Pat Paratene Dewes has been a regular visitor to the marae and has asked that I share his story. He is committed to community service through the Maori wardens.
Born in Auckland, Pat was raised in Tiki Tiki by his grand parents and in Auckland by an aunt. He attended Parnell and Papakura primary schools from 1964-65.
Late in 1966, he went back to Tiki Tiki Primary school.
He attended the Ngata Memorial College, Ruatoria, and from there, went to Wellington to the Maori Affairs pre-employment scheme, staying at the Ahumairangi hostel in Wadestown.
The idea behind this employment scheme was to attend Wellington Polytechnic for a year and be exposed to different industries and trades with apprenticeships, which included in those days included General Motors and Todd Motors.
Pat requested a placement as an apprentice with the Dominion as a newspaper compositor.
Setting up the hot metals, through a Ludlow machine, doing all of the headlines.
At this time, all small typing was done on a linotype machine and page layouts were done by the journalists.
He described how a whole page would be then moulded on to a plate before the printing process.
Pat's apprenticeship with the Dominion lasted three years.
In 1976, Pat had a car accident where he sustained a C5 and C6 back injury. He was in Wellington Hospital for about 12 months which he mainly spent in a wheelchair.
In 1977 he was transferred to the Cook Hospital, Gisborne. From there he was referred to Christchurch spinal unit for reassessment. No operations but rehabilitation.
Later, he was transferred back to Gisborne hospital and then discharged home. After he completed his apprenticeship, he worked for the Gisborne Herald until 1980. Pat was then employed with the Auckland Star until 1984.
He then moved to Napier looking for work and applied to the Rothman's Whirinaki mill, UEB and Watties. UEB, which became Cavalier, employed Pat in the spinning and carding process and he later progressed to the dye house to become leading hand.
He was made redundant in 2013 because of his declining physical condition due to the spinal injury.
He then shares with me that he gained his first warrant when he joined the Heretaunga Maori Wardens 1990.
However prior to that in 1988, Pat started with John Gray with a group called the Hastings Community Patrol. John was then the owner of the Grand Hotel.
This community group was involved with foot and mobile patrols around Hastings CBD and Karamu, Raureka and Frimley schools. Due to health reasons and work pressures, John Gray was forced to step down. Pat then went on to join the Heretaunga Maori wardens which is still operating today. Nat Nathan was the chairman of the Heretaunga Maori Wardens at this time. Pat describes how he and three others later went on to form the Central Hawkes Bay Maori wardens in 2012. Being visible and letting the public know that they are there to support them and support public safety is a key focus for the Maori wardens.
On the March 27, the Flaxmere Maori wardens sub-group was formed. There are 10 members and the group is looking to recruit more.
The aim of the Flaxmere Maori Wardens is to help the community of Flaxmere; to bring Flaxmere back to being humble and happy, and to reconnect people.
-Ana Apatu is chief executive of the U-Turn Trust, based at Te Aranga Marae in Flaxmere
