Leading from the front issuu

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”.
Maraenui – by whānau for whānau, anything is possible 103