range of groups and organisations.

In 2008 she moved to Hawke’s Bay with her

husband Bevan Tipene and their three children.

Tuanui, Waitaha and Mitarina. Bevan was Ngati

Kahungunu from Porongauhau and the couple

wanted their kids to connect deeply with

their father’s side of the whānau as well. Sadly

Bevan passed in 2010 and the family eventually

returned to Otautahi, where in 2015 Sharon

started working with Robert Consedine, in

what became a fortuitous collaboration. Sharon

eventually worked with a number of Robert’s

clients, leaving him free to retire with an easy

mind, knowing his vision for Treaty training was

in safe hands.

“More people are acknowledging that

if we want to do the right thing, we

need to honour the original intent of

the Māori text of Te Tiriti, so yes, there

is definitely a changing landscape, and

around the constitutional conversation

as well. People are asking, ‘If we were to

honour Te Tiriti, what would running

our country look like?’ A lot of people are

really quite open to that conversation.”

Above: Tipene whānau land at Porongauhau.


INTRODUCING TREATY TRAINING

“Treaty education is about helping people to address the why; why Te Tiriti o Waitangi is relevant

and important, personally and professionally. This starts with the who (relationships), and moves

through to making the Treaty real in our places of work and our in our lives,” Sharon says.

Sharon’s mahi is guided by the whakatauki: Ko te houhanga

rongo te kupu. The message is reconciliation. This

is facilitated through workshops, which offer safe environments

where participants can address Te Tiriti and

its implications through a gentle, participatory process.

In terms of Te Tiriti education, what did the landscape

look like in 2015?

The reception was open and keen although the level of

knowledge and understanding wasn’t high. There’s still

a long way to go but there has been a sea change in attitude

and an openness to people thinking; “We need to

get our heads around this. We need to understand this.”

That’s reflected too with Te Reo Māori, where we now

have waiting lists around the country of mainly middle

class Pakeha wanting to learn Māori and it’s the same

with Te Tiriti.

Increasingly people are wanting to learn more than

just the historical narrative, they want to understand

contemporary issues too. Such as, “How do we embody

this?” and “How do we put this into action?” and then

really drill down into what can we can do in an organisation

or as individuals to make significant change.

Te Tiriti training doesn’t feel mainstream yet. Do

you see this happening any time soon?

Not to diminish what’s happening in Te Reo but it’s

easier in some ways than teaching Te Tiriti. The crux in

fully honouring Te Tiriti is about power, about rebalancing

and redistribution and that’s a significant challenge,

but also a great opportunity. In terms of Te Reo you can

dip in and dip out whereas with Te Tiriti, what’s involved

first is understanding Aotearoa’s story and making our

history a core part of our curriculum throughout schools.

This will be significant in terms of working towards Te

Tiriti becoming mainstream.

Are you feeling positive about the direction Treaty

curriculum planning has taken?

Yes. There seems to have been broad acceptance so far

and the curriculum is now in the consultation phase and

will be confirmed in the middle of this year. My particular

interest is looking at what’s going to work for teachers

and what’s not, and how do we make sure this happens

and happens well.

Do you feel Te Tiriti training is getting to enough

influential decision makers consistently?

I think it is, increasingly so. For example the Ministry

of Education is making some real progress. They want

all their staff throughout the country to do a two day Te

Tiriti workshop and although I’m based in Otautahi, I

have spent the past six months at the Ministry for the

Environment in Wellington. A lot of Te Tiriti training goes

Above: It’s all about the origin story, the whakapapa.

202


“One of the keys to the

rebalancing of relationship,

and particularly power and

resources is education for

Tangata Tiriti/Pākehā

to gain knowledge and

understanding and to embrace

the Treaty as a partner. One

of the biggest blocks at present

is fear based upon ignorance.”

on in the capital but I still get surprised at some of the

anecdotal evidence I hear.

More people are acknowledging that if we want to do

the right thing, we need to honour the original intent of

the Māori text of Te Tiriti so there’s definitely a changing

landscape, and around the constitutional conversation

as well. People are starting to ask, “How would we run

our country if we were to honour Te Tiriti?” and a lot are

really quite open to that conversation.

ECAN GETS ON BOARD

WITH TE TIRITI

Are we getting past the ‘lip service’ stage of Treaty education,

of people going through the motions of learning

about Te Tiriti, to genuinely connecting with it?

In some areas more than others. Different places are in different

spaces and Environment Canterbury (ECAN) is a good

example of that. They had a poor relationship with Ngai Tahu

prior to commissioners coming in following the sacking of the

Christchurch City Council in March 2010. One of the first jobs

the commissioners were tasked with was improving the relationship

with Ngai Tahu and that was the beginning of a new

way. As an organisation ECAN has come a long way. Through

the Tuia programme, which helps groups and individuals understand

what it means to be a good Treaty partner, ECAN

now has a deep commitment as an organisation to Te Tiriti.

Do you think honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi needs

specialised teachers?

Yes, ideally. You can give teachers the knowledge and

processes but unless they have empathy and the right

intent, which is actually more important than the knowledge,

then the teaching might not be as effective.

How can we do better?

I think Pakeha and non-Māori need to be more courageous

and brave in our conversations. If we come across

ignorance, instead of saying nothing, we can say, “Actually,

I don’t share that point of view.” We can do better by

opening up conversations within our communities and

workplaces. That’s one of biggest blocks to Māori getting

on and fulfilling their own aspirations; when people

attend workshops and take on board Te Tiriti but don’t

share that new knowledge.

Friday 6 September 2019 marked a

significant moment in the relationship

journey between Environment

Canterbury and Ngāi Tahu. It was

celebrated appropriately too, with

the unveiling of a mauri pounamu,

which is now located in the atrium

of the Environment Canterbury Tuam

Street building in Christchurch. Initially

the relationship wasn’t one of

trust, and it took work on both sides to bring it to a place worthy

of acknowledgment, a relationship now based on respect,

good faith, and a shared need to work together. The pounamu

was entrusted into the care of Environment Canterbury from

Ngāi Tahu, under the permission, blessing, and guidance of

the Ngāti Māhaki hapū of Makaawhio, South Westland.

Sharon Annett and Robert Consedine, the Treaty Workshop team

beside the mauri pounamu; celebrating the Tuia relationship with

ECAN — a significant journey.


EXPERIENCED FACILITATOR SAYS

TREATY AWARENESS IS ON A ROLL

Robert Consedine facilitated workshops on the Treaty of Waitangi for 30 years and is considered

one of the best facilitators in the country. One year before Treaty principles will be taught in schools

up to year 10, Robert is enjoying a slower pace. On the eve of Waitangi Weekend 2021, he shares his

thoughts and experiences of Treaty training and when Aotearoa might see true biculturalism.

Do you think parents should learn the principles

of the Treaty of Waitangi at the same time as their

children, to help minimise resistance that children

could experience from some parents?

In an ideal world parents would be Treaty literate, but

if you look at public opinion it moves very slowly over a

long time. Some parents will be on board and some of

them won’t but I certainly think a Parent Night with a

trained facilitator running it would be a good start. The

problem with these sessions though is that people come

along with enough questions to ask for a two day workshop

and facilitators need to have the skills to help them

unlock the meaning behind their questions.

What we do in Treaty workshops is help people explore

why they think the way they do but that takes a

reasonable amount of facilitative skill. Using follow up

questions, you then draw out of them what they already

know and take them in a direction. You can take them

through a whole process and you may not have told

them anything, which is important because people are

Above: Healing Our History — it’s the only way to go; Pat on the back for another successful Treaty Workshop, with Kerry Kitione and

author of Healing Our History, Robert Consedine; on the Parihaka Peace Hikoi in 2016 — Image Courtesy @ Stuff.

204


very resistant to being told things. The golden rule is,

facts don’t change people because people decide how

they feel about facts. And when you give facts, you have

to be very careful.

Over the years, Treaty training has become more specialised.

We have to think long term and allow this thing

to evolve. Think about Nga Tamatoa, the Māori activist

group in the ‘70s; they’ve had to wait a long time. Think

about the Māori Language petition of 1972, think how

long it has taken for Māori language to emerge again.

Think about the Great Land March of 1975; think about

Bastion Point in 1978, and the Raglan Golf Course in

1982. These are all high profile cases and most of the

people fighting these causes would have died not knowing

whether their efforts had paid off.

Think 1984 and the new Labour Government and

Geoffrey Palmer, when he brings in what are called Principles

of the Treaty, which are not the Treaty but they are

a small step; and then Sir Robin Cooke who presided

over a famous court case in 1987 and ruled that the Treaty

is binding on the Crown.

So here we are 21 years later and the whole Treaty relationship

is beginning to emerge, even in the schools.

So I think for schools, think a generation. Sadly I think

this generation of teachers, unless they’re already doing

Treaty work, are unlikely to be very effective. It saddens

and puzzles me that of the 200 plus organisations and

workshops that I’ve worked with and facilitated, very few

attendees have been teachers. I would have put them

first on the list but no one has ever come to me and said,

“Our teachers need to know this”.

Ngati Kahungunu used to be a busy hub for Treaty

Workshops but there’s no regular training happening

in the region now. What’s happened and is

it similar around the country?

Taking Treaty workshops is challenging. You’re facilitating

for change on a complex issue.

Another part of workshops is getting the work. If you

present a workshop that doesn’t work well, word will get

around.

When I was facilitating I would say to every group, if

you think this workshop is worth doing, tell everyone;

family, workmates, people you meet on the street. Pat

was a champion at this! I used to have waiting lists because

the people who attended, spread the word.

I have an advantage over some workshop leaders I

think because of my backstory; my Irish heritage; travelling

to Rome in the early 60s; connecting with the

Women’s liberation movement in the late 60s; travelling

through South East Asia in the early 70s and going to

China and North Korea. I went to places that were colonised

and got a global feel for what colonisation was

about. Those experiences built my confidence so I decided

as a white, articulate male Pakeha, back in New

Zealand that I would tackle the top of the system. I would

identify CEOs in Wellington and Christchurch and first of

all I would send them some material, introducing myself.

Before I did Treaty training I’d been involved in anti-Vietnam

war protesting and I worked for CORSO for eight

years. I’ve been to two wars plus I was a prolific reader

so by the time I started I had a global context to put it in;

not just what happened to Māori but what happened to

Aborigines, the Irish, the Scots and so on.

I also trained for 10 years on and off in using Sociodrama,

Psychodrama and Action training methods. People

didn’t sit very long in workshops with me, they were up

and down and it makes a huge difference.

When do you see biculturalism happening in

Aotearoa; true power sharing, by honouring Te

Tiriti?

I see true biculturalism in evolutionary terms. I would say

the relationship is always going to be evolving as it is at

the moment, and it is evolving at speed. But it depends

what it looks like, particularly for Māori. The challenge

is that governments have to take the population with

them otherwise they’re no longer the government and

that’s why education is so vital at every level. Younger

generations are slowly being brought up with the possibilities

of biculturalism in a variety of ways. The influence

is out there with a myriad of things, whether it’s

through broadcasting, government departments, local

government, health boards, community organisations.

There is something evolving in pretty much all those organisations

and the evolution will continue. There will

always be something new to discuss and develop. The

odd thing might backfire as it does with change, but I

think we’re on a roll. We’re living in exciting times and I’m

full of hope for how Treaty education is evolving.

I think government funding for Treaty education is a

must, to ensure that this next and probably most important

step in Aotearoa’s future, will work for all. From 1987

to 1990, as part of New Zealand’s 150 year commemoration

celebrations and Project Waitangi, Treaty workshops

were funded with this in mind. That really created

a buzz around the whole Treaty education space and it

would be great to see that again.


Image courtesy ©Stuff

206


LEADING FROM THE

FRONT, A VOCAL

ADVOCATE FOR LOVE,

INCLUSION & A BETTER

NEW ZEALAND

by andrew judd

It was the 15th June 2016 and at 9.30am we took the

first steps on a three day peace walk from the New

Plymouth District Council Chambers to Parihaka.

It’s a moment in time etched into my memory because

not only was I seeing out my Mayoralty with

a Peace walk but it was to become my first meeting

with a Mr Pat Magill.

The crowds had gathered in support of the message

of peace and promoting new conversations

that break the cultural divide. As we made our way

to the city limits I was introduced to Pat Magill.

I was completely inspired to learn that Pat had

not only made the trip from Napier to walk with us,

but was leading from the front, a vocal advocate for

love, inclusion and a better New Zealand, and proof

that age was no barrier for standing for and indeed

walking for the truth.

Fast forward to 2020 and Pat has remained on

message. I truly value Pat’s friendship and continued

support, as an outstanding New Zealander

whose leadership is truly inspirational.

(Turn the page for Andrew's riveting and seminal

TED Talk — essential reading for every citizen of


Aotearoa).

LESSONS FROM A RECOVERING RACIST

by andrew judd,

former new plymouth mayor

A transcription of his TED Talk, November 2017

Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa. Ko Andrew

Judd ingoa

On the 8th October 1769, Captain James Cook of the

British Royal Navy and in command of the HMS Endeavour,

sailed into a bay in the North Island of New Zealand.

This day was to be the first encounter between the

indigenous people of New Zealand, the Māori, and the

British.

Māori were to name Europeans, Pakeha. Seventy-one

years later, on the 6th February 1840, the British Crown

and most Māori Chiefs signed a treaty known as the

Treaty of Waitangi. This Treaty was to be the founding

document between two cultures. It laid out the partnership

principles to build a new nation whilst protecting

the indigenous rights of the Māori. The Treaty was written

in two languages, Te Reo Māori and English. The two

texts did not translate to match each other.

Following the Treaty signing, New Zealand saw mass

European immigration and the colonisation of New Zealand

and, with a greed for Māori land, the New Zealand

Government passed legislation against Māori, which

contravened human rights. Disputes led to war, the

consequence to Māori was mass Māori land confiscation

and theft by the Crown. This forced Māori into social

and economic deprivation, and isolation. Continuous

New Zealand governments would ignore and breech the

Treaty of Waitangi and, to this day, in New Zealand, exists

recent legislation that works against Māori.

Someone once said to me: “Māori are lazy; Māori fill

our jails; elite Māori rort the system for their own gain

and the others just want social welfare handouts; Māori

are lucky, they got saved by the British and their language

is all but dead and I’m sick and tired of hearing

about the past; They have to get over it and move on;

We are all one now”. Do you know who said that to me?

I said that to me. My name is Andrew Judd and I’m a

recovering racist.

In 2013, I was elected Mayor of New Plymouth district

and one of my first challenges was to question Māori

representation on the Council. In New Zealand, under

I hadn’t grown up in New

Zealand having to deal with the

emotion that all those horrendous

statics in health, education,

poverty, homelessness and

disproportionate incarceration

rates against my culture, are

a direct result of policies put

in place from the ideology and

world-view of another culture.

the Local Government Act councils are required to include

Māori in the decision-making of councils. One of

the options to fulfill this requirement is to establish an

elected seat on council for Māori, just as we have elected

seats for Māori in our Parliament.

Having tried and failed to secure Māori voices on

council sub-committees, our council voted to establish

an elected Māori seat. This decision ignited an angry

community response, a response that I recognised and

with which I could identify. Until I was elected Mayor, I

had never set foot on a marae. I had no understanding

or appreciation of Māori values, customs or protocols.

I couldn’t even pronounce basic Māori New Zealand

place names.

As the Mayor, I was engaging with Māori in a Māori

environment. I was witnessing the challenges that exist

for Māori and the consequences of colonisation that

are so very real for Māori. Their eyes spoke of the intergenerational

trauma as I heard of the full history of New

Zealand’s colonial past.

As I took all of this in, I was having an internal conflict.

208


This new experience with Māoridom was at odds with

my deep-seated belief of who I thought Māori were and

are. My sanitised colonial view of New Zealand’s history

was getting challenged to the core as I discovered

I knew nothing. How could this be? Let’s be honest, in

main stream New Zealand, we raise our children to have

no knowledge of New Zealand’s full colonial past. We

don’t talk about it, we don’t teach it, we simply demand

that Māori get over it.

I decided to challenge and ask myself some deep, inner

personal questions. Could I, as a New Zealand-bornand-raised

Pakeha, or could anyone non-Māori, truly explain

or define the ‘it’ in the statement levelled at Māori:

‘Get over it?’

I hadn’t grown up in New Zealand having to deal with

the emotional knowledge that my ancestral land had

been stolen by my Government, my Treaty partner, and

sold off to fund the infrastructure that built a nation that

we enjoy today; or knowing the Crown of today recognised

that was wrong but doubled-down by offering a

few measly cents in the dollar in compensation.


the emotion that all those horrendous statics in health,

education, poverty, homelessness and disproportionate

incarceration rates against my culture, are a direct result

of policies put in place from the ideology and world-view

of another culture.


the emotion and knowledge that my native language

had been actively denied and removed by the education

system. I hadn’t grown up in New Zealand having to experience

life as a minority in my own country. I can’t define

or explain the ‘it’ because ‘it’ never happened to me

and yet, without any inner moral dialogue to ever stop

and consider my thoughts, my words or my attitude, I felt

I had some right to place an expectation, a judgement

onto Māori; an expectation and a judgement that had

never been placed on me.

