Matua Brian Walker
Tihei Mauri Ora!
Ko Taranaki me nga Maungarei me whangatauatia te Maunga.
Ko Waitara me Omaru te Awa.
Ko Aotea me Tainui me tinana te Waaka.
Ko Te Atiawa me Ngai tai me Te Rarawa te Iwi.
Ko koro Bob Waaka/Walker toku Papa.
Ko Rosie Maxwell Makiwhara/Horima toku Mama.
Ko Brian Walker toku Ingoa.
Tihei Mauri Ora!
My main role as a Change Agent in The HEART Movement is to provide information and support around people needing help. My specialty as a Ngai Tai kaumatua is to let people know where they can get help. I invite them to Men’s Koru Group, as well as to the various trainings HEART runs in the community. I’m also involved with the Smashed n Stoned programme for those that need help around alcohol and drug addiction. In Men’s Koru Group the “no judgement, no advice” Kaupapa is observed by all participants. I would go as far as to say that any problems that anyone is facing, the koru groups meeting regularly is setup to provide a platform to explore options of wellbeing, peace, and a way out of one’s difficulties they could be facing. No catches, no hidden agendas.
The things I love about The HEART Movement is that it has a natural autonomous “flow” about its core concepts and values. Its potential to connect with different people in the community is huge through the koru groups, and various community events/trainings which then serves as a conduit in people’s lives providing significant flow on effects for those plugged in. Whatever the circumstances maybe, people living in Tāmaki live with a small flicker of hope that could light the flame that sets them free to live a fair and decent life with dignity. In that respect I see the koru groups contributing in a big way towards fuelling the flame that helps set people free.
I used to always to joke with my younger brother Prince, who recently passed away, we would say, “How can love each other? When all we want to do is hurt and beat each other up?” So, we came to an agreement that life is too short, and we should forgive one another and try our best to love more than hurt. Better we leave at peace going into the next world.