SPECIAL REPORT: Part 2 of our reflections for the season - whanaungatanga/kinship is writ large in the inter-connectedness of two Wellington Police families.
You can read Part 1 here.
Clint and Cameron
Inspector Clint Walker - Rakai Paaka (Nuhaka), Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairoa, (Walker/Whaanga) Ngai Tamanuhiri, Rongowhakaata (Pohatu/Te Kauru) works in ReFrame in Strategy and Transformation at Police National Headquarters.
His son Cameron was not even born when Clint graduated from the Royal New Zealand Police College in 1998 – in fact, he was due on graduation day.
Now Cameron is following in his dad’s footsteps, working in Wellington after graduating from Wing 350 in February last year.
“Having Cam in the job is pretty special,” says Clint. “Matariki means we reflect on how whakapapa connections continue to motivate us as a whānau to recognise our responsibilities to Māori, both personally and professionally.
“The revitalisation of Matariki means another opportunity to grow our understanding of Te Ao Māori.
“It has been difficult to reconnect as my whānau moved from the hau kainga [true home] in the 1960s but events like Matariki create a time to reflect and realise just how important understanding our whakapapa is to our identity and how those connections activate our potential.”
Clint says his working relationship with Cam is far from a one-way street. “Cam often re-educates and reminds me as to the very demanding challenges for our operational frontline every day.
“The role that Cam and hundreds of his colleagues have today has many aspects that are familiar to me but is also very different to when I was in his shoes 25 years ago.”
The family’s policing DNA runs deep, into the era of the Armed Constabulary, before the formation of New Zealand Police in 1886.
“Our great, great, great, grandfather was a Ngāti Kahungunu rangatira (chief) named Ihaka Whaanga, who led Kahungunu forces who fought alongside the first Commissioner of Police George Whitmore during the long-running East Coast wars,” says Clint.
“It’s sobering and exciting to discover two of your tipuna actually signed te Tiriti o Waitangi – hence our reflection on those tohu compels us to think about responsibilities.
“During my time, Police has made huge shifts and it now feels ‘safer’ to acknowledge how important identity is to staff, enabling a focus on inclusiveness,” says Clint.
“We aren’t made in a ‘cop factory’… it’s OK to come from different backgrounds.”
In an illustration of whanaungatanga, or connectedness, within Police, Cam and Clint share whakapapa with some of their colleagues through-much loved nanny Tangi Walker (nee Tangohau), who has now passed over. Read on to find out more...
Asher and Te Pukenui
Tangi’s brother Timi Tangohau happens to be Asher Hauwaho’s grandfather.
“Essentially we are cousins,” says Asher of the Walkers. “I’ve worked alongside Clint over the years in the Hutt Valley and our connection only came to light recently.”
Asher (Ngati Awa, Ngai Tuhoe, Ngati Porou me Te Aitanga Hauiti) is acting Wellington District Māori Responsiveness Manager. He’s had 20 years continuous service, firstly as a frontline officer (Wing 216, graduated March 2004) and in a non-constabulary role for the past decade.
Following in his footsteps is his son Te Pukenui, who graduated in February 2022 in Wing 350 alongside Cam Walker. It was special for both dads.
“It is cool that my son and I can share some stories about work, keep up with the operational changes and demands on the frontline that our organisation has been through since I graduated,” says Asher.
“Te Pukenui was seven years old when he watched me graduate. A particularly proud moment for my wife and I was to watch our son lead the wing haka at his graduation.”
Te Pukenui says he has a good grounding in both the Māori and pākehā worlds. “I was raised and educated in kohanga reo, kura kaupapa and spent my final year at Te Aute College.
“I can walk comfortably in Te Ao Māori and in the modern world, which is a positive advantage in this job.”
He is based in the Hutt Valley, the area his father started working in and the area where they were both born.
Te Pukenui has two tamariki, aged four and 18 months old. Maybe they will join too one day.
“What Matariki means for our whānau is the opportunity to keep connected and celebrate what we have,” says Asher.
“I often wonder what the world will look like for our mokopuna (grandchildren). The mokopuna concept is often spoken about by the elders. The timeline around mokopuna is infinite, we are mokopuna, we may have mokopuna and we can reflect about our whakapapa.
“I am the first in our whānau [in Police] and I am proud that Te Pukenui has followed this career path and proud of the organisation we serve.”