The ease at which I deflected these questions was

amazing. I didn’t want to know. I was thinking about the

Pakeha are also the solution.

Challenge the fear that someone

else has put there, we are not

born this way. Truly, truly,

truly learn of our full colonial

past. Not to name, shame or to

blame but to understand, to have

empathy. Demand of each other

that we acknowledge our Treaty,

that we celebrate, respect our

differences but, above all, look

into your heart and ask yourself

the questions because only you

can be honest with you.

situation but there were no consequences for me and

did I care? Life goes on for me. I decided to ask myself

why I got so angry, really angry, whenever I considered

anything to do with Māoridom. I couldn’t look at a Māori

flag without feeling somehow intimidated. I’d say things

like: “This is what happened throughout history. They

can’t be stuck there forever. It’s just one long grievance

train. When will enough be enough? Move on.”

But why was I feeling so angry if my thinking was the

truth? The truth should set me free and I shouldn’t be

feeling conflicted. What’s wrong with me? I’d tell myself

that at least we’re not like Australia. It was an odd thing

to say and could it mean that I wouldn’t admit how bad I

was but I’d judge how bad I felt based on someone else

or another country that I think is worse?


My ultimate ‘get out of having to think about it’ card

was to deflect the blame. “Don’t blame me. I didn’t steal

the land or stop the language. It’s not my fault.” No, I

didn’t steal the land or stop the language but I have remained

completely ignorant; an ignorance that drove an

attitude that, in so many ways, justifies what was done,

but, even worse, continues to colonise.

I’d try to justify my attitude by saying: “We are all one,

now”. So, if we are all one then let’s all be Māori. After all,

whose view of ‘one’ are we following. Yes, we are one

citizen but to suggest that we are one is to deny Māori

the right to identify and be Māori. Who gave me that

right? Then, I questioned my own culture. I’m not Māori

but I’m not British or English either. I’m a Pakeha New

Zealander, so what’s my culture?

What would I wear if I was invited to a gathering for

a meal of cultures from around the World? Black singlet,

shorts, Redband gumboots? Well, I’m not a farmer.

A rugby jersey? I thought deeper than that; not about

sport or a job or iconic products like buzzy bees and Tip

Top ice cream but about my cultural values and what I

believe in. What do I stand for? What would I fall for? I

certainly grab Māori culture when it suits, such as a haka

before a rugby match and powhiri, which is the traditional

Māori welcoming of foreign dignitaries. Yep, absolutely

but hang on, I don’t know how to do a haka and I

don’t even know what it means or what they are saying,

but we are all one, right?

My community was at odds with this whole question

of Māori representation, as indeed was the country and,

although New Zealand legislation allows for a council

to establish an elected seat for Māori, just as we have

elected seats for Māori in Parliament, New Zealand legislation

also allows for a community to demand a binding

referendum on that decision. No other seat on the

Council hinges on binding referendums, it is only the

Māori representation.

On May 15 2015, 175 years since the signing of the

Treaty of Waitangi, 83 percent of my community who

voted in that referendum said ‘no’. Having stood for and

championed for fairer representation as Treaty partners,

life was never to be the same for me.

I was in Waitara, a beautiful town in Taranaki getting

some lunch and, as I was at the counter paying for my

lunch, this Māori gentleman came up and said “I want to

pay for your lunch.” I said he didn’t have to do that but

he told me he’d be offended if I didn’t allow him to pay. “I

saw you walk in and I was too shy to come over, but I had

to. Not many stand up for my people and I’d like to pay

for your lunch,” he said. A beautiful humbling moment. I

thanked him and left but waiting on the pavement was a

gentleman who came at me and said “I voted for you to

sort these natives out and you’ve mucked it up and we

all hate you for it, hate you.” A kiss and a slap within five

minutes from two strangers. But my realisation was that

I could not judge this angry man, for he is me and I am

him; both Pakeha with a deep, unjust fear within.

I decided to not seek re-election at the end of my term. I

was to be a one term mayor, not because I didn’t want to.

This wasn’t a question of potholes on roads, art galleries,

parks and rates; this was a question of who we are as New

Zealanders, how we care and love each other. I couldn’t

become the bait for the hate of an election campaign.

Not only do we remain divided, the children are watching,

the children are learning. You know I don’t speak

on behalf of, or for, Pakeha. I speak as Pakeha, and in

all of those horrendous statistics that we talk about for

Māoridom — in health, education, poverty, incarceration

rates — Pakeha are the problem. We always have been,

we take no ownership of anything into our hearts. We

simply point and blame Māori not only for what we did

but what we continue to do. It’s bad enough that we lie

to the world about how horrendously we have treated

Māori but it is worse that we lie to ourselves.

Pakeha are also the solution. Challenge the fear that

someone else has put there, we are not born this way.

Truly, truly, truly learn of our full colonial past. Not to

name, shame or to blame but to understand, to have

empathy. Demand of each other that we acknowledge

our Treaty, that we celebrate, respect our differences

but, above all, look into your heart and ask yourself the

questions because only you can be honest with you and

as the prophets of peace so messaged humanity;

He honore, he kororia ki te Atua

Honour and Glory to God

He maunga-rongo ki te whenua

Peace on Earth

He wakaaro pai ki nga (flat accent above a) tangata (accent

1st a) katoa (all on one line)

Goodwill to all Mankind

(The words from Te Whiti o Rongomai and Tohu Kakahi,

Parihaka).

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PAT @

WAITANGI 2020

Best Waitangi year

ever for networking!

Clockwise from top left, Waitangi Day celebrations 2020 — oh what a year: Pat with Dover Samuels; PM Jacinda Ardern; with

Farrell Cleary and Pania Newton; Tame Iti; Pat shields his phone from the sun’s glare; Paihia PR and photography team Kartini and

Steve Martin; John Campbell, and Ron Marks. Awesome day!


212

Minnie Ratima - 1964 - 2020

”Drop

judgement and

become more

kind.”

chapter fifteen

Minnie Ratima

1964 — 2020

do it. Everybody just step up. It will be alright.”

This is what Minnie would have said to her gathered

whānau at her tangi at Tongoio in August last “Just

year; feeling overwhelmed and wondering how they could

carry out her wishes. “Just do it,” she would have said.

The mahi that Minnie was involved with in 2020, the

last year of her life, speaks to the boldness she had developed

over the past 10 years. When Minnie met with

Jacinda Ardern before a volunteers’ function in Hastings

last year she was going to give her a list of demands

around housing, but she didn’t have to because Jacinda

had already been briefed. She already knew what Minnie’s

concerns were and reassured her they would be

sorted.

Minnie had full faith in Jacinda and I think that was

the moment she felt a huge weight of responsibility lift,

when she felt she didn’t have to battle just to keep the

fight alive anymore. And thinking about the 31 houses

in Maraenui that were being built at the time, Minnie

hoped she’d be around to see them opened. She wanted

to open the first house; she said Jacinda could open the

second.

We had big, bold plans; forged over decades of pushing

as individuals, merging into joint missions over

countless breakfast meetings at her beloved McDonalds.

Through our shared frustration with a system that

by megan rose

”Minnie would happily

have spent the rest of her

life fighting wholeheartedly

for small victories in an

overwhelming battle.”

did not serve its people, we discovered our contrasting

perspectives, experiences and lifetimes had led us to

exactly the same place, the same heart. The depth of

our friendship allowed us to see through the eyes of one

another, to understand where people speak from, and

how and why they do the things they do. Through that

unique understanding we learned tolerance. No longer

blinkered by what we didn’t understand, judgement disappeared,

allowing kindness to drive us instead. While I

had observed this within myself, I didn’t realise its significance

until in the weeks before her death, when Minnie

reflected on how this process had unfolded for her. Our

worlds and our mahi had changed when we dropped

judgement and became kinder people.

When I nominated Minnie for Hawke’s Bay Person of

Opposite: Everlasting Daisies by Helen Dynes; Above: Minnie and Megan Rose. Pat loved how these Wahine Toa bounced off each

other for support and inspiration.

Minnie Ratima - 1964 - 2020 213

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”Pat had demonstrated many times, sometimes the best way to

encourage others that they are worthy to stand up and be counted,

is having the courage to stand up and be counted yourself.”

the Year in 2017, it was after one of these breakfasts;

when Minnie had recounted a life changing moment

for someone she was helping. Minnie would happily

have spent the rest of her life fighting wholeheartedly

for small victories in an overwhelming battle. There are

precious few moments in life when an advocate is offered

a bigger room, a louder microphone, a different

audience. In those moments, it is common that humility,

not a lack of courage, stops a good person taking up

that offer. I knew humility would prevent Minnie from

taking any credit for the incredible things she did and

the vast number of lives she had changed, so I didn’t tell

her until after I had done it. Sticking our heads above

the parapet did not appeal to either of us: while we were

comfortable up in front, our preference was always to

lead from the back. But as Pat had demonstrated many

times, sometimes the best way to encourage others

that they are worthy to stand up and be counted, is

having the courage to stand up and be counted yourself.

(Thanks for this difficult and beautiful lesson Pat.)

Accepting the nomination challenged Minnie tremendously:

she never once considered she might actually

win the Award.

Minnie often spoke about the book The Ant and the

Ferrari, which Helen Lloyd lent her. She talked about the

moment you realise you’re like an ant on a Ferrari, then,

that there are other ants on the Ferrari too. That’s when

her consciousness moved from Maraenui to global. She

began to notice the patterns that shape human behaviour

and the world we have built around us. It was with

fresh eyes and newfound courage and curiosity that she

boarded a plane to London with Pat in 2018 to speak at

ICOPA.

Minnie wowed the crowds at that conference. She

spoke brilliantly on child friendly cities and her own

experiences. She said she found herself feeling equal

when she was more used to being on the other side of

awe. She was astounded to be the only speaker to recite

a pepeha, moving the attendees that spoke to her

about it afterwards; and for once she allowed herself

to be admired for her skill, where she spoke from, her

unique perspective. Several Canadian academics asked

her to come and speak at their conference in Canada

the following year. Whenever attendees assumed she

was an academic and asked what university she represented

she answered proudly “The University of Maraenui.”

I used to tell Minnie often that she was one of the

smartest people I knew. Before ICOPA she didn’t believe

me but following that conference, she did. The conference,

its people and its kaupapa impacted Minnie deeply.

When giving instructions for how she wanted to be

dressed for her tangi, Minnie said, just wrap me in my

quilt with my pounamu that has been touched by people

all over the world.

Minnie told me she got a lot of her fearlessness from

Pat. Together no-one would say no to them! Very little

intimidated her now, as bureaucracy had once done. She

said understanding how the machine worked made her

feel empathy for the people stuck working in it; she reckoned

being less angry and frustrated with bureaucrats

allowed her to get more done for her people.

Soon after ICOPA and her experience overseas, her

heart and focus went back to Maraenui. She let the

global stuff take care of itself. For Minnie this time in history

is the time of Rūaumoko, son of sky father Ranginui

and earth mother Papatūānuku, the god responsible for

all violent stirrings beneath the earth. She was at peace

with the fracturing going on around her in the world; she

said broken systems had to fracture before they could

heal.

As her life drew to a close she took comfort in the

small and personal. She knew what she meant to people

and she had a chance to tell us what we meant to her.

She surrounded herself with her beloved whānau and

felt blessed and joyful that they had been drawn home to

her. Amongst tears were songs and laughter and many,

many stories. And her loving but firm reassurance that if

you reckon someone should do something about it, that

someone might just be you: “If you feel frustration, just

step up — don’t settle for being walked over.”

Opposite: Freedom by Helen Dynes.

Minnie Ratima - 1964 - 2020 215

Hawke’s Bay Today 23 December, 2017

by mark story

editorial:

minnie ratima’s

name now in lights

“Minnie Ratima changes lives. She takes children

into her home to keep them safe, and fights to find

a place for them”.

Of the 30-odd nominations that came in for this

year’s Hawke’s Bay Today Person of the Year, this

was the line that stuck with me. And the line that

as a member of the judging panel, swayed me.

The Marewa and former Maraenui super-hero

and cheerleader of youth was nominated by Meg

Rose, who also praised her friend for “reframing

relationships with police, politicians and nature”. It

was quite the nomination.

Let’s note that there were plenty of worthy finalists.

Among them teachers, social justice crusaders,

lawyers, those who work with the disabled,

sports coaches and people who work with the

terminally ill.

Suffice to say as a judge distilling this list is a torturous

exercise; it’s incredibly tough to put a line

through the names of those who have so many

selfless credentials.

But, of course, there can be only one. As opposed

to some other years, there were no arguments

as to who should wear the gong.

Regionally, the danger is to view Minnie’s actions

in isolation. But the truth is there’s a huge dividend

for the entire community when kids are properly

housed, educated and taught to strive for a situation

better than what they were handed at birth.

Many of us would not of heard of this trouper

— who by the way also happens to be a Māori warden.

But those who have been helped and housed

Top: Minnie, feted and proud as Hawke’s Bay Today’s 2017

Person of the Year; Above: Former editor Hawke’s Bay

Today, Andrew Austin, Maxine Boag, Pat, Api Tapine,

Minnie, Megan Rose, deputy editor Hawke’s Bay Today

Mark Story. Photos Warren Buckland

by her would certainly say they owe her a massive

debt of gratitude.

Evidence of her impact was appreciable

when Hawke’s Bay Today turned up to present

the award at her home on Wednesday this week.

We were struck not just by her humility, but by the

numbers that turned up to celebrate her achievement.

Many sectors were represented from school,

police, the Napier City Council, Māori wardens,

whānau and neighbours.

As was said of her, she walked a path “few would

choose”. Well done to you Minnie; we have you to

thank for making Hawke’s Bay a better place in

which to live in 2017.

216


NUI & THE TRUST LOSE A BRILLIANT WAHINE TOA

PAT PAYS TRIBUTE

Minnie was unique. She totally understood the community

and how vital it was to build communities not

prisons. Her mahi was a determined fight to try and

unravel the damage of inter-generational harm caused

through colonisation and urbanisation, and she had

the ability to draw Pakeha in to support her as she

worked to address needs.

Where did this come from, her extraordinary ability

to affect change? By being in the same place herself

a few years back, as the people who she came to later

help. She had been there herself. It was about 13 years

ago when life and whānau issues started piling up

for Minnie. As a young Māori mum she realised she’d

missed out along the way and so had her kids. She was

a party girl but the attraction to the fun times started

to fade; the veil that hid the consequences of her good

times had slipped. She started to think, surely there

was a better, easier way and that’s when opportunities

started to appear for her.

I met Minnie at a housing crisis protest in Wellington

about eight years ago. She was a staunch campaigner

for social justice and it wasn’t long before she joined

the Trust. Initially she was out of her comfort zone but

it wasn’t long either before the fearless campaigner

appeared — fearless and always hopeful, for Māori,

Maraenui and the wider community.

When I met her she was so enthusiastic to try new

things. She wanted more of what she’d never had. Anywhere

there was a chance of an outing, she was there.

She really took to walking, she saw the sense of it and

desperately wanted to get fit and explore the world of

nature. In total we went on six Te Araroa Offers Hope

hikoi and it was her goal to walk to Bluff eventually.

She loved meeting different people and when she

started attending meetings she soon became a valuable

voice. We supported her in getting a job and then

MSD came through with funding from Te Roopu a Iwi

where she worked for two years. Then sadly she became

unwell. I think she simply burnt herself out — she

was unstoppable in responding to crisis and that takes

its toll.

I owe a lot to Minnie. About eight years ago we

struck a rough patch at Pilot City for various reasons,

and thanks to Minnie’s influence and integrity we were

able to get through some really challenging circumstances.

I’m sure we wouldn’t be here today without

her gentle guidance.

Any organisation or trust involved in community development

and social justice needs to have a Minnie,

someone who really understands the people and the

challenges. Groups need to listen to the Minnie’s too

or they won’t achieve what needs to be done. Minnie

was not only a brilliant foot soldier she was a brilliant

strategist too, a Wahine Toa like no other. But rather

than lament her passing, she would want us to get out

there and find the other Minnie’s who are just around

the corner, eager for opportunity and with encouragement,

keen to step up.

Aroha nui Minnie,

RIP Shipmate

Minnie Ratima - 1964 - 2020 217

“It’s a hard road and

they’re prepared to take it“.

Clockwise top left: Minnie and footsoldiers protesting against the eviction of state housing tenants; two staunch supporters for a kinder,

fairer city complete with “ears” drawn on image by one of Minnie’s mokos; under the magnolia tree along Tennyson St where luckily it

wasn’t a trial, just a fundraiser for the trail; another good turnout for the TPPA protest.

