"Half of my family came here with Captain Cook and the other half came on a waka," says David West, who adds he is still learning to korero Maori so he can stand on the paepae at Stratford's Whakaahurangi Marae, of which he is president.
David has a long list of groups and organisations that he is involved in, and he credits his wife Alison, also a community-minded person, for inspiring and encouraging him in being so involved with their community. "We live here and it is important that we help where we can, do what we can to keep the community going."
This attitude has seen David involved in organisations as diverse as the Legion of Frontiersmen and St John Ambulance, as well as actively campaigning against the sale of synthetic drugs in the community.
"I'm against drugs as a whole, our children don't need this stuff in their lives, and that campaign was important. I am pleased we were able to get the community to join together to stand against them."
David is a Maori Warden in Stratford, and has been for 40 years. "It's important that we are here for our youth, that we can work with other groups like the police and act as a type of liaison when needed."