Leading from the front issuu

FOR MĀORIDOM
PAT IS A TRUE FRIEND
by kaumatua bevan taylor
“ We have never heard
anything like that on our
marae before”.
bevan taylor, kohupatiki Marae
When I first met Pat, straight away I said to him, Magill’s
Carpets. It was a household name and it goes way back,
right back to the early ‘50s, when Pat first started in the
shop. My dad did business with him, buying carpet for
our dining room, and some lino too.
After meeting Pat, I observed him for a while, for a number
of years actually, and I came to look forward to talking
with him. He’s a very pleasant person, easy to talk to, he
doesn’t get into any areas of discussion that may cause
ill feeling. He’s never disruptive and he lends an ear. Even
if it sounds a bit rough he’ll lend an ear and he will make
comment. He doesn’t make grand speeches but he’ll
make a comment that comes at you, that has impact.
I would say Pat is an icon in the eyes of people within
Napier, and afar. Whether they be Māori, European, whoever;
Pat is able to fit in with everyone.
Coming up to the mid to late ‘70s, I became active in
Ahuriri myself. My wife and I would often meet up with
Pat. We talked about things in general, and specifically,
the Treaty of Waitangi, which he supports, and more importantly,
Te Tiriti, the Māori version of the Treaty.
He said that we were hard done by and he was honest
about that. He said he wishes he could turn it all around
to show our successive governments what true partnership
is. We hosted Pat’s 93rd birthday here in 2019 and
welcomed his hikoi trail, the Walk for Unity. With the
group we also welcomed the ex-mayor of New Plymouth,
Andrew Judd. He gave his fascinating TED Talk,
Lessons from a Recovering Racist. It was brilliant. We
have never heard anything like that on our marae before.
Andrew has amazing commitment. There are some
people who are so committed and can see the right way
forward, and don’t just give lip service.
I joined the Napier Pilot City and came to see Pat more
regularly. Nothing to him is impossible, that word isn’t
in his dictionary. He knows what to do, how to do it and
with whom. He is so easy, flexible and honest about doing
things and if he commits to something, he’ll do it.
He makes a difference in terms of Napier and with
Napier Pilot City. Pat is a figure who would be missed if
he wasn’t around; and you notice when he isn’t around,
when he’s away or can’t attend a meeting.
Sadly I was out of the area when Pat’s wife, Catherine
died in an accident in Australia in 1994. Thank God
that Toro Waaka and Tania Reti were here and that they
extended the invitation for Catherine to lie at the Tai
Whenua. I thought this was a great and fitting tribute, for
Catherine and for Pat.
Back on my own marae at Tongoio, Pat often comes to
our tangi and hui, to support the kaupapa and be a part
of bringing together the younger generation, who are
our future. In the course of being chair of the Māori Consultative
Committee, I met with Pat and the then mayor
Barbara Arnott on many occasions at different functions.
The conversations were always interesting! We welcomed
the next mayor Bill Dalton on to the marae as
well. He said he would do a lot of things.
I think Pat is one of these people like the prime minister,
they’re noticeable wherever they go. For me, and
I’m sure for a lot of other people, Pat will always be a
wonderful person in the eyes of Māoridom. In terms of
Māoridom he will always be a true friend, a true comrade.
(Read the transcript, Lessons From A Recovering Racist
on page 207.)
Behind the façade 75