218


Clockwise top left: Māori Wardens out on the beat, Minnie with Mariana Seymour; Labour’s man Stuart Nash; with Auntie Jacinda, what

a proud moment; Pat and John call round with some silliness; Napier Mayor Kirsten Wise pays tribute to Minnie with PM Jacinda Ardern;

footsoldiers at ICOPA in London in 2018 — they rocked it.

Minnie Ratima - 1964 - 2020 219

MINNIE RATIMA’S RESPITE MEMORIAL

HIKOI, TURANGI,

January 25 — 28, 2021

Pat’s hikoi are always unique and Minnie’s memorial

hikoi this year added a bitter sweet tinge to the time on

the trail for the 23-strong team. On the four day tribute

to whānau and new beginnings, of course there was

sadness that Minnie couldn’t be there to see her tamariki,

mokos, foot soldiers and buddies all together. And

that’s the sweet spot right there, that Minnie’s whānau

and friends had gathered to nurture her connections

and keep her legacy alive on her treasured long trail.

On the Monday, a busload of 20 left Ahuriri for

Turangi and settled into accommodation befitting the

uniqueness; the venue was a quirky former single

men’s camp for the nearby Tongariro Hydro Scheme

that was built in 70s. Great photo opportunities in the

right light! Next day it was bush walks, lake swims, korero

and kai. Wednesday it was back on the ‘waka’ with

Nimons driver extraordinaire Richie, and over the hill

to Taumarunui.

Why Taumarunui? Because Pat had a gentle protest

in mind, a casual sit-in at the main doors of the Oranga

Tamariki offices — a gentle reminder to those inside,

to sign the town up to UNESCO’s Child Friendly City

initiative.

For Pat, Minnie’s son Kaivah Cooper and nephew

Bronson Rehutai, this journey was retracing steps of a

Pilot City hui held three years ago, which flowed seamlessly

with a stint on the TAOH trail. Foot soldiers 1 and

2 (Minnie and Pat), and their keen crew were joined by

Dr John Harré as they met with a group from council

and Oranga Tamariki to share the wisdom of embracing

the Child Friendly City kaupapa.

The first assistant Māori Commissioner for Children,

Glenis Philip-Barbara supports the Child Friendly City

concept and also has a lot of faith in John Harré, who

facilitated the hui that day. And Minnie loved Taumaramui,

beside the river, and with its manageable size,

small enough at around 6,000 people, to be a town that

can care well for its own, and especially its tamariki.

Back in Taumarunui this year, Pat’s gentle protest

went off hitch free. The security guard did seem reluctant

to check out the unusual looking group (plus

a mermaid statue), gathered outside the OT offices, so

perhaps that helped! When the mahi was done it was

independent activities in town for an hour before the

Whanganui beckoned, then it was down to the river for

a swim and a picnic. Back to base at Turangi, there was

a visit to the hot mineral pools for the tamariki, a snooze

for others, followed by more swims and fish and chips

for dinner at dusk, beside the beautiful Lake Taupo.

Thursday, finally, it was time for a little respite and

a chance to reflect on the hikoi, before heading home

the next day. All agreed it was a great way to start the

year, and perhaps two annual hikoi might flow from

this; Minnie’s, and back to the long trail for the keen

walkers, so watch this space.

Arohanui, Minnie

220


HITTING THE ROAD

FOR MINNIE —

ON THE HIKOI AROHA —

THE FIRST OF MANY

A little

activism before

lunch, anybody?

Images, clockwise from top left: All aboard, thanks Nimon; creative play for Ember Lace; Pat’s daughter Jan was camp mother and

nearly obscured is Nimon’s bus driver extraordinaire Richard Wright; our accommodation was an intriguing former workingmen’s

camp for a hydro scheme; Pat outside Oranga Tamariki in Taumarunui, wondering where his flash mob is; ah, there they are, with

Minnie Mermaid pretty much front and centre; a healthy lunch on the first day — lots of water!

Minnie Ratima - 1964 - 2020 221

222


Everyday ends at the lake

Opposite page: Lake Taupo from Kuratau, by John Ruth; Above: (clockwise top left): Minnie was on board the whole way; fish & chips

beside Lake Taupo, thanks Maxine!; Lunch by the mighty Whanganui River, Taumaranui; there’s nothing like a swim in the lake at

the end of a summer’s day; stepping out for a walk on Day One was a shock for some!; Bronson and Jacob take in the view towards

Taupo.

Minnie Ratima - 1964 - 2020 223

Clockwise from top: homeward bound after four great days away and Nimon’s driver Richard Wright gets everyone home safe

and sound; games room was awesome, win to Pat, thanks KK!; Pat, the man who drove the respite memorial hikoi, your energy is

astounding; Minnie’s daughter Soraya, grateful for the chance to spend time with wider whānau; Ember Lace and Pat duel it out.

224


The houses Minnie fought for

Before Minnie Ratima passed away in August

2020, she’d been lobbying hard — right to the

top — for affordable housing to go up in Maraenui,

and fast. PM Jacinda Ardern promised her

that this would happen and just prior to this

book going to print her daughter Soraya Longtime

drove around the Nui, and did a ‘new’

house count. “It’s awesome how much building

has gone on in eight months. Minnie would

be so happy things are happening and coming

along nicely.”

Thirty-one new homes have been or will be

completed in Maraenui in 2021, in Bledisloe

Road, Percy Spiller Ave and Kelvin Place.

Minnie Ratima - 1964 - 2020 225

DAUGHTER SORAYA

ON LIFE WITH MINNIE

Tell us a little about your life with Minnie?

For the past 12 years she was really full on with community

work. She loved helping people. She didn’t

want anything back for it, she just loved making people

happy. I think this came from seeing people in Maraenui

going downhill. We lived in Christchurch for a while

and Minnie had a job as a receptionist at Lincoln University

and when we came back to Maraenui there had

been big changes. And now you can barely walk the

street. There’s a lot of homelessness, a lot of poverty

and it’s getting worse. Around this time Minnie met

Maxine and Pat and got involved with Pilot City; she

used to say they prepped her to become the person

that she did. If she got an idea about something that

she could see needed doing, or if she felt she had a

solution, she was so determined she’d fight for it until it

was achieved and she achieved a lot in 10 years.

Did she get discouraged about the growing

needs in Maraenui?

Yes and especially because things had changed so

much. She didn’t want her mokos growing up around

all these issues and that drove her to do what she did.

If she was still here she would be doing the same mahi,

just more of it.

What was it like when Minnie met Pat?

I remember her starting to talk about “my Shipmate.”

It was funny listening to them organising things. It

sounded like a debate and you needed a sense of humour

to stay in the room! Minnie was organised and

had things set out. Pat would have his plan too but he’d

often change it and at times he and Minnie clashed.

Minnie would say, “We’re going to do it like this, and it

will work out better.” He would listen but the next day

he’d say, “I think we should do it like this.” Minnie would

say no, again, and whatever they were doing, it did

work out better.

Did Pat make a difference in Minnie’s life?

He had a huge impact, getting her out there on the

hikoi and just by supporting him. He supported her too.

Pat and others saw her potential and that helped her

grow. She always wanted to go into parliament. She

wanted to run this country and she would have been

good. A lot of people thought she could be the next

prime minister. We thought, give her a couple of years

and she could be in the Beehive.

What legacy has Minnie left behind?

Her determination to get things done is so inspiring. We

didn’t realise how much impact she had on people. We

Above: Minnie’s whānau gathered tight around her in the last months. She revelled in having her babies home. Aroha, support and

laughter helped get everyone through; Below, three Maraenui Wahine Toa — Gaylene Kiripatea, Maxine Boag and Minnie.

226


didn’t know she had all these friends and all this support.

We just thought she was in Pilot City and worked

with Māori Wardens and Tu Tangata. We didn’t know

how much she was actually doing until she passed

away. My whole whānau didn’t know how much she

was valued and they’re still trying to get their heads

around it. It’s like, “Oh my god, she was that important,

she did that much …”

She would keep pushing until she got things right.

When she was really sick she had a bucket list which

she kept adding to every day. The things on the list

weren’t personal, they were for the community and

mostly around getting housing sorted. When she

ticked things off she’d say, “Done.” When she first met

Jacinda, Auntie Cindy she called her, straight away she

said to her, “So what’s happening with housing?” When

Jacinda told her 31 houses were going up in Maraenui,

that made her happy, she was relieved. And she would

be making sure, pushing Aunty Jacinda, to hurry up.

Before she passed away we took a video of the houses

going up. She had these happy tears and said, “Aunty

Cindy didn’t lie to me.” It was like, “Job done, those

houses are getting built.”

[Labour MP] Stuart Nash and [Napier mayor] Kirsten

Wise organised for Minnie to meet Jacinda and I went

along too. It was at a function for volunteers in Hastings

and we were shown into a private room. Minnie

said, this is my daughter, she’s been looking after me.

Then Jacinda thanked me for looking after my beautiful

mother. It was very emotional. Jacinda was hugging

Minnie and didn’t want to leave but the powhiri started

up next door. Then she thanked Minnie again for all she

did for the community.

What were Minnie’s last wishes?

She had a whole plan that she was working on, which

she didn’t quite finish. It was a long list, mostly about

housing and she had jobs for everybody. She made me

promise to join the Maraenui & Districts Committee

and told me I wasn’t allowed to quit. She got my cousin

involved too, Christine Harrison, and Minnie told me to

back her up. There are some pretty good things going

on too. A representative from the council came to

a meeting recently and said, “This is what Minnie was

wanting, she’d been pushing for this and it’s going to

happen.” They revealed plans for the Maraenui community

centre proposed to go up across the road from

the Plunket Rooms and the Splash Pad that’s going up

near the car park. Minnie wanted to bring the radio station

back to Maraenui as well.

Pat’s hikoi, Te Araroa Offers Hope, does your

whānau think these are valuable?

Definitely. They absolutely love it, getting out of Maraenui.

They appreciate having fun and being themselves

without having to be the man or be cool. When Pat first

told me about this respite week he said it was a holiday

for my whānau; that we could chill ax, explore, whatever.

I didn’t know there was a bit of expectation to do

stuff but then I was thinking, if we wanted to sit down

and be lazy, we could just stay home. So getting the

kids out was different for me, getting out to different

places. They’d never been here before and they loved

the hot pools and lake. It’s good for them, they’re not

on devices and I don’t often have the chance to be here

with so many of my whānau.

The first morning we went for a bush walk around a

small lake. It was beautiful but for me it was challenging.

I have two blown knees and my feet hurt all the

time but I still wanted to get out there and join in. If

you really want to do it and you think nature is beautiful

you’re going to want to get out there. I was determined

for the kids to follow me but they ran in front.

They were gone! Minnie did say to me, “If Maxine and

Pat want you to do something, you do it!” so I guess

we’ll be doing more!

THE FUTURE

FOR TAOH

Asking someone recently who knows Pat well;

what they think his lasting legacy might be,

they replied, “The way he takes kids out in nature,

on the trail. They never forget it.”

Although Minnie is no longer here the attraction

to Te Araroa has been passed down to her

whānau, and tamariki. Kaivah, Tanyon, Bronson

and Jake are all keen to get back on the trail and

discover more of Aotearoa and enjoy a change

of scene for a while. Bronson is keen to take the

lead and hopes to plan another hikoi soon but

funding is an issue. Pat, the group’s kaumatua,

says, “You run out of money. The visions are all

there but the money runs out.”

With Minnie’s determination running through

the team though, chances are they’ll be back out

there soon. She left this message: “Just do it. Everybody

just step up!” And when someone leaves

a challenge like that, chances are it will be met!

Minnie Ratima - 1964 - 2020 227

228

Remembering Catherine

chapter sixteen

Remembering

CATHERINE

1922 — 1994

by tim and whanau

Our special mum, Catherine, is in no way remembered

by us as just a support to Pat, or simply

at home keeping the fires burning. As with Pat,

the amount of activities, charities, trips and life in general,

which they both covered while raising us lot, beggars

belief. We will no doubt miss some activities and events

but going back we recall:

• Red Cross — Putting Catherine’s nursing training to

good use

• Catholic Faith — As she thought her duty; Priest

visits, Sunday mass (while she held us captive). We

filled a long pew at St. Mary’s in Ahuriri each Sunday,

two back from the pew the Claudatos family occupied

• Spinning, knitting, weaving — She found time to

create four or five jerseys each (times eight equals

40!) from the fleece to our backs. She joined the

Keirunga Gardens Arts & Crafts Society in Havelock

North and appreciated any time spent there, from

which she would arrive back home inspired and happy

• Pottery — Catherine joined a club in Marewa so,

hello, now we are using her cups and plates at home

• Hard of Hearing — Catherine joined others to help

with the loneliness people with hearing difficulties

can encounter. She caught me breaking concrete

with a jack-hammer once…no earmuffs. She was

right to object. I always shoot her a thought when I

religiously fetch muffs for any noisy mahi these days

• Piano — Betty Mckay was Catherine’s teacher and

we heard over time throughout our home, the scales

become updated with trickier pieces

• Amnesty International — Along with Pat, she had

Opposite: Catherine’s rock garden reached nearly down to the sea; Above: Her Amnesty International ‘cell’ was committed to

defending rights and freedoms and working hard for justice.

Remembering Catherine 229

230


JAN HONOURS

CATHERINE

a small but no doubt effective cell that was run

from our lounge. After Catherine’s funeral two

lovely ladies came to offer me condolences and

recalled how they had so many good times at

their Amnesty meetings; agreeing to write to a

prime minister somewhere, telling him off and

asking him to release a particular prisoner. A

wine or two could have been called for. “We

enjoyed the meetings so much we felt guilty”, the

ladies shared with furtive smiles.

• Dim Wits — A fun group of mostly Marist School

parents; they met and used quite a bit of silliness

to stay in touch, travel places and generally have

fun. In fact they had so much fun, us kids were a

little envious

• More fun and special times in between

• How Catherine would set an extra place at the

Christmas table in readiness for someone to

appear who might be without fellowship on

Christmas Day

• Pat weeding the rockery garden as penance after

coming home late. He would con us: “Tell Mum,

‘Gee dad is doing a lot of work in the garden’”, in

an effort to shorten his sentence. “Is that what he

said?” would be her reply

• Catherine put so much effort into the important,

optional, fun, creative and peripheral activities

of her life and ours, that perhaps as a result,

she struggled to have the house as tidy as she

would like. She was a giver, without needing

recognition or fuss and she is still remembered

for her humility and grace

Opposite, clockwise from top: Happy Tot; creative dancer;

Catherine loved her Sacred Heart days; the gracious matron of

honour at Lois Burgess’s wedding; winner of the highest award

for a nurse in her year, the Florence Nightingale Cup; a glimpse

of the serene beauty she was to become; Above: doting

grandmother to Ash and Bailey, Tim and Jenny’s children.

We have so many fond memories of our mum, Catherine.

Most of course stem around her as a mother,

busy as, keeping us all nurtured, both spiritually and

physically. One recent story relayed by my aunt,

Pat’s sister Marie, concerned Catherine’s choice of

a small galley kitchen for Whakarire Avenue; oh so

small, to cater for a big family and lots of parties.

Apparently the architect Martin Yeoman tried

hard to convince Catherine to increase the kitchen’s

footprint but she was adamant. Marie explained that

Catherine wanted it small to keep people out. She

didn’t want well-meaning people saying, “How can

I help?”

Catherine often used to say, “A woman is a fool

in another woman’s kitchen”, and now the galley

kitchen and this adage all make sense to me. When

we purchased our house recently in Napier and it

had a galley kitchen, I fell for it straight away. Perhaps

I like galley kitchens for the memory factor, like

I love retro designs because of Whakarire Ave. Or

just because I’m a messy cook. Galley kitchens are

small and intimate and only the brave will enter or

are invited...I am my mother’s daughter!

In Chapter 6, you’ll see that Puketitiri was a big

feature in our lives. I well remember our first visit,

all staying in the Puketitiri Hotel. Mum sewed for

weeks making us all special outfits to wear in the

rustic hotel dining room! She had a sense of romance,

as if we were all off on a big fancy cruise or

staying in a grand lodge instead of a rather humble

country pub, where a local farmer rode his horse

into the bar!

I am so grateful today for our parent’s vision in

purchasing the land nearly 60 years ago at ‘Puk’ as

the property came to be called; regenerating the

bush and transporting the old store from the Puketitiri

village, and which is now our humble bach.

Recently the property has been rented out. Pat was

keen to do other things and the family too, but time

and circumstance have brought us all back to Puk

with a renewed love for this unique place and it is

lovely to see and experience its renaissance in our

lives.


CATHERINE THE GREAT HOME COOK

Catherine was always keen to try new recipes, but the one that has endured and

passed through many, many hands is her Apple Pie. This recipe has travelled the

world and has been adapted as small pastry cases to hold lemony buttery and

creamy delights; tiny Christmas Mince pies, crumbles and of course, as the pie that

showcases any seasonal fruits.

CATHERINE’S APPLE PIE

• 125 gms soft butter

• three/quarters cup sugar

• one egg

• one and a half cups plain flour

• half teaspoon baking powder

• pinch of salt

• Lightly stewed fruit of your choice

Cream butter and sugar, add egg, beat, then incorporate

dry ingredients.

