Leading from the front issuu

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!
Restorative Justice – for an unjust justice system 177