Tracey Tangihaere, writes on her time as a strategic specialist on urban development for Māori and Pasifika. She shares with us her learning from throughout her career.
"Living in an area of great beauty, awesome culture and harsh poverty brings life to you head on. Being positive about an uncertain future and also putting simple priorities of family, friends and love in my mind every day."
During Covid I worked for the new Ministry of Housing and Urban Development in Wellington. The state of Housing is a critical issue for the health and wellbeing of many New Zealanders, Māori and Pacific Whanau being the most homeless and the houseless. Rough Sleepers across the country, families waiting for social and emergency housing were critical to be housed during a pandemic. What is truly amazing is the Iwi and NGO ( Non-Government Organisations sector ) kicked in and supported many whanau with the basics. Working from a small high rise flat on Lambton Quay, online was crazy, but rewarding to support people all over the country.
Returning back to Gisborne in the second lock down, to work at EIT (Eastern Institute of Technology) to run the Gisborne Campus, threw me back in – supporting staff online to deliver tertiary education online to access challenged students, again - online learning and keeping our spirits up through karakia and fun online engagement was key to my own sanity.
Living in an area of great beauty, awesome culture and harsh poverty brings life to you head on. Being positive about an uncertain future and also putting simple priorities of family, friends and love in my mind every day. Having my family far from me and trying hard not to worry so much, working in the service of others was great diversional therapy. What’s the lesson? Take a breather, take a walk with the dog, stroke the cat, and cook loads of kai to full the puku and the spirit.
Our age old values of Manaakitanga and Whanaungatanga pulled us through an unusual time. Supporting the sick, the aged and the very young was the only thing to be done. There is always someone who needs more than you, to help others and feel goodness. Giving out can help your own wellbeing. That’s the lesson.
Written by Tracey Tangihaere
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