This pastry mixture is very soft so try and avoid making

it on a hot day! You can use it as is or pop it in the

fridge to firm it up. Divide pastry in half and pat into a

greased, floured tin or one lined with baking paper, then

add fruit and pat the remaining pastry on top. Bake at

160-180 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes until lightly brown.

A sprinkle of icing sugar takes the pie visually to the next

level. Enjoy!

232


PAT: “A GRACIOUS PRETTY WOMAN

OUT OF MY LEAGUE”

When I met Catherine, she was a respected nursing sister

at Napier Hospital and she loved her vocation. She

had money saved to travel and if I hadn’t come along she

would have been on a ship to London, no doubt about

it. Falling in love scuppered her plans but she regretted

nothing, or so she told me! Luckily within herself, she

was content because for a good number of years, while

bringing up six children (six in eight years!), there wasn’t

much travel going on.

As well as the usual and persistent demands of running

a household of eight, Catherine had plenty going

on outside the home, most of it voluntary and caring for

others. She was creative too and “real” things appealed,

like spinning wool from the fleece and colouring it using

natural lichens which she collected from the trees at

Puketitiri to knit jumpers for everyone; and making useful,

beautiful, rustic pottery pieces for home.

She was one of the first environmentalists that I met.

She knew we weren’t looking after the planet. She knew

plastics were bad and would make kitchen rubbish tidies

from newspaper, much to the kids’ dismay. She knew

adding chemicals to food and household cleaning products

was crazy and dangerous for the health of the planet

and for people too. Her dish washing set up was sunlight

soap in a little metal shaker which we ran under hot water

to make it lather. Again, the kids weren't impressed.

All their friends’ mothers used lovely bright detergent

that came out of a plastic bottle but Catherine wouldn’t

have it in the house. She was staunch on these things

and she was right to be.

It must have been quite hard for her, with me out of the

house a lot doing my thing, but she created her own brand

of activism. When she came across an issue or an injustice

that resonated, she responded in her own way. When

the Hawke’s Bay Harbour Board started making moves to

dredge the Estuary in readiness for developing a Marina,

without having consent to do so, she swung into action.

My communist mate Fred Mace rang Catherine, told

her that dredging was happening near the Westshore

Hotel and asked her to head round to the site and witness

what was happening. When word spread of the

dredging there was an uproar, and the diggers and the

Harbour Board backed off.

In 1975 when five Australian journalists were killed in

East Timor, Catherine’s Amnesty International (AI), activities

ramped up. She embraced AI as a platform from

which she could make a difference as the issues in East

Timor really troubled her. She did all she could within her

Amnesty ‘cell’ to try and affect change. She felt driven

and vital when she was pursuing justice and that made

us all feel proud.

Catherine was a passionate and competent career

nurse who did her training at the Napier Hospital and

was the top student of her graduating year. She was incensed

and incredulous when it was proposed that the

town’s local hospital be shifted to Hastings. She wrote

many letters to the powers that were. She even wrote a

personal letter to Jim Bolger, whose parents lived across

the road from her brother in New Plymouth, expressing

dismay and bitter disappointment. When Napier Hospital

services were finally shifted to Hastings in 1995 following

about four years of strident public opposition, it

was probably a good thing Catherine wasn’t here by that

stage, having passed away the year before. She would

have felt heartbroken.

We both went on a week-long Treaty of Waitangi

Workshop together in 1973, which was a bold thing for

her to do. Afterwards she was grateful for the opportunity

and did some research herself, discovering that often the

Tangata Whenua didn’t give their land away, as many

commentators would have us believe. As well as giving

us more awareness around the Treaty, this shared experience

deepened our relationship.

We were married for 43 years, and had six children

— all interesting and loyal. Through it all, the usual challenges

of life, and the more unusual, Catherine was my

mate. We had a lot of fun together and I wouldn’t have

changed a thing.

Opposite: Catherine’s Apple Pie — a delicious and widely appreciated recipe. Above: Pat on honeymoon at the bach in Taupo;

Catherine ever the gracious hostess, a lot of people have mentioned this to us over the years.


Above, clockwise from top left: Magic and unforgettable times on Magnetic Island; great beaches; meeting Dougie at the

Ravenswood pub; stunning seaside tavernas; awe-inspiring sunsets; frangipani everywhere, sharing their delicious perfume.

234


THEN OUR LIVES CHANGED FOREVER

Catherine and Pat would visit me often in Australia, especially

when I lived in Townsville. They loved Magnetic

Island, it’s short ferry ride from Townsville and the island

has great accommodation, lovely walks and stunning

beaches. Catherine especially loved the frangipanni.

On their last visit to me in Townsville we were having

a great couple of weeks. Again, we had a great place to

stay on the island, where a few of my nursing buddies

lived, which made for a party atmosphere. We had great

sunset picnics, walks on the beach and dined at Greek

styled tavernas perched above sheltered bays, looking

out over the sea. We could have been in Greece.

Early one morning we went to the mainland and headed

for outback Charters Towers, stopping at a great little

pub on the way at Ravenswood. I knew Catherine would

love the amazing stained glass windows throughout, and

inside we met a character called Dougie, a crusty looking

chap in stubbies and thongs. He was a great raconteur

and much laughter was had. This stop was before lunch

so it was strictly alcohol free. Departing the pub we noticed

a sign on the back of Dougie’s dusty old ute, “Wine

me dine me 69 me”, which led to some interesting yet

veiled conversation as we drove on to Charters Towers.

Apart from her reputation as a competent, caring

nurse and capable craftswoman, when we were chatting

on the day of the accident she said if she had her

time over again she would have liked to study law;

she had the intellect to think outside the square and

I think she would have done well in this profession.

We were having such a good time and I realised

that my parents were as much fun as my peers. Then,

in a split second our lives changed. The wheels hit an

uneven surface and I over-corrected. The car rolled

and was a write-off. Pat and I were barely scratched

but Catherine was gone. The rest they say is history

but my strong memory of this living nightmare was

Pat’s soothing words on the roadside as we waited

in oppressive heat for the ambulance. Me thinking

my life was over given I was driving and my mother

was dead but Dad in his distressed state was still able

to offer such comforting unforgettable words, “Please

don’t blame yourself. Don’t ever blame yourself. You

gave us a great time.” Pat gently encouraged me to

keep remembering the special times we had together

and his words helped me greatly in the years that followed.

Catherine and Jan enjoy a bubbles before dinner on Magnetic Island, overlooking the bay.


Live the full life of the mind,

exhilarated by new ideas, intoxicated by

the romance of the unusual.

ernest hemingway

236


Above: Mary Anne tends Catherine’s grave site at Park Island Cemetery, Napier; Poem by Katie Ashley;

Opposite: Photo Annie Spratt.


Above: Illustrations by Mary-Anne: Dad in the big chair on Pull for the Shore duty; Horace the pet lamb at Lewis’s; out in Homai

giving Mum a break; the Hawkeye rugby song was another frequent soundtrack to our early life; Dad and Millie on a daily run along

the beach; Millie left behind in Whanganui — not happy; Dad lighting lanterns at Puk, and Minnie our wild cat.

238

A big presence in our lives

cheerfully because his heart was right in it.

Puketitiri has been a cool part of our lives for a long

time. ‘Prickle Bush’ or ‘Puk’ as we call it, is a very special

20 acre property in the foothills of the Kaweka Ranges.

It was part of a farm before Mum and Dad bought it from

a local character called Buster Wright in 1963. Buster

dressed like a cowboy and used to ride his horse in the

Puketitiri Hotel when he’d had one too many drinks.

We loved piling into Dad’s green Plymouth and heading

for the hills, eager to explore the bush and enjoy the

cosy bach once the fire was going; it’s pretty chilly there

in winter. If we arrived during the day, us six hungry kids

would run across the paddocks up to the Lewis’s farm

house, eager for Mary Lewis’ beautiful soft, fluffy scones

with jam and cream. Their own jam and cream! There always

seemed to be a pet lamb to feed and play with too.

On the way up we’d stop at Maxwell’s farm to collect

milk which came straight from their cow, not a bottle!

And if we arrived at Puk in the dark Dad would light kerosene

lanterns. We didn’t have electricity or a phone on

for years and I remember finding the key was often chalchapter

seventeen

MORE LOVE FROM

WHĀNAU & FRIENDS

A BIG PRESENCE IN OUR LIVES

by mary-anne magill

We had a lot of fun growing up with Dad in our

lives. One of my earliest memories is of sitting

on his knee while he sang, Row for the

Shore, Sailor. He would hold our hands as we faced him

and he’d row us backwards and forwards really fast and

there was always someone lined up, wanting to be next.

We had great times exploring Westshore beach and

going out in Ho mai, our little wooden dingy. We stayed

close to the shore and explored under the old lighthouse

near Perfume Point. Sometimes Dad took us all out in

the boat, which gave Mum a nice break.

With eight in the family there was always a lot going

on, especially at dinner time. We all helped and I remember

peeling a lot of potatoes! Fish was a favourite meal

and in winter Dad would come home and light the fire

for us.

Every morning he went for a long walk or a run along

the beach to clear his head before his busy day. And they

were busy days. As well as his work there was voluntary

youth work with the YMCA and helping set up the

Downtown Y, which took hours of his time that he gave

Mary Anne and Pat at a family celebration. Plenty of good times.

A big presence in our lives 239

lenging. Once we were inside, Mum would light the coal

range and have the billy boiling in no time.

Working on the land, especially for Dad in the early

days, either weeding, planting, or cutting back gorse and

blackberry, was a big part of life at the bach. His vision

was to convert the farmland back into regenerated native

bush and with a lot of hard work from him and some very

dedicated people, especially our brother Rob and Bernard

Lloyd, this has been achieved although it does need

ongoing care. Some say Puketitiri is one of Dad’s greatest

legacies and that makes us feel very proud of him.

Back home at Westshore Dad enjoyed listening to music.

Nat King Cole’s Rambling Rose, Dean Martin, and

Boss Gags (as he called Boz Scaggs) were some of his

favourites. He loved hearing us play the piano too and

Dad liked a good car. There was always a good car.

Millie, the tiny fox terrier/chihuahua cross that was

initially John’s dog, went to live with Mum and Dad and

did she love Dad. She followed him everywhere and

loved running with him along the beach. She even forgave

Dad when we accidentally left her behind at Cook

Gardens in Whanganui late one dark night, when we

stopped for a breather en route for New Plymouth. She

was very spoilt, had a wicker basket with a mattress

and sheets and in winter Mum would cover her up with

homespun woollen blankets.

Soon after Dad was awarded his OBE Mum mentioned

that it was lying around and he needed to find

a safe spot for it. “I know, under Millie’s mattress,” he

said, and there it stayed for years. That didn’t mean he

didn’t value the medal; he was quietly proud to receive

it.

Dad was very generous and from time to time would

buy each of us a special gift. I especially remember him

buying me a guitar, which was the start of my long and

continuing love for music. He gave me a children’s bible

too, which I still treasure.

When Pat visits me in Titahi Bay, we walk along the

beach and take in Kapiti Island in the distance. Back

home we sit and chat and enjoy cups of tea. At night we

watch his favourite programmes, The Chase and Britain’s

Got Talent and I treasure these wonderful times

with my most faithful friend. You’re such a big, beautiful

person in our lives Dad and we love you to bits.

Above: John Magill sailing near Ahuriri Channel; this watercolour (above) was painted by Mary-Anne as John was departing for Fiji in

his yacht.

240


ANYONE FOR A PINKIE?

by jan magill

I am Catherine Janice Magill, better known as Jan, the

eldest of Pat and Catherine’s six children.

We were brought up in Westshore in Whakarire Avenue

with the ocean but a step away from the back

door. The house was designed by a local architect and

built by Catherine’s brother and is a beautiful home. I

have fond memories of family times there and remember

Catherine often cooking for the less fortunate in the

area, complementing Pat’s philanthropic tendencies.

We had many family holidays at Puketitiri, initially staying

at the Puketitiri Hotel and later in the family bach. Buying

the land at Puketitiri was an inspired thing for Catherine

and Pat to do. Puk, as we call it, has always been a

special and inspiring retreat. The trips up and back were

relatively frequent and not so well appreciated though in

those early years by the older kids. We just wanted to

spend our time surfing and enjoying Westshore Beach

complete with its rock pools and sea-horses.

In my childhood years I remember Pat more as an

environmentalist than for his interest in social issues. I

do remember that he always had time for the boys from

France House in his youth and was a great believer in

equanimity for all, so it was no surprise to see him take

more of an interest in social justice as the years advanced.

I’d probably left home before Pat’s commitment to social

justice really fired up but the words “Downtown Y”

and “Pub With No Beer” are coming back to life as I read

the tributes to him for this book.

I left NZ in 1969, returning often. Living in Australia

has given me great opportunities including meeting the

best husband, but I always hoped I would end up in New

Zealand someday. Covid with all it’s devastating consequences

afforded me that opportunity to stay longer,

gaining more appreciation for my country of birth and

its people.

Being able to spend more time with Pat has given me

the opportunity to observe his busy lifestyle, one that is

hard to keep up with at times. He sets a cracking pace!

No sooner has one project been undertaken and he is

off on another. His qualities most endearing to me are

that of his zest for living, his joie de vivre. Even watching

“The Chase” with or without his favourite tipple of the

moment (a Pinkie), his enthusiasm is infectious and has

become a highlight of my extended stay.

The other quality I am appreciating at the moment is

his thoughtful deliberation of words chosen in this book

to describe the many people who have supported, educated,

shared their stories and inspired him throughout

his life’s journey.

We also know he throws the odd curved ball that we

either have to duck or manage, but that keeps us on our

toes! When a curved balls comes our way I find it handy

to recall one of his favourite sayings; “It has to be fun”.

Thanks for the ride Dad, and let’s have lots more fun

along the way!


HE WAS ON TO A WINNER

by rob magill

Anyone who knows my father, Pat, would agree he has an

enquiring mind. When I was growing up in Westshore,

one of his rituals was to walk leisurely along the beach to

buy the Sunday papers at our local dairy. At the same time,

my mother, Catherine, would cram me and my five siblings

into her Morris Minor for the short drive to St Mary’s

Church at Port Ahuriri. Catherine had good intentions —

giving us a religious education but I thought church was

an hour of extreme boredom. I envied Pat and realised he

was on to a winner — walking along the beach and nurturing

his enquiring mind with the latest news and views.

Pat grew up in Cameron Road, on Napier Hill, and went

to Central School. His route to school was down the “99

steps” to Milton Road, up the ramp to Colenso Ave, then

up to the crest of the hill. One early memory of his: when

he was five years old, his classmate and friend, Alan Peake,

arrived at school with his arm in plaster — a chimney had

fallen him during the ‘31 Hawke’s Bay Earthquake. Excitement

— and Alan received a lot of fuss from the class!

Pat also worked on a milk run as a lad, sometimes

starting at 3 or 4 am. He loved it. He also attended

Napier Intermediate, then Napier Boys’ High School. In

his first year at NBHS, he did extremely well in the steeplechase,

which he said came as a surprise. He didn’t

perform so well in the classroom though and wasn’t a

natural at chemistry or maths, but a little better at geography

and history.

He was streamed near the bottom at high school, and

took Commercial (shorthand, typing and bookkeeping),

which was bad steer really, but he still has a good typing

speed. At the end of the third year, his parents went to

see the teacher, Mr Foster. Pat enjoyed spending time

on farms in the holidays, so it was decided to try him

on the Agriculture option. His grades came up and it

proved to him that if you like something you’ll do well

in it. He got on well with the Ag boys, who were usually

farmers’ sons. His growing-up years in Napier, he said,

were pretty carefree. He was healthy and never worried

much.

Following high school he enrolled at Massey College

in Palmerston North, where he did a 2 year general sheep

farming course. He worked on farms in Manawatu during

the vacations and played rugby in the local competition.

Following Massey, he returned to Napier, worked briefly

in his father’s drapery shop (Robert Magill), in Carlyle

Street, then headed for the open spaces. He worked

for Lou Harris initially at Brooklands Station near Napier

and soon after at Mangatutu Station in the foothills

Kaweka mountains after Lou had purchased it. Pat told

me once the view of the lights of Napier was impressive

from those heights.

During his time at the station, he had an Army Indian

motorbike, which he rode to and from Napier. The

big bike didn’t handle the back-country roads too well

though, and it was a cool ride in winter!

I’ll always be grateful to Catherine and Pat for the holidays

we had around the countryside as it gave me an introduction

to, and a huge appreciation of what we have

at our back door. The highlight was the trip we had to

Fiordland to walk the Milford Track.

There was the holiday too we had at Puketitiri in the

early 60s, which inspired Catherine and Pat to purchase

7.7 hectares of rough farmland with a creek running

through. There was some native bush on the property,

though it was mostly secondary growth — the area having

been milled. It was decided to let the area which

contained most of the native vegetation to regenerate.

