Leading from the front issuu

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