Leading from the front issuu

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.
Maraenui – by whānau for whānau, anything is possible 105