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Heartfelt welcome a homecoming of sorts for district's new Māori Responsiveness Manager

Wednesday, 21 April 2021

Tasman
Tasman's Māori Pacific & Ethnic Services team, from left; Constable James Masters, new Māori Responsiveness Manager Inspector Tracey Wharehoka, Sergeant Steve Mariu and previous MRM Inspector Dexter Traill, at Waikawa Marae on Friday.

Tasman's new Māori Responsiveness Manager (MRM), Inspector Tracey Wharehoka​, received a heartfelt welcome to the district at a pōwhiri at Waikawa Marae in Marlborough on Friday.

Waikawa Marae is home to Te Āti Awa one of the eight iwi located in Te Tauihu.

Wharehoka, whose whakapapa hangs on the walls at Parihaka in Taranaki, is of Te Āti Awa and Ngāti Ruanui descent - which meant the pōwhiri at Waikawa Marae was made even more special.

Tasman
Tasman's new Māori Responsiveness Manager (MRM), Inspector Tracey Wharehoka.

Family, friends and staff travelled to Picton to attend the pōwhiri. They included members of Wharehoka’s Central District and Royal New Zealand Police College (RNZPC) whānau, Marlborough police and members of Tasman’s Māori, Pacific and Ethnic Services and Leadership teams.

Speeches acknowledged the work that had already been undertaken to build strong relationships between Police and iwi in Te Tauihu. It was also clear there was much more to do, with emphasis given to listening and working together to support iwi and our communities.

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Tracey Wharehoka is of Te Āti Awa and Ngati Ruanui descent, so it was all the more special to be at Te Āti Awa
Tracey Wharehoka is of Te Āti Awa and Ngati Ruanui descent, so it was all the more special to be at Te Āti Awa's home.

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Wharehoka was acknowledged by her peers for her ability to “listen, look and then speak”, an approach that has seen her rise through the ranks in her 20-year career with police, as well as her passion for building relationships in and across communities.

In Wharehoka’s own words when speaking to the gathering on Friday, she sees her role as absolutely “not about me - it’s about everyone else”.

Wharehoka joins the Tasman team from her role as senior teaching and learning advisor for Māori, Pacific and Ethnic Services at the RNZPC.

She has also worked on the frontline and road policing, investigations and iwi liaison. With her extensive experience and passion, she is a great asset to the Tasman team.

This article was first published in Ten One Magazine by New Zealand Police and is reproduced with permission.