Homeless Day highlights carver's personal journey

Artist Robert Marriner (right) along with the subject of his carving Lewis Te Hei at the Corban Estate Art Centre. Photo / Jason Oxenham

Homeless carver Robert Marriner has finally found someone to hear his story after 52 tormented years.

Abused as a child, he has lived on the streets or in jail since 1986 and now calls himself "one of the oldest street kids in West Auckland".

His near-life-sized kauri carving representing Lewis "Poto" Te Hei, who shares an abandoned house with him, is one of the most striking pieces in an exhibition of art by about 15 rough sleepers at Henderson's Corban Arts Estate tonight and tomorrow, World Homeless Day.

Mr Marriner grew up terrified of his father.

"As a little kid I used to stand there pissing my pants," he said. "I remember coming home, watching my mum cook meals all night, then my dad would come home and it [the meal] would be cold so all he could do was beat the shit out of my mum."

He couldn't find anyone to listen to him.

"As a little kid, when I used to get beaten and bashed, I know at primary school the teachers used to think I was not much of a learner so I always used to get put in the corner," he said. "They didn't realise my back was so bruised and my arse was so sore I couldn't sit down or do anything.

"I have lived with torment all my life. I've been in and out of prison, borstal training, boys' homes, detention centres, for domestic violence, burglaries, drug dealings.

"Physically, I have never been able to move on. I have been in relationships myself and I have ended up doing exactly like my father's done."

He has one daughter who now lives in Australia. Her name is tattooed on his forearm.

"She is the love of my life," he said.

He has, however, learnt to carve. He did a course through Te Wananga o Aotearoa in Paremoremo jail in 1988 and has carved at the Waihi art market, for a Pacific festival in Auckland and commissions.

And he has finally found someone to hear his story. Te Whanau o Waipareira social worker Grant Wilson has been "able to sit down and listen to 52 years of my life".

"I've been to some top psychologists, and every time I've tried to talk about my life and feelings, for some reason they have jumped in with the answer," he said.

"The thing about Grant Wilson is that he doesn't have answers, he doesn't have questions, he allows us to sit down and tell him what our problems are. For the first time, I talked to Grant about my feelings and everything that's in my mind, because it unloaded 52 years of child abuse, anger and frustration. It's taken a burden off me that I've carried all my life."

World Homeless Day

• Freyberg Place, Auckland: Art exhibition, displays and barbecue, today 10am-3pm.

• Corban Estate Arts Centre, 2 Mt Lebanon Lane, Henderson: Art exhibition, tonight 4pm-8pm and tomorrow 10am-4pm. Silent auction: www.ceac.org.nz

•Salvation Army, 6912A Mt Albert Rd, Royal Oak: 60 people sleeping rough to raise $20,000 for Epsom Lodge: www.14hourshomeless.org.nz

•Waitakere College, 42 Rathgar Rd, Henderson: 87 people sleeping rough to raise $10,000 for the homeless: www.14hourshomeless.org.nz

•Facebook: Haiku competition on "the hidden homeless", www.facebook.com/housingcalltoaction

•GrabOne: $20 deal from tomorrow to buy toiletries for a homeless person moving into a home.