Te Ohu Hāpori - Community People.
In this three part series, Justine Murray meets community driven people who want nothing more than positive change. Tonight, Justine visits the Hawkes Bay.
According to the last census in 2013, over nine thousand people reside in Flaxmere, it makes up about ten percent of the population of Hastings. It's home to Joleen Morrell, her partner and their ten children. Over the past two decades Jolene admits that she has written 'heaps' of proposals to the Hastings District Council, she is an avid supporter of E Tu Whanau, an organisation that promotes whanau values.
One of her missions is to establish a proper youth space, somewhere for teens to hang out and keep out of trouble. Jolene and her sister took it upon themselves to run a space from their garage for a while.
I've just been driven so much, I think for me it was when we started to lose all our kids (to suicide) and then you sit and wonder oh where the post prevention people, where's the intervention people, where this, or where's that or who are they? I've tried to explain it and say, my name Jolene , I'm a mother of ten, I'm unemployed, I have concerns just like you and I'm here to sort it out together.
- Jolene Morrell
Another positive move was running a music wānanga at one of the marae. Music seemed a resonate with the Hastings based youth, and as a result, Jolene teamed up with music producer and Hip Hop artist, Tipene Harmer. This proved to be the foundation of the Flaxmere Music Academy a dream of Tipene Harmer's. They cut a music track in the process an anthem that speaks to a proud community, complete with a music video.
Dennis O'Reilly Photo: Dennis O'Reilly
Dennis O'Reilly (Ngati Pakeha no Aotearoa) is all about social and positive change, he lives in Taradale in the Hawkes Bay and has a number of issues on the go. There's the Papa Kainga (housing) project for Ngāti Hinawera Hapu, plans for a new Wharenui complex at Waiohiki Marae after it burned down in 2002, and ongoing events at the Waiohiki Creative Arts Village, home to studio space, affordable social housing, and a retail store.
Dennis describes himself as a recovering bureaucrat with a background in street activism and community development. He is the founding member of Awa Transmedia, a small production group that produces local community stories for the digital generation. Their mission statement is in their name, A to mean Aroha, W to mean Whanau and Awhinatanga to mean community support. Dennis works with a small but highly skilled team, who cover a range of kaupapa in the Hawkes Bay and nationwide, as he explains to Justine Murray.
Porky Mareikura Photo: RNZ/Justine Murray
Porky Mareikura exudes charisma and has a friendly nature to him. He happily talks to the kaumatua (elderly) group waiting for their morning exercise session, he pokes fun at Luke, the receptionist for the day, and he points out some of their loyal 'rain or shine' gym bunnies, albeit aged over sixty. He doesn't have the body one would expect at a gym, but Hikoi4life is more of a wellness centre and was set up as a programme than a Gym, founded by Les Hokianga. Porky explains to Justine Murray what their kaupapa is all about.