And I’m appreciative too for them fostering in me the

desire to learn about the significance of our unique natural

heritage — forests, mountains, lakes and rivers etc.

This has guided me in my life and my career.

Above: Bluff Hill revisited 2021: Meet Rob, the family’s historian who managed to discover quite a lot of extra information about Pat

that was new to us, and much to our delight.

242


THANKS PAT!

by john magill

One interesting chapter in our lives was the arrival of

Albert and Jenny Fan and their family from Indonesia.

Pat met the family through Friendly Neighbours when

he visited them at their home and welcomed them to

Napier, as new refugees. Albert and Jenny were chefs

and brought a really welcomed ethnic flavour to Napier’s

dining scene when they opened The White Heron. There

weren’t many interesting restaurants around at the time!

The White Heron was in the basement of the Hawke’s

Bay Museum building on Downey Street, opposite the

Hawke’s Bay Club. Stairs led down to what was a really

cool dining space and the double doors are still there.

We enjoyed lots of wonderful dinners there and Albert

and Jenny sometimes catered for parties at home.

Jenny and her mother kept the kitchen ticking over

and Albert was front of house, which he loved. He and

Pat had competitions over who could eat the most chili.

Albert always won. The restaurant was operating in

the 70s, back in the days when smoking was allowed

inside so smokers simply lit up at their table. I remember

Albert’s amazing draw-backs. An impressive cloud

of smoke would come out of his mouth and be enticed

slowly up his nostrils. I found it fascinating. In 1975 our

whole family went to Indonesia for a holiday for nearly a

month. Thanks Pat — what an experience.

Spending six days tramping around Lake Waikaremona

in 1969 was another holiday that stands out for

me. It was Pat’s first organised walk for the YMCA,

which brought really different people together for a good

cause. Alana and Shelley Hiha were part of the crew as

well. A launch took our gear from camp to camp while

we walked around the lake. Gordon Christie, Napier

Labour MP at the time was the cook. I remember him

jokingly telling Pat off for not washing a pot properly,

kicking the pot around the campsite as he did so. The

evenings were entertaining with everyone sitting around

the camp fire talking about anything and everything.

The next YMCA walk was from Taupo to Napier a year

later. This was a five day event to raise money for The

Pub With No Beer along Latham Street. Again it brought

together lots of different people for a good cause and it

was an adventure we’ll never forget.

I worked with Pat for quite a few years in the carpet

shops and we had our own project for a while, a shop

called the Batik and Asian Trading Company. These

were magical times, working with suppliers like the

Merchants of Narnia and importing cool stuff from Bali.

I’m still selling carpet today, which I enjoy and I’m very

grateful for the introduction Pat gave me to the business

world. Thanks Pat!

Above: Pat organised two YMCA walks around Lake Waikaremoana in the early 70s and everyone who went still remembers what

amazing hikoi they were. Connecting with diverse people, and at the same time gaining so much by happily being held captive in

nature; shipmates at John’s 60th birthday at the Westshore Scouts Hall just a few years ago. Photo, Lake Waikaremoana, by

Anne Johnston.


MEMORIES, INFLUENCES,

AND THANKS PAT

by jesma magill

IN THE 60S

As a young kid it was pretty cool having a dad who had

a personal mantra; “It has to be fun”, and a balancing

driving force for him has always been, “Meet needs in

the community where you see them”.

FIRST MEMORY

Driving with Pat in his huge green Plymouth with its

large rear fins and a bench seat in front, while he unwraps

the cellophane from a pack of Rothmans, lights

a ciggie and the enticing aroma of sulphur rises from

the just-lit match. Although I went on to have a five-year

smoking career before losing the allure of the sulphur

haze, I in no way attribute my addiction to my dad, although

I will say one’s sense of smell is a powerful thing.

PUKETITIRI

Living off grid at the bach meant tin baths by the fire and

the early lesson of not letting your body touch the tin

closest to the fireplace. Catherine cooking on the coal

range in the kitchen — scones, soups, casseroles. Fights

for the top bunks, sliding games on roly-poly cushions

along the lino floor, dripping hot wax over our hands

then peeling back the wax once it had cooled; kept us

amused for hours. Yes, we were very lucky no one was

burnt.

Feeling grateful for being introduced to nature and the

environment by our parents and having appreciation for

it imprinted on our DNA. Gratitude for being humbled by

the grandeur of the landscape, going bush, glow worms,

dipping in waterfalls, hot mineral pools, cold river swims.

Puk will remain as important to our future as it has been

to our past.

ENVIRONMENTALIST

Around the same time Pat was asked to join Forest &

Bird and take on the role of chairman, I remember joining

him at White Pine Bush while he worked on slashing

a track through the undergrowth. He says I helped

him, but being only four at the time I suspect my presence

was more about giving Catherine a break. Regardless,

the consequences of those early experiences were

priceless gifts and to this day, walking through the bush

is a salve to body and soul.

GOTTA GET AWAY

Pat loves adventures, Cath did too and often during the

school holidays we would head off for places unknown

and exciting. Even though it rained most of the time,

walking the Milford Track was a highlight. I was eightyears-old

at the time, apparently not always a happy

tramper and Pat piggy-backed me much of the way. That

experience and seeing the South Island then is another

magnificient memory.

Opposite, walking with THE shipmate on his 93rd birthday; Above: One of many magic moments, meeting Hone Tuwhare at the

Napier Public Library with Pat and niece Jerri Magill who was too young to be impressed.

244


”His

eyes burn to a

distant point where

all roads converge”.

Tone Tuwhare —

Time and the

Child

CARPET KING OF

HAWKE’S BAY

There were some corny ads for Pat’s business that called

him the Carpet King of Hawke’s Bay. So of course, as a

young girl with a passion for fairy tales and a Princess

head board above my bed, I asked him one day if he was

indeed the carpet king and did that make me a princess?

To which he replied, "Of course you're a princess!” Unfortunately

other people took more convincing and consequently

when Pat eventually abdicated as carpet king

I lost my ‘tiara’ which was a good thing all round, really.

GOODBYE NORMAN KIRK

The day Norman Kirk died in 1974 I was at school in

Masterton and a few days later Pat drove in through

the school gates and impressively (I thought), whisked

me away to Big Norm’s funeral in Wellington. It was an

unforgettable experience. We’ve enjoyed many such adventures

and significant, magical moments as Pat has

taken us along with him on his myriad of pilgrimages.

A MONTH IN INDONESIA

As a 15-year-old, travelling the length of Indonesia and

visiting Bali too with the family, we experienced true poverty

on the one hand and cultures that express joy in the

simplest moments, on the other. This trip offered life-long,

rich learnings and left us with a passion for travel as well.

A SOCIALIST BUSINESSMAN?

Even though Pat owned a business for most of his life,

the capitalist spirit just isn’t in his DNA. A revealing case

in point: during Auckland’s heady real estate market

around 1992 I sold my house in Titirangi and “did quite

well”. Pat was amazed and kind of disappointed when I

told him how much I had pocketed from the sale. “But

you don’t have to accept all that, do you?” I realised then

Pat’s spiritual advice was way more valuable than his financial,

and from there on in I deferred to my soon-to-be

husband Richard on all matters financial.

PARTY PARTY PARTY PARTY!

Around March each year, six months before Pat’s birthday

in September there’s a conversation in our family

that goes something like this: Pat says; “I don’t think I’ll

have a birthday party this year”…Then we say, “Of course

you will, you always do”, to which Pat says; “Oh, okay,

let’s do it then”. Then it’s full on into organising mode,

usually with the talented celebration planning maestro

Denis O’Reilly as enabler. Denis and his team pulled out

all stops for Pat's 90th and it was a three-day extravaganza

comprising four events. Pretty much everyone

was exhausted, except Pat. He felt energised for the year

ahead, and we wouldn't have it any other way.


FUN, MAYHEM & AROHA

by tim magill

Growing up at Westshore, walking was a big thing. We

all walked the Milford Track around 1968. White Pine

Bush was a nice walk before that, a project Pat was involved

with through Forest & Bird. We would go out to

the bush with him and help too, somewhat, as prison

inmates cut a track through the bush. This track remains

today at the top of Esk Valley.

On Sundays we often walked or “mooched” to the

trawlers moored at Ahuriri, sometimes further to see the

ships at the big Napier Wharf, and even on board if there

was time and approval. Nice.

Then there were the YMCA “walkabouts” from Napier

to Hastings, fundraising events that brought people together.

These were always a big thing for Pat. At least

two of these happened under his watch and were widely

supported and a bit imaginative, as I recall.

Then it was time to get serious, with the 1970 YMCA

Taupo to Napier walk as another fundraiser, with 100 people

on the trail. As always with Pat, it was for a good cause

and every time — there was fun, mayhem and aroha.

Big memories of the Taupo to Napier excursion: the

Dirty Dozen — the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Club, Old Boys

and current — keeping us fed as the able chefs; Ena

Sharples talking to my sister Jes as the youngest walker

and Kel Tremain, the big celebrity rugby player on the

walk, talked to Albert Tatlock.

Lesser walks include Waimarama to Cape Kidnappers

with the Parkers and Magill’s, and around Lake

Waikaremoana with Catherine’s Taranaki whānau, the

O’Donnells. We have to say Catherine, our Mum, was up

for all of this because she was herself adventurous, and

in that she supported Pat. What a team, and what a childhood

— one we look back on with gratitude and pride.

Above, Tim and Pat, sailing on the Kaipara near where Tim lives; below, loving the rugby hype in the 60s.

246


GUIDED TO BECOME

MORE EMPATHETIC

by grandson travis magill

On Wednesday mornings Pat occasionally goes down

to the Napier District Courthouse to observe the trials,

looking for creative ways to provide some form of support

to those that have never had any proper help before,

and also to observe the judicial system in action.

When Pat was in hospital for a couple of weeks for an

issue that he has now overcome, he was unable to attend

the court trials. None the less he didn’t let that get in

the way. He asked my sister Jerri and I to go to the court

house in his place. At the time we probably didn’t realise

this but we weren’t just there to observe the trials and the

judicial system, we were also being guided by Pat to become

more empathetic and further instill the values to the

next generation that a community needs to stick together

and help one another, even in unordinary situations.

One of the most common phrases I have heard in my

life is a quote from Pat that goes; “If you can’t fix your

own backyard then you can’t fix the world.” In this analogy

the backyard is Napier and Pat has always had an unconditional

love towards Napier and all of her residents.

Above: Jerri and Travis Magill on duty for Pilot City Trust at the Napier Court, when Koro Pat was in hospital.


ADVENTURES WITH PAT

by granddaughter zoe hadfield

I guess you’d call Pat our step-grandfather but we always

just call him Pat. John married our mum Jo in

1996 and my brother Liam and I were welcomed into

the big Magill family.

Pat was an important, positive presence in our

lives. We moved in with him at Westshore soon after

Catherine died to keep an eye on him but it worked

both ways. He kept a caring eye on us as well. He

was great fun and often took us out for treats or to

go shopping. Whatever it was it usually turned into

an adventure.

Like the time he asked Liam and I what we’d like to

do one day. We were about 10 and 8 and “McDonald’s

Drive Thru please” was our reply. “No problem,” Pat

said, “Jump in the car.”

We pull up McDonalds and Pat asks which way to

go. “Round to the left Pat then follow the arrows.” He

doesn’t see the stop sign at the order bay though and

keeps on driving. “Pat! Stop!” I yell. “You’re meant to

order at the window!”

So around we go again, even more slowly this time,

with Pat determined to get it right while Liam and I

slump down low in our seats, hoping our friends don’t

spot us! Eventually we stop at the window, pass over

our order and finally, the burgers come our way.

Twenty years later I still smile when I pass McDonalds,

anywhere, and seeing Pat’s messages on Facebook

make me smile as well, or laugh out loud!

We’re so fortunate to have Pat in our lives. He loves

us like we’re his own and he’s always there for support,

like a real Grandad. Pat will always have a special

place in my heart.

Adventures with Pat: Zoe and Liam were keen for McDonalds take-aways. It only took Pat a couple of drive-throughs before he got

the hang of the concept.

248


WHEN A RELATIONSHIP

TOUCHES LOVE IT IS ETERNAL

by granddaughter jerri magill

My first recollection of meeting you, Pat, took place at

our long-time family home at Whakarire Avenue in Westshore.

I must have been around 8 months old as I’d just

started to crawl and crawl is exactly what I did, into your

bedroom early one morning.

I can remember creating havoc with a pile of your papers

on the floor beside the bed. Waking to the noise, I

can still see you looking over at me and giving an endearing

smile and a wink. This was our defining moment, a

moment that bonded us forever.

Through all of life’s experiences I have shared with you,

I take pride in adopting and aspiring to some of your core

values, those of compassion, wisdom and unconditional

love for absolutely everybody. (I have taken on some of

your more questionable traits too, like bad driving, general

disorganisation and sometimes, absent table manners,

but these are all minor details in life’s big scheme!)

I feel blessed to share a biological link with you, for as

long as we live in this world. I’m relieved and delighted

too that we are connected in eternity, because a relationship

that touches love is eternal.

Twenty three years on from that early morning encounter,

I have come to understand and embrace the causes

you have dedicated your life to; causes that are all unified

by the common theme of being one; YMCA, Te Araroa

Offers Hope, your trailblazing conservation work on our

family land at Puketitiri, and Napier’s Pilot City Trust, to

name just a few.

You have and continue to enrich my life and I’m forever

grateful for having been loved by you, Pat, my darling

grandfather.

Arohanui, nga mihi nui … forever yours.

Five of these photos were taken at Puketitiri; Top middle: at a book signing with Hone Tuwhare, Pat, Jes and Jerri at the Napier Public

Library; out and about with Pat; at Jerri’s long time friend and mentor, Kerry Kitione’s, with chauffeur Pat.


Clockwise top left: Catherine’s family, the O’Donnells and Hickeys are close, Catherine and sister Tilley near Mt Taranaki; family

holiday at Puketitiri; Tillie visits her sister at Westshore; plenty of adventures in the senior years, this was at Opua; boating on the

Whanganui River; Catherine refreshed after a swim at Westshore, 1965-ish. Opposite: Jan’s 21st, three Hickey girls in halter dresses,

Catherine, Mary-Jane and Marguerite; Jes and Rob the support crew.

250


HICKEY FAMILY MEMORIES

by jane hillier, nee hickey

Well, Uncle Pat Magill. What a fun Uncle you have been

to us all over the years and how we always love our time

spent with you. So much energy and always time to stop

and chat and have some fun; great qualities in this fastmoving

world.

We especially remember with fond nostalgia the holidays

spent with your family, and that you organised our

first ever camping holiday at Lake Taupo in the summer

of ’63 — ’64.

When we lived on the farm at Warea in Southern

Taranaki our father would have been tied to milking or

summer chores but we had moved into New Plymouth.

So, here we all were, our lot as green as grass to the

camping ways, being country kids.

Our dad Jim had never camped either, although he

said the smell of sun on the canvas tents took him right

back to his Second World War Air Force days in Burma.

But this was a real fun holiday together and we were

starting to like this outside world of tents and campfires

and the freedom of running a bit wild.

There were a lot of us girls with little Jes, and Pat, you

always found time to do things with young Jimmy, Rob,

the twins and Chris, which they remember warmly to

this day. It was an amazing time and we explored the

area, taking in most of the key tourist spots.

Then, there was the beautiful seaside home on the

beach at Westshore, Napier. Wonderful days on that

beach, fun in small boats, swims in the tide and beach

walks. And always, that relaxed fun atmosphere, great

kai and games and a houseful of eleven kids and four

adults!

Then came 21st birthday celebrations and more family

fun and memories. In between all this holiday fun,

Pat, you were ever busy forging a way into vital social

work and reform with youth. The Downtown Y, improving

YMCA facilities, programmes and general wellbeing

were now a huge focus in your life.

Most of us were busy enough, just with life and work

and bringing up children while Pat had the vision and

the courage to implement change where he could. And

of course this took him into the wider New Zealand social

justice scene where he still is considered a catalyst

for change in our Justice system.

Pat has opened our eyes to a different way of thinking

about the justice system. He has made us see that

prisons are not the answer and he has spent many years

crusading for a better, more enlightened alternative. It is

indeed a difficult journey and one which Pat with all his

heart continues to walk.

We love and admire your drive, your commitment and

your heart for youth and the disadvantaged, Pat. You are

a hero for our times and a true legend in our family.

God bless, from all of Tillie and Jim’s Whanau.

[NB: On Catherine’s side of the family, Tillie Hickey (nee

O’Donnell) is Jane Hillier’s mother and the middle sister

to Catherine.]


252

Clockwise from top left: Miriam, Shelley and

Mary-Anne looked beautiful on the day; the

posey flowers were from Miriam’s garden;

Mary-Anne and Miriam in their nursing days;

still firm friends today; an artist, Miriam

created the wedding invitations.


CALL IT FATE OR

GOOD FORTUNE

by miriam busby

Pat Magill inadvertently changed the course of my life

when he agreed to be the marriage celebrant at my wedding

to Peter Sonntag.

