Opposite groups but common aspirations

Ngahiwi Tomoana likens Iron Maori to the Mongrel Mob.

Iron Maori and the Mongrel Mob both held their respective events recently. In public perceptions, both organisations are poles apart; one carrying the hopes, excitement and aspirations of whanau, while the other the same, but from totally separate starting points.

The commonality though, is that they are all our whanau.

The Quarter Iron Maori proved again that, given the right incentives, whanau would turn out in the droves, swimming, biking and running, but most important of all, smiling and laughing with, and at, each other.

And it wasn't exclusively Maori either, as many Pakeha are now competing in this triathlon "with a difference".

One of them said to me that, before he dived in for the swim, the tane next to him, four times his size, said, "Hey bro, good luck, you look like a gun swimmer, so can you grab us some pipis for the whanau while you're at it?" For each of the 2000 or so participants, three or four other whanau members were there in support, making the number around 8000 or so. My two mates own HB Seafoods and the Bluewater Hotel respectively, and this is their second biggest weekend of the year.

The biggest is the Half Iron Maori on the December 5, when the contestant numbers will be limited to 3500 but with up to 10,000 supporters attending. About 7000 whanau members would have participated in Iron Maori events just in this calendar year, and the phenomenon is growing.

It is the best whanau health initiative I've seen in my time.

Meanwhile, at the Te Aute Hotel about 40km or so from Pandora Pond in Napier, the Hastings chapter of the Mongrel Mob celebrated 50 years of its existence, and were joined by groups from other parts of the country.

The two events came within 4km of each other, as the Mob convoy made its way from Omahu to Waiohiki, then on to Matahiwi and other marae, to pay their respects to members who had passed on.

I watched the convoy at Matahiwi, which consisted of around 60 bikes and 40 classic cars, and, naturally, there was a huge police presence. It was like an art deco parade Maori-style! Sure, there was the usual barking and a few hiccups; however, the event passed without a hitch, despite the misgivings of many.

Both groups, Iron Maori and the Mongrel Mob, had their genesis in Hastings.
I went to Mangateretere School with some of the Mob "ridgies". We know all too well, the Iron Maori "ridgies".

We also know the current leaders of both groups, Heather Skipworth and Rex Timu. Rex was even a Marshal at an Iron Maori event. Both leaders must be applauded for trying to improve and advance whanau within their organisations, with Rex having the toughest job, trying to turn a 50-year negative, into more positive futures for whanau and whole communities.

Heather has a tiger-by-the-tail, as the numbers of participants exceed safety limits every year! We wish both these leaders all the best in their endeavours to enhance whanau wellbeing.

* Ngahiwi Tomoana is the chairman of Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated.