BJ has been part of the Visionwest kaimahi (staff) for several years and is currently Pou Tikanga involved with leading and developing Visionwest’s knowledge and expertise in all areas of Māori tikanga.
Vision is what steers the Visionwest waka, and its staff – like me – are kai hoe, the paddlers who power it forward. At the prow of the waka is the Tauihu, the figurehead. For us, that’s Matua Fred and Lisa. They’re always dreaming about tomorrow and what it holds for Visionwest and the whānau we serve.
My dream for my people, for Māori, is that they can stand tall on this whenua and feel proud of who they are. They are Māori first. I want them to reclaim that identity, that mana, within themselves. That’s what drives me.
Each day, I wake up grateful. I go home to a warm, safe, secure whare. There’s carpet underfoot, a working oven, food in the fridge. And I get to work in a place where we make that same reality possible for others – those who don’t currently have those things.
At Visionwest, we start our day with karakia. We sit down, share a cup of tea, and have a kōrero. We’re surrounded by good people, all with the same heart – a compassionate heart that beats through every part of our mahi.
My Nan used to say, “Everything comes out in the wash.” To me, that means anything can be faced if we take time to kōrero, to listen, and to understand someone’s needs before offering support. She also believed that everything is better with a cup of tea. So that’s how I approach the challenges our whānau bring to us: we sit down, share a cuppa, maybe a karakia, and face it together.
Korero, karakia, and cups of tea – they go a long way in seeing the true heart of those who need support. And when you see the true heart, you know exactly how to help.