The wedding day was January 3rd, 1985 and was

held in the garden of our family homestead at Rahiri

in Tokomaru Bay. But an hour before the wedding was

to start we realised we didn’t have the marriage certificate.

We thought Pat would have the certificate and

he thought we would have organised that side of things

ourselves.

Quick thinking Pat suggested we pretend to sign

a marriage certificate and that we could sign an official

one later, so long as that was completed within six

weeks. This seemed like a good solution to the dilemma

at the time.

However, after nearly six turbulent weeks of “marriage”

to Peter went by, it became obvious that we

weren’t a compatible pair, and when the time came to

drive to Napier to sign the official marriage certificate, I

had decided I wasn’t going through with it.

Call it fate or good fortune, I was able to extricate myself

from further involvement with Peter, without having

to go through a divorce.

But unfortunately, Pat was told he couldn’t officiate at

any more marriage ceremonies following ours.

Pat has always been a great support to me and my extended

family. He has included me in a lot of Magill family

events. His daughter Mary-Anne and I started nursing

training together at Palmerston North Hospital in 1971

and we are still friends.

Thank you Pat for your quick thinking on my wedding

day. I am eternally grateful to you for being there for me

on that day, and ever since that day.

IMPRESSIONS

OF PAT DOWN

THE YEARS

by nephew

mike o’donnell

Millie the foxy came to town. Such a cool dog.

We never got sick of her trick, “Stick ‘em up” then

“Bang” and down dead she would go, to lie still for

a few seconds.

Bushy Park reunions with Magill’s and O’Donnell’s

were always huge but a bit of a blur.

I remember walking into Gran’s one day at 215

Frankley Road, New Plymouth and Pat was at the

stove cooking in a frying pan. There was a delicious

smell in the air and as I walked past, Pat said, “Have

some of these, Boy.” The pan was full of scallops

cooking in butter and he whipped out a piece of buttered

white bread and with a deft flick of the spatula,

presented me with my first scallop sandwich. I still

remember the taste.

I’m sure Pats 90th will be well covered off but for

me the raffle was a highlight and some of the prizes;

a walk with Pat around the Ahuriri Estuary, the

wetland he helped to protect, picking up rubbish.

And another prize was heading off on a Wednesday

morning, down to the courthouse with Pat to see

what was going on and who might need some help

with the process. Priceless.

(Mike’s brother, Tom, shares his story over the page.)


ABU: THE

BACKSTORY

Abu is the name given to Pat by his

brother-in-law Pat O’Donnell, the

same brother-in-law who built 3

Whakarire Avenue. Abu is abbreviated

from Abou Ben Adhem, a poem

by Leigh Hunt, which in the first line

reads, ‘May his tribe increase!’ A reference

to the number of children that

Pat had sired, no doubt.

ABU PAT — A MAN OF THE PEOPLE

by newphew tom o’donnell

When I was quite young, around 10, ‘Abu’ and the Magill

family clan came to stay. Pat had caught a baby wild pig

on the drive over, which was named Squeak and it was

received with much rejoicing.

Soon after there was a knock at the door which I answered,

it was a very tall policeman.

He came in and said a piglet had been stolen from Mt

Messenger and the car number plate belonged to Pat,

from there it was somehow tracked down to our address.

A phone discussion with the farmer was had and money

changed hands for Squeak, who kept the look of a

wild pig and had many happy years of back scratches,

piglets and supplied many pork chops, etc.

Abu brought a game over from Hawke’s Bay with

him called “The Hop”. You had to jump on one leg, then

shoulder charge the opponent to make them stand on

two legs. Pat was very nimble but my youth got the better

of him and with a crash he was toppled and we didn’t

Hop again.

We had a holiday trip to Puketitiri, arriving in the Hickeys

big car. We saw glow worms in Ball’s Clearing, I saw

my first helicopter, an eel was caught and Jesma had a

loose tooth.

There was a photo of Abu with a huge tuna which

was almost as big as him, a huge thing, caught from the

beach.

Michael and I went on a walk around Lake Waikaremoana,

where camps were set up. I remember we ate a

lot of corn and Michael was homesick.

Abu came and we visited the Hickeys. There were always

big political debates, National vs Labour. This time

the debate was on User Pays. “Jim,” Pat said. “A poor elderly

woman in the autumn years of her life, hobbling

down the road needing a hip operation. After all she has

done for the country, she can’t afford this operation. Will

you let her die in pain?”

The last tall Kauri in the forest, still walking. Abu, a

man of the people.

Above left, painting of Mt Taranaki by John Ruth; Above right: Staunch O’Donnell nephews in Napier for Pat’s 93rd; from left, Hugh,

Michael, Tom and Kevin.

254


SHARING PASSION FOR THE HIKOI

by jo magill

Pat Magill, my father in-law. You have been one of the

main back bones of my family, a presence there to lend

a helping hand at all the right moments.

An amazing and hands-on grandfather to all of my

children, Travis, Jerri, Liam and Zoe.

From collecting the kids from school and their out of

school activities to dropping off your famous crock pot

stew after a long day of work. I loved the connection you

had with my dad Abe, an unspoken admiration on both

sides was obvious.

In addition to our family connection, your passion of

using hikoi as a tool for personal reflection and healing,

had you interested in the Spanish Camino walk I

had completed. You introduced me to New Zealand’s

Te Araroa trail and the opportunities it had to give under

privledged kids a chance to experience something outside

their normal life. So that meant you and I creating a

new relationship as “Walk Mates”.

Some of those adventures are recorded on Facebook

page ‘Te Araroa Offers Hope’. I came to know you on a

whole new level, for example, your innovative methods

to secure sponsorship, at times was to print the company’s

logo on the t shirt, do the walk, then approach

them and tell them we have already advertised them!

The one walk I will always remember that just you and

I did, we got lost over farmland in the Kapamahunga

range on our way to Limeworks near Pirongia. Somehow

we both managed to stay calm and composed, but

I’m pretty sure you were scratching your head thinking,

“Shit she really doesn’t know what she is doing”. Thank

goodness after an hour or so, we saw a colourful movement

ahead. It was another Te Araroa trail walker — our

prayers were answered!

To this day, you continue to keep a close, loving eye on

me and my children and I love you very much Pat.

Arohanui

Above, painting, Ruahine Mountain Range by John Ruth; below, Jes, Pat and Jo Magill walking the Te Araroa Trail, in Auckland from

Torbay to Devonport — 21kms in total, a half marathon!


256

Awards, travel, parties – fun, fun, fun!

chapter eighteen

awards, travel,

parties —

FUN! FUN! FUN!

by caroline lampp

I

have known Pat for more than 20 years since I’ve been

living in Hawke’s Bay. I think he sussed me out early

on in my role as general manager of Waiapu Anglican

Social Services, as someone who might be helpful to the

Napier Pilot City Trust.

I was more than happy to lend a hand as the trust and

my work were both all about supporting people in our

community. Little did I know in the beginning that Pat

would have me drawn into many of his schemes and activities

for years to come. Not that I minded for a minute

really. I have always been in awe of his energy and commitment

to his Napier/Ahuriri community.

My time working with Pat has included many years

as a trustee of the Napier Pilot City Trust, and several

of those years as its chairperson. It has also led me to

support initiatives in Maraenui, holiday programmes for

children, submissions to parliament, meetings with trust

benefactors, etc. In my various roles managing social

service agencies in Hawke’s Bay, Pat and I have been on

the same page about supporting our local community,

in numerous ways.

When I was the president of the Ahuriri Rotary Club

and we were looking to honour a community member

with a Paul Harris Fellowship, I couldn’t have thought of

a more deserving person. Thus he was duly presented

with this award at our annual ‘Changeover’ dinner at the

golf club. Rotary has a mantra that is “Service before

Self” and Pat absolutely typifies that ideal.

Above: On the receiving end: in July 2012 the Rotary Club of Ahuriri recognises Pat’s efforts in the Napier/Ahurir community.

Shipmate and fellow foot soldier Caroline Lampp and Rotary club president that year was delighted to honour Pat on behalf of the

club; Opposite, India beckons. Photo by Julian Yu.

Awards, travel, parties – fun, fun, fun! 257

PICTURE THIS —

A GLITTERING AWARDS CEREMONY

by kerry kitione

It was February, 2012 and Pat had been nominated as a

finalist for the Senior New Zealander of the Year. Great

excitement. Pat and Helen Lloyd, his companion, were

flying to Auckland the afternoon of the ceremony (a bit

late I thought), and were going straight to the Langham

Hotel (now the Cordis) where Pat would change into his

glad rags ready for the big night. I had flown up earlier

and changed at daughter Jesma’s house and we were to

meet Pat and Helen at the hotel.

Meanwhile, the ‘still in Napier’ couple were settling

into their seats on the plane, ready to fly into the blue

when Helen suddenly said, “Pat, your suit! I’ve left it in

the van!” “Never mind”, said the unflappable Pat, “I’ll

wear what I’ve got on”. “Over my dead body,” was Helen’s

reply, “I’m not going with you in those Op Shop clothes”.”

Helen quickly went to the flight attendant and explained

the situation. “I’m sorry,” she said “but we’re

about to close the cabin doors”. Helen then told her Pat

was a finalist in the New Zealander of the Year ceremony

in a few hours’ time. “How fast can you run?” asked the

attendant. “Just go!” Away went Helen as quickly as she

could, huffing and puffing. In the meantime the attendant

had told the pilot and passengers why their departure

was somewhat delayed. The suit was hauled out of

the van and Helen panted back, up the steps and into

the plane, where she received spontaneous applause

from all on board.

And so the time had come. Our party of 10 had met at

the Langham. Pat looking smart in his hired black suit,

and we were enjoying a glass of champagne in the foyer.

We started moving to our table and I noticed Pat was

walking in a stilted sort of way. I looked down and saw

the sole of one of his shoes had come loose. “Pat,” I

said “look at your shoe — the sole is loose!” “Never mind.

I’ll manage”, he said. “You can’t go up on the stage like

that, flapping like a seal”. I dashed to the reception desk

and for the second time that day, Pat’s situation was explained.

“I’m sorry, Madam”, replied the concierge, “all we

can offer is a rubber band”. I hurried back, twisted the

band twice around the shoe and up Pat toddled to the

stage, with none at the gathering any the wiser and he

made a great speech. We were very proud of him.

Above: Pat was a finalist for the New Zealander of the Year Awards in 2012 and although he didn’t win it was a great honour to be

nominated; Good mate John Harré is thrilled to accompany Pat on his big night in Tinsel Town, at The Langham in Auckland for the

New Zealander of the Year Awards, 2012; James Barnes honours Pat and joins the happy group.

258


DIGEST

advertising@baybuzz.co.nz

editors@baybuzz.co.nz

Who makes a difference in Hawke’s Bay?

Top 100 Buzzmakers

By Tom Belford

Consider this edition of BayBuzz Digest a

social experiment.

BayBuzz has attempted to identify one

hundred individuals in Hawke’s Bay who make

an uncommon impact on the well-being of the

region.

1ST 15 INFLUENCER — 2009

story by baybuzz

How can one make an uncommon impact?

By excelling in some field of endeavor. By

influencing In 2009, the direction BayBuzz of identified local government one hundred individuals broad swath in of sectors and networks in the Special thanks to Elizabeth Sisson for helping

on a regular basis. By leading and motivating community – who were asked to “nominate”

Hawke’s Bay who made an uncommon impact on the Not bad, at 85, being named compile an Influencer! Buzzmaker Here’s backgrounds.

others to become involved in community candidates for the list, only three did not

activities. well-being By financially, of the or region. by outstanding How can one make respond. an uncommon

service, impact, supporting BayBuzz community Digest editor Tom Belford opportunity asked? to call attention to individuals

The rest were what pleased was to written have an at the time:

personal

causes “By and excelling human needs. in some By championing field of endeavour. By they influencing believe deserve recognition. Pat Magill. Some Founder wrote of Napier Pilot City Trust, based

environment. By modeling important values amazing testimonials, full of detail, about

the direction of local government on a regular basis. By on the premise that Napier as a city is the ideal size

and behaviours to others in the community. people they admire. Remarks like:

BUZZMAKERS

By significantly leading and driving motivating the region’s others economic, to become involved in to be a model for social experimentation. Influenced

“Loved, admired and respected by his students”

social or community cultural development.

activities. By financially, or by outstanding central government and Napier City policy

First

on social

Fifteen

personal service, supporting community “A causes modest, and unassuming services man who in makes the late a

The point of this exercise is to celebrate

80s & early 90s, and at age 85 is

human needs. By championing our environment.

difference.”

Kevin Atkinson

such contributors to the community. To give

By still going strong. Sponsor of the Robson Collection

Morry Black

recognition modeling and show important appreciation, values and to cheer behaviours “She to others is just an in amazing person.” Justice Issues at Napier Library and he’s the nemesis

and of with the the Sensible humility Sentencing Trust.

John Bostock

them on

the

to

community.

do even more,

By significantly

and to encourage

driving the “She region’s is strong, economic,

social or cultural development.” that often accompanies About truly great Pat leaders. Magill:

Rodney Green

but quiet

other people to make similar contributions.

Murray Douglas

In making our selections, we have tried to

“This is one amazing man. “Pat I has am in made awe of a him.” significant difference to Claire Napier Hague in

emphasize today and tomorrow over yesterday.

championing biculturalism, supporting the underdog,

But some individuals have made such a major The reality is, people have these positive

Douglas Lloyd Jenkins

mark on the community over time that they impressions and feelings showing … why us not the express ‘little people’ who work out Pat of McGill the

are included Above: as An well. 83 year Similarly, old influencer since this — that’s list pretty them? cool.

limelight, and thus helping weave the many John threads Newland

in our community together.”

is about Hawke’s Bay, we have emphasized

Altogether, almost two hundred individuals

individuals whose major focus is here in

were nominated, covering all sorts of sectors,

the region, as opposed to bigger ponds…

interests and activities. I take full responsibility

although clearly the Bay is well-endowed with

Awards, travel, parties – fun, fun, fun! for sifting this splendid pool down to the

259

individuals who carry significant influence in

the nation and even internationally.

It’s a terrible idea that only a crass American

would think of.

Fair enough … such concerns are legitimately

felt and deserve being weighed. Each reader

can come to his or her own judgment.

However, in support, this project has been

greeted almost universally with enthusiasm.

Of the twenty-five people – representing a

finalists, as well as for further selecting a “First

Fifteen” list (with Reserves).

any challenge we face here in the Bay, this

is the team 2009 I’d want on the case. This is a

group with a wide range of skills, experienc

and BUZZMAKERS

perspectives. If these fifteen strong

personalities all agreed on a strategy or

solution, you can bet that it would be deep

and FIRST comprehensively FIFTEEN examined, prudent in

business terms, future proof, tasteful, cultu

sensitive, Kevin just, environmentally Atkinson sound, and

the broad Morry public Black interest.

Hmmm … John maybe Bostock we should elect them

Councillors! Murray Douglas

So, meet Rodney the Top Buzzmakers Green inside. Come

with your Claire own First Hague Fifteen. No doubt you

disagree with some of the selections. I mys

Douglas Lloyd Jenkins

disagree, strongly, on certain issues with so

of these individuals.

Pat Magill

But, by and large, I ho

you will agree John Newland with our nominators that th

is a group Graeme of Hawke’s Norton Bay’s finest citizens a

contributors, David deserving Renouf of our recognition

Actually, as Jim I mentioned, Scotland so far there are on

90 Top Buzzmakers. Neville Smith The final ten are up to

you.

Claire Vogtherr

If there’s Alayne someone Watene not on the list who

you believe should be, let me know. Send

your nominee(s), with a few sentences of

background, to nominee@baybuzz.co.nz. O

mail your recommendation to BayBuzz,

PO Box 8322, Havelock North 4157 (you

can use the form on page 7). And in our ne

BayBuzz Digest (February), we will annou

the final ten selected and top off the 100

Buzzmakers of Hawke’s Bay.

More importantly, if there’s someone not o

the list who you believe should be, let them

know. Your recognition will mean heaps to

them and help keep their fire burning.

Graeme Norton

David Renouf

Jim Scotland

Neville Smith

Claire Vogtherr

Alayne Watene

OH THE PLACES HE’S BEEN

by jes magill

From Chad to Port au Prince and Norway to the

Chathams, it’s no surprise that Pat — who laps up new

experiences and adventure wherever and whenever he

can get it — would take to international travel with his

trademark passion and enthusiasm. He is a natural born

traveller. Visiting new places, meeting new people, finding

out about their lives, the good and the bad and what

makes them tick whilst sharing food, wine and good

times.

I think there’s a lucky star hanging over Pat and it

shines especially bright when he travels. People with

good hearts and a sense of fun attract each other so

what’s pretty much going to transpire around Pat more

often than not, is a jolly good time.

