Another person who had a great influence on my understanding and attitude to Waitangi and its place in our nation was John Rangihau.
John was one of the leaders of the Maatua Whaangai programme, and of the thinking that produced the reforms incorporated in the Children's and Young Persons legislation in the 1980s.
This incorporated ideas we would recognise as associated with Restorative Justice, and an emphasis on rehabilitating wayward youth within the family, rather than by separation from the family in a state institution.
I remember specially an occasion when my colleague and I visited a small marae on the Taranaki coast to look at and encourage the Kohanga Reo workers. While we were visiting, they got word that John Rangihau was on his way to visit as well. I was the only man there; their kawa was for men to welcome manuhiri, so I was gently challenged to perform the task, with my colleague prompting me. I stumbled through my few words of Maori mihi and John was very gracious in reply.
He later asked me to consider applying for a job as national co-ordinator for Maatua Whaangai; I was not ready to move to Wellington so that did not happen, but I appreciated the honour of the invitation.
I still believe the job would be better done by a Maori person, especially a fluent speaker of the language. As far as Taranaki was concerned, that was what happened: I moved back to social work generally, and volunteer Maatua Whangai enthusiast Bill Kaitoa took over my role.
No comments:
Post a Comment