SPECIAL REPORT: To mark Matariki, a season of whānau, reflection and renewal, we speak to two father-and-daughter teams from Police’s Southern District.
Matt and Madeleine
Matt Scoles is an inspector and currently Southern District Manager of Operations and Support.
He has had many roles, including in Family Harm, Deployment, Youth and Community and specialist groups including the Armed Offenders Squad (AOS) and the Police Negotiating Team (PNT). And, of course, years of frontline policing.
“There are always parts of the job that can get you down,” he says. “But whenever you get the opportunity to reflect on all the great things our people do day-in and day-out it’s impossible not to be proud of the uniform I have the privilege of wearing.
“The best thing about my near-27 years on the job is the people. It’s a special whānau to be involved with and, no matter where you might go in the country, you’re always met with people of a similar mindset.
“And speaking of whānau, it’s been really awesome to watch my daughter Mads achieve and grow in Police too.”
Madeleine is a File Coordinator in the Te Waipounamu File Management Centre, also based in Southern. She’s looking forward to spending Matariki in the Maniototo with her dad and wider whānau.
“Our whānau holiday spot in Central Otago is a blended one and includes three of my nieces, so we enjoy being all together when we can, sharing kai and reflecting on childhood memories,” she says.
“And enjoying the clear skies to identify the Matariki star cluster, which I look forward to doing with my nieces this year now that they are old enough.”
Matt continues: “Te ao Māori is still a bit of a journey for me personally, and that certainly includes Matariki with my moko.
“I have always found a place for tikanga Māori within my personal and professional worlds and viewpoints.
“It has genuine meaning for me within my personal values, and as an integral part of the understanding and ‘feeling’ I have for my New Zealand ‘being’ and culture.
“It is an important and visible way for me to provide commitment to Māori and te Tiriti o Waitangi in my professional world.”
Matt’s advice to others for the weekend is to read. “Take the opportunity to learn more about Matariki – upskill, personal development and enlightenment is a wonderful thing,” he says.
Matt and Mads recommend a great programme they have followed the last couple of years in our Police Wellness Hub Matariki - the Māori New Year | Wellness Hub (synergyhealthltd.com). It’s a week-long programme in which emails are sent every morning, delivering new information around the stars and formations and the meanings, or stories, of each of the whānau of stars.
“It’s been brilliant - it’s a chance to understand the significance of Matariki to our tangata whenua. It gives you the opportunity for some personal reflection also,” says Matt.
Mike and Katie
Mike Bowman helps Katie with her new epaulettes on graduation day.
Mike Bowman is an inspector and Area Commander for Southland and is lucky enough to have his daughter Katie, a constable on section, working close by.
Mike has been in Police for 37 years and still thinks the good days outweigh the bad.
“The best thing is the people I work with, including my daughter, who gives me significant teasing - not only at home, but also at work now.
“It’s also exciting because the nature of the work we do is unpredictable. There’s nothing quite like it, and there’s so many opportunities to take in this organisation.
“I’ve been lucky enough to travel to both Namibia and Rwanda in Africa with Police and it’s made me realise just how lucky we are to be living in Aotearoa New Zealand. We should celebrate that.”
Katie, who graduated from Wing 356 last year, is loving the job her dad has enjoyed for nearly four decades.
“The best thing about working for Police is the diversity within the Police team and the diversity among the community we work with,” she says.
“Being able to help people the best we can is an everyday challenge but keeps me on my toes.”
Although he doesn’t have an iwi, Mike signs off his emails with the Police whakatauākā by Dr Apirana Mahuika: E tū ki te kei o te waka, kia pakia koe e ngā ngaru o te wā - Stand at the stern of the canoe and feel the spray of the future biting at your face.
To Mike this means: “We will have headwinds/obstacles/tough times but it’s important we keep looking ahead and staying the path, embrace the challenges both known and unknown.
“It’s exciting but challenging times ahead of us, but that’s why we choose to be leaders.”
The Bowman whānau cherish their time together during the holiday. They pay a night-time visit to Queens Park, Invercargill, and enjoy the light displays set up to tell the story of Matariki.
“I urge people to check out the beautiful light festival put on by the local community,” says Katie. “Each year they get more creative and it’s a perfect way to learn more with and from others and spend time with family.
“If you’re in the deep south I highly recommend gathering your whānau and taking a look at the hard work that they’ve put into the display.”
Mike agrees. “It’s really good to spend time with family and friends and take the time to go and explore and understand the meaning behind Matariki and how important it is to tangata whenua.”