There are several stand out Pat travel stories. There’s

the trip one year after Catherine died and Pat felt ready

to launch his solo travel career. Four of us headed to UK

and Europe for six weeks, Pat, my big sister Jan, cousin

Kevin and myself. We kicked off the craic in Ireland,

where else, and Pat didn’t need any encouragement to

seize every opportunity to learn, explore and enjoy.

He was the senior of the party but he pretty much set

the pace and the agenda while us young ones fell in behind

and at times, struggled to keep up. His stamina to

endure night after night in the smoky pubs left us exhausted

and after a week of what felt like standing round

pianos singing ‘When Irish Eyes are Smiling’ x 50 times,

my bloodshot eyes were set on Scotland and it was independent

activities for all for a week.

Catching up again with Pat in London, things felt a

little out of whack. Our accommodation was quite nice,

while Pat preferred the backpacker option. He wanted

fun and enthusiasm regularly and while we did our best

to oblige we couldn’t always guarantee it!

One morning he knocked on our hotel door, dressed

warmly for the crisp autumn day, kitted out with day

pack, coat and cap, looking cute and Paddington Bearish.

He was off to Brighton for the day and his sense for

adventure was palpable. I was tempted to attach a name

tag on his coat toggle but he was off before I could call

out, “What time will you be home?”

This same sense of adventure surrounded him as he

headed across Europe for a few weeks on a Europass

and did he have a blast! Amsterdam first and the sex

museum. It was a different experience, receiving a postcard

from your dad displaying seven different coloured

condoms for each day of the week on the front! Paris

wasn’t his thing but generally backpacker venues in Europe

exceeded expectations and offered him continual

opportunities for lively debate with new buddies and a

social life guaranteed.

He told us that one night at a backpackers, he fell out

of a top bunk. He didn’t mention any injuries so he must

have had just the right amount to drink. Then there was

the time he inadvertently inspired a fight between a

lesbian couple. One in the partnership found Pat fascinating,

which miffed the other partner, so much so that

fists flew, while Pat sloped off into the shadows leaving

them to it. And now at 94, the adventures just have not

stopped.

Above, exploring NZ and Europe; Opposite: Helen and Pat, out and about in India in 2007.

260


PAT SPEAKS AT

TIHAR PRISON

At ICOPA in Lagos in 2002 Pat met the Catholic prison

chaplain from Tihar Prison in New Delhi, India’s largest

and second most notorious at the time, and the two men

stayed in touch. Heading back to India in 2007 with Helen

this time, they contacted their ICOPA foot soldier and

asked if they could visit the prison. Random visitors from

Aotearoa wouldn’t normally be allowed in but Pat has

special powers, plus he and Helen had recently read Dr

Kiran Bedi’s books I Dare and It’s Always Possible — One

Woman’s Transformation of Tihar Prison and were really

keen to see how the facility operated.

Bedi had been posted to the Delhi Prisons as Inspector

General In May 1993 and by using a using a new focus

on prevention and education, she transformed Tihar

into a centre of learning and mediation. The combination

of her management philosophy and social activist heart

gave her global acclaim and respect.

“We held up Kiran’s book in front of about 100 inmates

who were all sitting crossed legged on the grass,” says

Pat. “I talked to them for about three minutes, assisted

by an interpreter, and praised Kiran Bedi’s humanity

and their own efforts at rehabilitation. At the end they

cheered because we had come to respect them and

their prison model. This was an amazing experience. The

prison was clean, orderly and had a presence of calm.

There were murals adorning the walls, music therapy

groups and ponds with geese and ducks. The inmates

ran their own radio station and were responsible for

cooking their own food. This is an inspirational model

that Aotearoa desperately needs.”


PAT’S DELIWOOD AUDITION

by helen lloyd

Pat and I have enjoyed a lot of travel together and all in

all, we’re pretty good travel buddies. The world is awash

with happy travel tales though so I’m going to share our

most challenging and entertaining story; entertaining

for those who weren’t there, that is!

Even before we left NZ shores for India in 2007, the

signs were there, that we were in for an interesting time.

Travelling with Pat is never ever boring and this trip sure

confirmed it. Things started to unravel when Pat rang

and said, “We’re not leaving Wednesday, we go tomorrow,

two days earlier than I thought”. Bit of a wild scramble

but we got to Auckland Airport OK. We were in the

departure lounge and I said to Pat, “Can you mind these

books please, while I go to the bathroom?” When I returned,

the books had gone and Pat was up at the counter

doing something or other.

We arrive in Bombay only to discover our hotel booking

wasn’t until the next day. Things just kept going from

bad to worse. My handbag was stolen and Pat’s wallet

and clothes were lost in a laundry and on the 4th of

December we turned up at the Indira Ghandi Airport in

Delhi to be told we’d missed our flight by 24 hours. Our

fault I suppose, by the way it was written on the itinerary,

4th December 0005. Apparently lots of people make

this mistake and you’d think they would make it clearer.

Anyway, that was no comfort to us as we now had to find

a hotel near the airport and of course the first four or five

were full. Around 3am we found a place where we could

put our heads down for a few hours.

Next morning we were up early and off to the YMCA

where we knew there was a travel agency. After many

problems trying to get the $1,200 needed from the vending

machines and with the help of a very kind rickshaw

driver, we finally managed to get another booking to

Bangkok. We were to fly out at 12.45am that night, well,

early morning. Thank goodness, we could connect with

our flight home to NZ. Pat was looking decidedly jaded

and we were really elated to be leaving. The YMCA arranged

for a car to take us to the airport. Great — we

were on our way.

We fronted up to the counter with our tickets and put

our luggage on the weighing machine. Pat was absolutely

buggered, lifting luggage up and down stairs in

the middle of the night, in and out of taxis. He had had

enough. Then the lady at the counter said. “I’m sorry

Madam, these tickets are for the 5th January”. Well, I

thought, ain’t that dandy? Now what do we do? I tried

to rescue our luggage while Pat tried to put our case to

whoever would listen.

What happened next might not be entirely honest but

it worked a treat. Pat did a major Deli-wood. He buckled

at the knees as I rushed to hold him up against the

counter while yelling, “Can someone get a wheelchair!?”

People ran in all directions, the wheelchair arrived and

water was given. When things quietened down a bit I put

my hand on Pat’s brow. He looked very flushed for one

who had supposedly fainted. I asked him, genuinely concerned,

“Are you OK?” He looked up, winked and said,

“How am I doing, Mate?” I had just witnessed a convincing

performance and was I relieved to realise that. The

staff wanted to get a doctor but I said, “No, he needs to

see his own doctor in New Zealand”. Well, would you

believe it, we booked us on a flight that night. They sat

us behind the counter at the boarding gate for a couple

of hours so they could keep an eye on us. We tried not to

look too happy, but I can assure you we were.

262


PAT BIRTHDAYS

#PATSMANTRA

“It’s gotta be fun!”

60TH BIRTHDAY

70TH BIRTHDAY

“Pat is both a treasure

and a thorn in the side,

a rebutt to the Sensible

Sentencers, a seasoned

fund raiser for the many

causes and people he

supports, a friend to the

friendless and homeless

and a ‘conscience’ to us,

showing us another way

of looking at the world.”

maxine boag

80TH BIRTHDAY

When Pat and Denis O’Reilly met back in the 70s, the scene was set for the creation of events that have brought foot soldiers, ship

mates and visionaries in Ahuriri’s community development and social justice space together over the years. These events are multifaceted

but primarily they further the shared kaupapa of those gathered; to help strengthen communities, maybe raise some funds and

have some fun along the way. Top image: Telegraphics: Denis set the bar high with Pat’s 60th birthday celebration at Waiohiki Marae

back in 1986. This was his first birthday extravaganza for Pat and what a stellar night — unique and inspirational and the good times

just keep on rolling; Middle: Mo Ropitini joins in the fun at the 70th, held at Jay Em Trust in Onekawa in 1996; Bottom: the 80th rolls

around and Pat’s still smiling.


”How can you retire from caring? That’s Pat’s dilemma and a

win for the community each time he changes his mind”.

HOW DO YOU

RETIRE FROM

CARING?

PAT’S 80TH,

SEPTEMBER 2006

At a Civic Award presentation that coincided

with his 80th birthday Pat was honoured by

the Napier City Council on behalf of all those

who have benefited from his mahi, and for

making and continuing to make a difference.

Some of his closest colleagues reflected on

Pat’s contributions and his unique modus

operandi and their speeches acknowledged

that he was about to retire. Wrong call! By

this stage he’s threatened retirement several

times, usually when he’s finding the speed of

change required to create that kinder, fairer

city he’s so passionate about, way too slow.

But how can you retire from caring? That’s

Pat’s dilemma and a win for the community

each time he changes his mind.

In the introduction to the presentations, Pat

was told: “They say that what goes around

comes around, you get back what you put out,

and you reap what you sow. For decades now

Pat Magill has given himself, heart, body and

soul to the task of making our fair city a better

place for all its citizens.

“Now the people of Napier say thank you to

Pat, for his tireless work — building, strengthening

and connecting our community at the

grassroots level. Our city is a better place because

of Pat’s tireless service to seeking solutions

for Napier’s social problems.”

Above: Pat is awarded an OBE by Sir Keith Holyoake in 1978, for his

services to the community — he was national president of the YMCA

at the time. Catherine accompanies Pat throughout the proud and

humbling occasion; Millie guards the medal for years, safely deposited

under her mattress.

264


Top: Jerry from Vanuatu gets in birthday groove with Helen Lloyd and Pat. The venue for this party is Pat’s backlawn and Jan Magill

just loves making bunting; Bottom: Karen Easterman and family from Tauranga keep the life-long friendship between her father

Alan Peake, and Pat strong: congratulating Pat are from left Grace, Geoff, Penny, Clare, William and Kathryn.


There were

meant to be five

events for Pat’s 90th but

luckily reason prevailed

and the programme was

scaled back to four. It’s not

that five events would be

too much for Pat, it’s his

support crew that gets

exhausted!

PAT TURNS 90, 2016

On the eve of Pat’s 90th birthday, Maxine Boag said

at yet another civic presentation that Pat continues to

make a difference to many people and organisations

and his story is an important part of Napier’s history:

“A pakeha of Irish ethnicity, Pat has for a long time

been a relentless social-justice-Treaty activist. He goes

to the courthouse weekly, supports many and is well

loved in the Māori community. He has spearheaded

many community events and fearlessly fought against

incarceration of Māori. He has organised dozens of

Treaty workshops and sold Robert Consedine’s book

“Healing our History” wherever he goes amongst Pakeha.

Pat is both a treasure and a thorn in the side, a rebutt

to the Sensible Sentencers, a seasoned fund raiser

for the many causes and people he supports, a friend to

the friendless and homeless and a ‘conscience’ to us,

showing us another way of looking at the world.”

266


93 TODAY!

Clockwise from top left: the first stop on Pat’s 93rd birthday hikoi was the stunning, spiritual Waitangi Regional Park and Atea a

Rangi star compass at Awatoto; a humbling tribute and lunch for Pat and foot soldiers at Kohupatiki Marae, Ann Redstone, HDC,

Pat, Napier City Councillor Maxine Boag and Napier Mayor Kirsten Wise; stepping out and feeling the buzz; Bottom photo by

Lee Pritchard; Opposite, clockwise from top, Pat with his sister, children and grandchildren on his 90th birthday;

Ratana Minister Hori Reti, Pat and Denis O’Reilly, MC extraordinaire. The hikoi this year was from Pukemokimoki Marae to Waiohiki

Creative Arts Village, Pat leads the way and whānau and friends loved it too.


268

Whose god? Pat on religion & spirituality

chapter nineteen

whose god? pat on

religion & spirituality

and I were both born into fear.

She the Catholic faith, to parents of a

“Catherine

mixed marriage; me in the Open Brethren,

with the threat hanging over my head as a young

boy of incarceration in hell if I wasn’t “saved”. I mentioned

earlier in the book that my bible class teacher

Mr Pearson told us there were no Catholics in heaven,

which confused me, and my father agreed with the

teacher. My father’s business was reliant on Catholics

shopping at his store during the Depression as

we were poor and Catholics buttered our bread.

This made me doubt, not believe, and ponder, “Who

does hold the truth?”

“There were contradictions everywhere. My father

gave most of his profit to poor Catholics living near the

shop around Carlyle Street because he cared, and because

of the hypocrisy that surrounded me, I had no fear

in marrying a lovely Catholic girl, who herself was told by

the nuns, ‘Do not stand next to ‘Proddys’ at funerals’. My

father didn’t attend our wedding in New Plymouth and

Catherine’s Catholic father Mago said he understood.

Because of religion, our fathers never met.

“Catherine’s father Mago had reneged on an agreement;

that Catherine’s Swedish mother Emma could

bring her children up in her Wesleyan faith. Mago was

“Religion isn’t a big deal

for me. I am moved by the

simplicity of Friends of the

Quaker faith. The Quakers

believe that goodness and love

is born in us all and this best

reflects my own beliefs”.

told by priests to, “Forget that promise”, and Mago then

demanded the children be brought up as Catholics. So

I was asked to sign a form stating that all our children

would be brought up as Catholics. As part of the deal,

I attended religious instruction with a priest and I was

required to read a book as well, which I dutifully did but

can’t recall the title.

“Apart from attending the children’s first communions,

I decided not to join the family at mass. I supported Catherine

in other ways when work was required around the

parish. Often on a Sunday after she had left for church

Opposite: The sun rises on all our faiths. Declan Summers. Ahuriri Estuary, image by Lee Pritchard.

Whose god? Pat on religion & spirituality 269

I would walk over to Ahuriri and up and over the hill to

St Patrick’s to help count the money that had been collected

during the service. This needed to be cleared with

the priest first though whether I could help out. It was

thought unusual to have a Proddy count the money that

was collected from Mickeys! My three sons envied me

not having to attend mass.

“When a few Catholic priests were ‘playing up’ Catherine

suggested that if she had her time over again, she

would like to join a friendly local community group that

focused on local needs. Like many of her friends, she

was starting to doubt the faith so I suggested that she still

could join a community group, to which she replied she

was too scared. “I need a foot in both camps”, she said.

“Religion isn’t a big deal for me. I am moved by the

simplicity of Friends of the Quaker faith. The Quakers

believe that goodness and love is born in us all and this

best reflects my own beliefs.”

Top: Janice becomes a ‘bride of Christ’ on her confirmation day with Mary-Anne and Rob looking impressed; Below: the family turns

out proudly for Tim’s and John’s confirmation.

270


SPIRITUALITY PAT STYLE:

A PEDDLER FOR GOOD

More often than not, when you see Pat around town, in

meetings, or at conferences, he’ll be clutching something

to him, holding it close for dear life. It’s usually a

book, often Healing our History, or it might be a crumpled

brochure. For several years he was always brandishing a

printed PowerPoint presentation Napier — Child Friendly

City by a group of Maraenui Bilingual School children,

which contained their heart-breaking plea for a kinder,

fairer city and for gangs to sign a peace treaty.

Whatever it is that’s inspiring and resonating with Pat

at the time, he will believe that it contains the antidote

to the world’s current troubles; that he holds the elixir in

his hands.

While Pat has eschewed the formal, restrictive religion

of his upbringing, he has retained some of its evangelical

characteristics. He has created his own religion of

which Napier adopting a Child Friendly City Kaupapa is

key. To Pat these books and booklets, these messages

— are taonga, they’re talisman. He is a peddler for good.

“Read this”, he’ll say. See the light, be enlightened, hear

the penny drop. For most in Pat’s orbit this is heartening,

comforting and endearing, just as healthy religion

should be, really.

“For any religion to be credible, to be true, it needs

love at its heart”, he says. There should be nothing that

preys on fear or reeks of power grabbing or greed to

amass wealth. There should simply be love and integrity.

When the whānau discovered a few years back that

Pat attends Quaker meetings we were surprised and

intrigued. “How’s that, Pat? What happens there?”

“Oh, this and that,” he said. “And I often have a really

good sleep.” Perhaps the sign of a clear conscience, we

thought, or possibly a fun night out? Knowing Pat it was

probably both.

Above: A presentation created by tamariki from Maraenui Bilingual School to deliver at the Napier Pilot City Unity Day in 2019.

This powerful document still resonates deeply with Pat.


We are each made for

goodness, love and

compassion. Our lives

are transformed as

much as the world is

when we live with these

truths.

desmond tutu

Above: Liz Remmerswaal, Kay Whelan, Lowana Crawford, Pat Magill and Adrian Skelton; Below: Liz Remmerswaal, Jae Sutherland

(Kay’s daughter), Kay and Pat.

272


QUAKERS IN AOTEAROA

by liz remmerswaal

I met dear Pat about 25 years ago when I was involved in

the Restorative Justice network.

He is such a treasured friend and has been a constant

supporter of me, my husband Ton and my work in peace

and the environment.

The loveliest thing about Pat is his encouragement

and positivity, seeing the best in people as well as calling

things out when they are wrong. Pat’s ‘personalism’

is a big part of his beautiful way of being, which compels

him to always respond to my emails, telling me where he

is in his travels, and asking for help for those who need

it. He is loved by so many and has helped countless people,

new friends and old.

