Leading from the front issuu

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.
Whose god? Pat on religion & spirituality 271