Leading from the front issuu

QUAKERS IN AOTEAROA
by liz remmerswaal
I met dear Pat about 25 years ago when I was involved in
the Restorative Justice network.
He is such a treasured friend and has been a constant
supporter of me, my husband Ton and my work in peace
and the environment.
The loveliest thing about Pat is his encouragement
and positivity, seeing the best in people as well as calling
things out when they are wrong. Pat’s ‘personalism’
is a big part of his beautiful way of being, which compels
him to always respond to my emails, telling me where he
is in his travels, and asking for help for those who need
it. He is loved by so many and has helped countless people,
new friends and old.
Pat’s big mission in life has been facilitating long overdue
education about Te Tiriti o Waitangi, assisted by
the Napier Pilot City Trust and Kerry Kitione. For many
years he organised Healing Our History workshops with
Robert Consedine from Christchurch and invited local
politicians and others to come along and learn about
Aotearoa in order to “fix it.” His friendship with former
New Plymouth Mayor Andrew Judd has been inspirational
and Andrew often speaks at Quaker gatherings.
Since then, Pat’s other kaupapa has been the Te Araroa
Trail, which he dubbed ‘The Poor Man’s Outward
Bound’, and taking groups of at risk youth along on hikoi
to experience its healing wairua and Pat is the living embodiment
of this. His love of walking and benefits of it
for mental as well as physical health has stood him in
good stead. He has remained fit and active for over nine
decades and is sharp as a tack besides.
It was great when Pat decided to come along to our
local Quaker group, inspired I think by the wonderful Canadian
Ruth Morris, who he spoke about often.
Founded in 1652 in England, Quakers is about humanity;
about going forward and contributing to the social
landscape and it has evolved over the years. In some
ways, compared to its dramatic origins when Quakers
were regularly thrown into jail for not doffing their hats
“Peace requires something
far more difficult than
revenge. It requires
empathising with the fears
and unmet needs that provide
the impetus for people to
attack each other.”
marshall rosenberg
at the ‘toffs’ (part of their belief that everyone is equal), it
has become a little mainstream, less activist, more into
planting vegies and choosing not to fly in a bid to reduce
carbon emissions, that kind of thing; although penal reform
has long been a very important strand of the Society
of Friends, as Quakers call themselves.
I think the founder of Quakers, George Fox, would
totally endorse Pat’s modus operandi and I think Pat is
intrinsically a Quaker. He lives and breathes the principles,
but he has his own way of operating, which some
struggle with at times.
He can be a little impulsive; do things first and then
ask questions or apply for funding later! But back to
his wonderfulness — with his talk of “foot soldiers” and
“shipmates” he always spurs us into action.
Pat has been such a great support and encourager.
One of the most important things that he has taught
me is to focus on one thing, and not spread oneself too
thinly, an important lesson. There have been challenges,
and times when just a word of encouragement and understanding
makes all the difference. It’s very precious
to have someone like Pat in your corner.
Whose god? Pat on religion & spirituality 273