Dru – Papatoetoe
“For starters, my son’s been given the opportunity to attend one of the most prestigious schools in Auckland.
So he was given the Endeavour Scholarship, and that’s given to four students every year of Māori and Pacific Island decent. So you know, for me, his education is really important. Actually for all my kids, and we’re just really proud that he’s been with Kings Prep, and now he’s at Kings College.
He’s been there for the last three years, and he’s been able to progress. Well my name’s Dru. I’m of Māori and Cook Island decent. My mother’s from Kaeo. She’s Ngāpuhi, and my father’s Cook Island. I’ve lived in Papatoetoe. I’ve been born and bred in Papatoetoe, so I’ve gone to all the local schools. I work at Middlemore Hospital. I’m a ward clerk there, yeah so it’s ironic. I was born at Middlemore Hospital, I grew up on Middlemore Crescent, and now I’m working at Middlemore Hospital, and I’ll most probably die there at Middlemore. Well, I don’t know about that.
You know, my parents had already passed away before my children were born. So it’s just been me and my partner raising the kids, and it’s tough. I guess you just do the best that you can and you just hope that they’re going to be good citizens themselves, you know, by setting good examples and just always encouraging them to do better than what we’re doing.
I only want them to be able to look after themselves when I’m gone. For me and my partner, just loving each other, looking after each other, looking out for one another, got each other’s backs. I think if they can see that, you hope that they’ll have a good relationship when that time comes.
It is out there. You hear the sly remarks. Auckland’s really diverse, and especially out these ways; South Auckland. It’s really diverse and there’s been some comments made, gestures made, and what can you do apart from stick up for one another; just being able to look out for one another. I want to be in a place where, you know, it’s a happy place. I don’t want to be in a place where we’re trying to kill each other.
He has a lot of potential to do anything that he wants to do. Right now he’s really into his rugby, so he’s a rugby frat. For me, you know, all I want to see him do is just progress. At this stage just progress academically, just doing the best that he can. That’s all I ask of him.
Just I think about changing our attitudes, how we perceive things. You know? We’re all one. You know, even though there’s different cultures here, we are all the same.”
