Accent on Access

Tu Tangata, Issue 36, 1 June 1987, Page 26

Accent on Access

KUPU WHAKA MIHI

ACCESS job training scheme came into being 1 April 1987. The Maori Delivery System began 12 January 1987. ACCESS replaces the old T.A.P.S. (Training Assistance Programmes) and the big chances are that it will be open to anyone. Initially it is targeted at disadvantaged people, school leavers, long term unemployed and Maori people, particularly young Maori.

The Maori delivery system of ACCESS is open to anyone who wants to train in a Maori environment, and will provide a distinctly Maori orientation to training.

Training courses are conducted on marae and in the local community rather than Polytechs and Community Colleges. This ensures that local people are involved with the decisions in relation to the training and can see the areas where more assistance is required.

Minister of Maori Affairs, Mr Koro Wetere, “Never before have we been given the resources to handle ourselves, and never before has any Government accepted the word of the Maori people to be allowed to guide their own destiny. We must start with our school leavers, and see that they do not fall between the cracks of our society and are lost.”

TUKUNA MA TE IWI E KORERO “Let the people decide their own destiny.”

Syd Bird spoke to Howie Tamati, Lovey Waitoa, Youth Development Officers in Wellington.

Te Araroa situated on the east cape of the North Island is a small seaside settlement.

Lovey Waitoa has travelled a long way from her turangawaewae of Te Araroa. Touring the world representing New Zealand in softball bought Lovey into contact with varied lifestyles and cultures.

Playing ball in the U.S.A., Canada, Australia meant lots of social contact with young people from different backgrounds.

“I recall while travelling in Canada and the States the vast gaps between the rich and the poor. It really shocked me

to see the way some of the young black people lived. All this poverty and depression in countries so rich and powerful.” Lovey toured with the New Zealand softball team during 1985-86, on her return to New Zealand she moved to Wellington to accept an offer to pitch for Broadway. “When I came back to New Zealand I decided that there was more to life than just playing softball. I could see that our young tangata whenua were suffering really bad social problems in unemployment, drugs, high crime rate. I could also see that the old “couldn’t care less” attitude had set in. I used to feel like that when I was at that age. I wanted to work with our young tangata whenua.”

Lovey joined the Maori ACCESS programme as a Youth Development Officer. “I’ve spent a lot of time talking to people at all levels trying to determine where I could be most effective.” One of the first things she did on starting the job was to sit down and write to every softball club in the Hutt. The response she received from the clubs was disappointing but Lovey says she is just in the first season. Lovey explains, “Softball had been my career, and now I want to use that experience and knowledge to work with the other clubs and the kids. I asked the clubs if they could provide places on teams for 3-4 people for the season but got very little response. One club Te Mangungu came up with

an offer of providing uniforms and training for 2 teams, they will place them in competition games and encourage them. I’m really grateful to the Te Mangungu people for their generous offer.”

Howie Tamati

Seaview Kokiri Marae is a whirlwind of activity. Sounds of song and laughter of Te Kohanga Reo burst forth from within. Outside an apprentice skills workshop produces a cacophony of the sounds of industry. A fence is receiving a whitewash. Against this backdrop the lean lanky figure of Howie Tamati strides into view. He is in a hurry, but that is not unusual for him these days, he estimates that he works approximately 60-70 hours a week.

Meetings, training sessions, coaching workshops, phone calls and then more meetings.

“I came involved with the ACCESS programme as a Youth Development Officer after I came back from overseas and moved to Wellington.

“I’ve played Rugby League since I was a schoolboy. My father was a Maori rep in 1956. I’ve had a long association with the Waitara League Cup. My hapu is Puketapu and my home marae is Mururaupatu of Waitara.”

“I first wore the jersey for the Kiwis in 1979 and I’ve since worn it about fifty times since then. I toured with them in 1980-82-85 through England 80-85 France and Australia 82, PNG, the year we beat the Aussies, 1983, was the turning point with our 2nd test win and went out at prime time TV live.

Howie returned to England after the tour to play for Wigan after which he rejoined the Kiwi’s in 1984 to play with the team he considers the best league team in the past 10 years which won a 3-0 series over in Britain. Then it was back to England and France yet again at the end of 1985.

The offer of a coaching position in Wellington lured Howie back in 1986. In his spare time from coaching the senior division, he started the Wellington College under 15 League Competition. He plans to start a similar series this year in the Hutt. As well as league coaching, Howie has formed vocational groups with past players.

“We travelled to a lot of schools and spoke to kids. We came up with the idea of peer group counselling with 12 year old students. The counsellors are 15-17 year old students under supervision from more senior committee members. They discuss employment prospects, careers, and further education.”

“I have received lots of help from past

players of league who are helping to ease the work load.”

Howie spends a considerable amount of time these days at the old transport centre in the Hutt. On loan from the council it has been converted to a drop in centre. As is the usual case, most of the work is done by a small group of local people.

“What we need is more support from other groups in the area. Unfortunately we had bad publicity from the newspaper in the early stages but now we are overcoming those problems. Most of the kids that use the centre come by at night after they have met their mates, they drop in for a coffee and bit of a chat so we try to get them to come along to training and get involved in the game.

His association with the drop in centre has been a benefit to all concerned. Howie has acquired local knowledge of people and organisations in the area. He enjoys his contact with the kids, and says with his varied background, can relate to people at all levels.

“The other night after a training session I was driving some young kids home. In the front was a young guy about 16, not a bad kid, been in a bit of trouble in the past, but going straight now. He was telling this other young

guy of about 13, not to be dumb and screw up his education by leaving school and going on the dole. Sitting there and listening to their conversation I could see that we are making some headway.” na Syd Bird