Pat’s big mission in life has been facilitating long overdue

education about Te Tiriti o Waitangi, assisted by

the Napier Pilot City Trust and Kerry Kitione. For many

years he organised Healing Our History workshops with

Robert Consedine from Christchurch and invited local

politicians and others to come along and learn about

Aotearoa in order to “fix it.” His friendship with former

New Plymouth Mayor Andrew Judd has been inspirational

and Andrew often speaks at Quaker gatherings.

Since then, Pat’s other kaupapa has been the Te Araroa

Trail, which he dubbed ‘The Poor Man’s Outward

Bound’, and taking groups of at risk youth along on hikoi

to experience its healing wairua and Pat is the living embodiment

of this. His love of walking and benefits of it

for mental as well as physical health has stood him in

good stead. He has remained fit and active for over nine

decades and is sharp as a tack besides.

It was great when Pat decided to come along to our

local Quaker group, inspired I think by the wonderful Canadian

Ruth Morris, who he spoke about often.

Founded in 1652 in England, Quakers is about humanity;

about going forward and contributing to the social

landscape and it has evolved over the years. In some

ways, compared to its dramatic origins when Quakers

were regularly thrown into jail for not doffing their hats

“Peace requires something

far more difficult than

revenge. It requires

empathising with the fears

and unmet needs that provide

the impetus for people to

attack each other.”

marshall rosenberg

at the ‘toffs’ (part of their belief that everyone is equal), it

has become a little mainstream, less activist, more into

planting vegies and choosing not to fly in a bid to reduce

carbon emissions, that kind of thing; although penal reform

has long been a very important strand of the Society

of Friends, as Quakers call themselves.

I think the founder of Quakers, George Fox, would

totally endorse Pat’s modus operandi and I think Pat is

intrinsically a Quaker. He lives and breathes the principles,

but he has his own way of operating, which some

struggle with at times.

He can be a little impulsive; do things first and then

ask questions or apply for funding later! But back to

his wonderfulness — with his talk of “foot soldiers” and

“shipmates” he always spurs us into action.

Pat has been such a great support and encourager.

One of the most important things that he has taught

me is to focus on one thing, and not spread oneself too

thinly, an important lesson. There have been challenges,

and times when just a word of encouragement and understanding

makes all the difference. It’s very precious

to have someone like Pat in your corner.


#PAT-SPEAK

Embracing biculturalism

is the key to healing

Aotearoa.

#PAT-SPEAK TO LIZ VIA EMAIL

• “Māori at the summit were sick of many of us dumb

Pakeha, telling Māori how to fix Māori.”

• “After your talk yesterday it brought home again

the urgency of loving; trying to understand our own

neighbours who live amongst us, and then the bigger

picture of world peace can be better understood.”

• “Where we stand is what we see. Who we listen to

is what we hear. What we do is who we are.” Robert

McAfee

• “We can share with our institutions the benefits of

long walking to prevent recidivism and encourage

strength and support for those who need it. If you are

not able to walk, just encourage participation.”

• “Our kaupapa is “inclusiveness!!!”

• “Peace requires something far more difficult than

revenge. It requires empathising with the fears and

unmet needs that provide the impetus for people to

attack each other.” Marshall Rosenberg

QUAKERS HAWKE’S BAY

ACTION LIST

• Continue to honour Te Tiriti in all aspects

• Work harder to honour the vision

• Strive towards equality, justice and peace making

and put them into the community for a better world

for all

• We have to do something about our faulty and fallen,

and our so called Justice system

• Continue the focus on sustainability

Above: Painting by John Ruth, Wairea Church, Hokianga.

274


QUAKERS POST-COVID VISION

FOR A BETTER WORLD

FROM QUAKERS IN AOTEAROA

NEW ZEALAND

2020

We Quakers find hope in the communal response

to the Covid-19 crisis across our nation.

The collective action of New Zealanders

has demonstrated how much we can achieve

together in a short time. We see the current

pandemic as a warning which creates an unprecedented

opportunity for systemic change

and as a call to remodel our nation guided by

the principles of sustainability, non-violence,

simplicity and equity. This is a transformation

that will require redistributive and regenerative

economic, government and social policies

that ensure all members of society benefit in an

equitable manner.

Our vision is of a society that is inclusive and

respectful of all people. We affirm the special

constitutional position of Māori. Our goal is

government which leads with integrity, shares

information based on evidence, and engages

with communities prior to decision-making.

We oppose violence at every level and look to

practices that bring peaceful dialogue and nonviolent

management of conflict.

Quakers have a strong sense of the sanctity

of creation. We are committed to the development

of systems and new societal norms to

rebalance climate disruption. This will preserve

biodiversity and water quality and enable New

Zealanders to live simpler lives within sustainable

natural boundaries. We support the use

of national resources to provide housing, lowcarbon

transport, and regenerative food production

to benefit future generations.

We fear that society has been putting profit

and consumption above other considerations

despite clear evidence that earth’s natural limits

have been exceeded. The world is now experiencing

a pandemic that has arisen in part

from the way in which humans have been living.

Lifestyles have been destroying the natural systems

required by future generations. Decades

of neoliberal economic and social policies have

allowed a few people to set the agenda and

benefit disproportionately. This has condemned

many of our fellow citizens to low wages, poverty

and insecurity whilst also degrading ecosystems.

Quakers consider that the current pandemic

offers the people of Aotearoa New Zealand a

chance to reassess the situation and to create a

new sense of community and purpose. We see

this experience with Covid-19 as the impetus

to find a way forward based firmly on compassionate

values.

Quakers call on every person in Aotearoa

New Zealand to bring about whatever changes

they can to enable us to live in harmony with

one another and with the planet.


PAT RIFFS ON THE

QUAKER FAITH

The Quakers suffered religious persecution

for 500 years for walking away from

the Church of England. When they shared

their beliefs that “goodness and love is

born in us all”, the system didn’t like that.

Clockwise from top left, Jes, Pat and Rob have a quiet prayer session before heading to Helen Lloyd’s 80th birthday which celebrated

sinners and saints; Holy Heck! Helen and Pat acting up; it’s not everyday the Pope, the Devil and Donald Trump fraternise;

pretending to preach; it’s holy water, Sister.

276


Quakers 101 — a great read on a lesser known faith. Pat loves the peaceful gatherings.


“Ahuriri

— embrace

biculturalism &

become a child

friendly city.”

pat magill

278

And where to from here ...

chapter twenty

AND WHERE TO

FROM HERE ...

We asked Pat “Where to from here” and of course this opened a Pandora’s Box of ideas.

It seems he would like another 90 years to follow through on his various initiatives and see the

fruition of a more equitable and kind community. However, he recognises that his age and health

might limit his future input to Ahuriri — the city that he loves and the people that he treasures,

although we’re yet to see a slowdown.

Pat mentioned a few housekeeping issues he’d

like to see followed up within Council, as submitted

to their annual plan:

HOUSEKEEPING TIME:

TO MAYOR KIRSTEN WISE AND

HER COUNCIL

• Record Ahuriri / Napier’s social history and tell its

story as New Zealand’s first and only “Pilot City”

• Revive the brilliant mural in the foyer of our Napier

Court by iconic artist Sandy Adsett and refresh the

Napier Pilot City logos on the stairs of the Napier and

Family Court

• Re-establish and reinvigorate our Napier City

Community Development Unit

• Establish our suburban shopping centres such as

Maraenui as “Child Friendly Maraenui, Ahuriri Napier”

and provide resources so our children can “be safe

and have fun”

And more broadly:

TOWARDS A KINDER, FAIRER

CITY — WE KNOW WHAT

WORKS SO LET’S JUST DO IT

• Surely, it’s time now to adopt change in the Criminal

Justice system. There have been enough reports.

He Waka Roimata and Turuki! Turuki! were released

in 2019 by the Safe and Effective Justice Advisory

Group, chaired by Chester Borrows. Turuki! repeats

recommendations made in the 1989 Roper Report

which highlighted deficiencies. Change is overdue

• Offer education that engages the most marginalised,

as per the kaupapa of the Hawke’s Bay Community

College, 1975, when Non-Vocational Education

was provided. Napier Pilot City Trust will suggest

to the Minister of Education that members of the

community be encouraged to apply for resources to

implement programmes in the community with the

Above, Philip Stenning, a criminologist with Victoria University and long time Trust supporter enjoys a BBQ at Pat’s place. Opposite:

Pat with Jan Marie Cook, mural artist for this work titled “Building Communities Not Prisons” at the Napier Police Station, since

removed due to construction work. “We’ll put another up soon”, says Pat. (Photo credit NZME)

And where to from here ... 279

intention of opening the way for wider support and

funding

• Police — develop a better relationship with tamariki

and rangitahi. Employ staff who have empathy and

are committed to supporting the vulnerable and keen

to help enable positive change

• Teach the Treaty/Te Tiriti properly and be committed

to its provisions for the future of Aotearoa. I believe a

better understanding of the Treaty will lead to better

outcomes towards a kinder and fairer city

• Support Andrew Judd (former Mayor of New

Plymouth) in his hosting of a meeting in Napier

covering the relevance of The Treaty of Waitangi

towards achieving a kinder and fairer nation

• Embed successful programmes, such as drug

rehabilitation, life and parenting skills, into the fabric

of communities. Fund successful programmes

consistently and prevent politics and other agendas

from affecting the delivery of programmes that make

a difference

• Reach out to the Gangs who I believe will cooperate

with strategies that include provision for the

wellbeing of all citizens. Such strategies were

included in korero that were shared in the annual

Unity Week leading up to Anzac Day 2021. Resulting

recommendations were shared with the Ministers for

Corrections and Oranga Tamariki

• Acknowledge both the work of Whanganui Prisoner’s

Aid and Rehabilitation (Steve Treloar) in his 29 years

of service, and Taumarunui as a Child Friendly town.

The work of WPARS is an ideal model that deserves

wider interest from the Minister of Corrections and

Oranga Tamariki, as do the Taumarunui initiatives.

The Napier Pilot City Trust and myself will highlight

these efforts to ensure they are brought to the

Ministers' attention

TOWARDS THE FUTURE —

FORGING A PATH TO BE

PROUD OF

“There’s a lot of good going on but there’s a bit of crap

too,” says Pat. “Napier is a good town, but it can be a

better town. We need to keep the city doing better and

prevent kids from being hurt”. When people ask Pat how

this can happen, he replies, “By embracing biculturalism

and becoming a Child Friendly City. It’s that simple”.

AND IN CONCLUSION

“A big thank you to all my heroes, foot soldiers, shipmates

and legacy torchbearers …and all power to our

efforts to forge change and improve the future outlook

for everyone in our community.

“To those who believe that living in kinder, fairer cities is

everyone’s right, not just a birth right for some; believe that

anything is possible, that ‘history and hope’ can rhyme”.

Above, Pilot City Trustees, back left to right, Shirley Tobeck, Mark Cleary, Alwyn Corban. Front left to right, Raewyn Kingi, Pat,

Alyson Bullock and Joan Plowman (Absent trustees: Ross Duncan and Rizwanna Latiff). “Keep pushing the boundaries”, Pat says.

280


PAT’S HAUTUPUA AWARDS

To the legends, heroes, foot soldiers, shipmates and legacy torchbearers everywhere — who mahi

consistently in the community for others, spreading love and sharing guidance where and when

it’s needed most. Pat would love to mention the thousands of people who do this every day but

there could never be enough time and space to recognise this generosity of spirit appropriately.

“I think of you all every day, as beacons of hope”, he says. So, here we make a start, recognising

Pat’s inaugural Hautupua Awards.

AHURURI ANGELS STILL

DOING THE MAHI

For the past 16 years, as Pat walks the Ahuriri Estuary most

days, more often than not he sees a couple of legends

he knows well. Yvonne Aranui and Ian Matehe will likely

be with the waka ama at the Estuary, either in the early

morning supporting the crew for the first row, or at the

end of the day training and guiding the rangitahi; teaching

them how to paddle the canoes and navigate life’s

challenges as well.

“Ian and Yvonne have been making a tireless contribution

to rangitahi for years; rangitahi who over time

respond so well to the positive, healthy experiences

they’re receiving. It’s transformational”, Pat says.

Recognised for their mahi with Pilot City Trust Awards

several years ago, Yvonne and Ian are busy with their

own jobs. Ian works nights for a freight company, signs

off in the morning and heads straight down to the Estuary.

Yvonne works for the Ministry of Health in Early

Childhood Education where her days are more than full,

but for rangitahi there’s always time.

Above: Image, Waka Ama, Ahuriri Estuary, by Lee Pritchard;

Images, right: Ian Matehe and Yvonne Aranui, the waka ama angels

at Ahuriri Estuary; the teams below — showing how it’s done.

And where to from here ... 281

“Charlotte is always

ready to wrap her

arms and heart around

those affected by the

system; especially the

innocent victims who

suffer more challenges

and hardship than they

should have to face”.

Another legend is renowned kaumatua and Yvonne’s

husband Tiwana Aranui. Committed to his demanding

role with Maori Health Services at HBDHB, in his spare

time Tiwana is hugely valued for his skill and commitment

in assisting others apply for funding from EIT.

“Tiwana’s passion for seeking a kinder, fairer and safer

Ahuriri/Napier and improving the lives of all citizens, is a

beacon of hope," says Pat.

“Ahuriri Maori Wardens are the unsung heroes of our

community. From the Downtown Y days with Chris and

Pat Mill, and the late Minnie Ratima supporting offenders

and victims in the Napier Court, through to today

and the amazing Court support work carried out by Zita

Smith and Josie Kewley; the system would be much

worse without you.”

Denis O’Reilly: Occasionally these days Pat walks up

the hill to Otatara Pa above EIT and looks down over

Waiohiki Marae. He has huge admiration for the mahi and

energy that’s growing the community there, with papakianga

going up and the new marae building having just

been completed. A powerhouse for good, “Nga mihi nui,

Denis, for your energy, aroha and superb editing skills”.

Reverend Kaumatua Matiu Eru and Pat go back a long

way. Right from early Hawke’s Bay Community College

days, they’ve shared the vision and the Kaupapa for a

better Ahuriri/Napier and they’re still going strong. And

Matiu's gentle, insightful Te Reo Māori skills are legend.

Doug Laing, “Legend”. A senior reporter from Daily

Telegraph days, Doug is now a stalwart with Hawke’s

Bay Today. Aside from his generous “open all hours”

wairua, Doug is committed to seeking out good news

and creating good will. For years he has transported kids

who live in his neighbourhood to athletics and sometimes

paid their fees, so they can continue to participate

in something that will help define and shape them.

And finally, to Wahine Toa Charlotte Edmonds who

shows unconditional love to her whanau and especially

her mokupuna when they are in need of tender loving

care. “Charlotte is always ready to wrap her arms and

heart around those affected by the system; especially

the innocent victims who suffer more challenges and

hardship than they should have to face”.

Clockwise from top left: Hautupua Award winners continute, Tiwana Aranui; Denis O’Reilly; Reverend Matiu Eru; Charlotte Edmonds

with mokupuna, and Doug Laing; Opposite, Gull at the Estuary, photo by Lee Pritchard.

282


“One of the things I recall often about Pat is his advice

regarding negative dynamics and provincial thinking. He said be

like Jonathan Livingston Seagull and fly high above the drama

and keep a strategic outlook. He is a person who floats hope in

the community and believes that change is going to come — we

just have to keep pushing the boundaries”.

toro waaka

DISCLAIMER

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure accuracy during the preparation of this publication, people’s recall of events can differ and recalling

circumstances can be a little challenging. We apologise for any discrepancies and inconsistencies that may have occurred during the process of

producing LEADING FROM THE FRONT within a short time frame.

First published in April 2021, and reprinted in May & July 2021.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including

photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.

Printed by Ligare — Book Printing & Publishing New Zealand | 235 Archers Rd, Glenfield, Auckland.

ISBN 978-0-473-56706-4

RRP $40

284


What drives Napier-born and raised Pat Magill to be his

town’s social conscience? Discover in LEADING FROM

THE FRONT, how Pat loves his town like an entity and

wants everyone within it to reach their best and deserved

potential. And he reckons the only way that’s going to

happen is when Napier/Ahuriri embraces biculturalism

and becomes a child friendly city. It’s that simple.

“Pat has influenced Prime Ministers and CEOs

up and down the country”.

robert consedine

Author of Healing Our History − The Challenge of The Treaty of Waitangi

“Pat Magill - corrupting the halls of power with his goodness”.

philip jensen, barrister, ahuriri

Pat Magill has been called many things ….. from a communist to the

more colourful – Napier’s biggest stirrer. Then coming from the pious end,

he’s even been likened to a walking saint. LEADING FROM THE FRONT discover which one

you think Pat might be. Or perhaps he’s a combination of them all, and more.

BUILD COMMUNITIES

NOT PRISONS

NAPIERPILOTCITY.ORG

RRP $40

Leading from the front issuu

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