Joe – Auckland/Northland
“First off it’s to take my time in life, to learn how to look at life a little slower than I did back then.
Because life is a long way. I’m from the North. My ancestors are Moriori Māori – Ngāpuhi. I schooled up North throughout my young days, and farmed most of my days. I’ve worked on farms; being a farmer most of our life. Back in the day there was more opportunity, in the ‘60s, ‘70s and part of the ‘80s for work around the Auckland area.
Back in my time, there were more freezing works in the ‘70s. The jobs, you could pick up easily. Today it’s a bit difficult. So I ask myself as an 11 year old; how would I place myself here today? I think it’s through taking your time. But finding today it’s brought back memories of being on the streets in Auckland again. It’s not as easy. I don’t know.
My culture is a Māori. Why? Because I am tangata whenua of this country; born and bred and my grandfather being Moriori, being the first indigenous to be here, and then Māori after that, so that’s given me a strong perspective of Aoteoroa. The only country that I’ve known my life – there’s no other but here – home.
For the young ones that I see out there – you need to find yourself – you need to be true – you need to go home to your roots – you need to go home to your family – you need status – you need our people, our families – you need your family – you need your whānau. You need your father, mother; um, without those you’re – you’re quite lost. Being in Auckland City itself, you have to be headstrong. You have to be pretty strong and you have to be full of work. You have to work. You can’t walk out there for no reason. You’ve got to find yourself.
I think it was just exciting – exciting to get out here and to live free from being pushed to milk cows first thing in the morning, last thing at night. It’s just that freedom that it gave me to be on the streets in the ‘70s. To wake up in the park, to wash in a creek, it was quite easy back then, but today she’s a lot different kettle of fish today. You can live that way, but I won’t suggest it to your young’uns. We all need somewhere to go, some place to be, and it’s not on the streets.
You need that 24/7; Ōranga. Ōranga means health. Mātauranga means education. Tipuranga means to grow with family. You’re important. You’re an important person the day you’re born. In the whole life perspective in Māoridom, you are who you are with nannies, grannies, mummies, daddies – family – whānau. Kotahitanga means to come together and be one. It is a very strong thing today in – in our culture; is to head home, go home, help the olds, do what you need to do – even though you’ve got no money back there, it’s not all about money; it’s about health and getting your perspective right, and whanaungatanga – and family, and being at unity with your family.
Each tattoo I have here holds a story, each significantly – each stupidly, also. Just one of those things that you get into, being part of life. We have it today, if you look at many, and that’s not just myself; all cultures – rugby players, policemen – no matter who they are, they have it today, because that’s part of the culture – in my upbringing.”
