Trustee Voice: A Change in Direction

Posted on: 28/02/22

I have been a trustee of NCF for approximately four years. When I first joined NCF’s board I was a civil litigation lawyer fresh out of Auckland after moving to Whangarei Heads in search of a better lifestyle. If someone had told me then, that within four years of my move I would suffer a marriage breakdown, be living on a piece of land with very basic accommodation, and leave the legal profession, I would have immediately frozen in Auckland in fear that something terribly awful was going to happen. But it didn’t…

Growing up and having whanau roots near the Waitakere Rangers allowed me to realise a connection with New Zealand’s native bush from an early age. Hikes with my Grandad in my younger years led to bush walks, treks and trail running in my adult years. Spending time in the bush always gave me a good physical workout, some peaceful space for mindfulness, and a sense of comfort that everything, at least for that moment in time, was okay. Now, after having the privilege of living not far from the Bream Head (Te Whara) Scenic Reserve, my appreciation of the bush has turned into a fierce love.

An energy exudes from Te Whara which I only assume manifests from its mana with local iwi and the aroha this maunga has received from the community, working for over 20 years to bring it back to its beautiful natural state. I have spent many an hour in the reserve - for pleasure and spiritual sustenance in difficult times. I am forever indebted for its beauty and guidance. Always enjoying team sporting activities and community work, I was a volunteer firefighter for seven years, and coached netball teams prior to having children and studying law. When I moved to the Heads in 2017 with two young boys and a promising legal career, I felt a responsibility to use the skills and knowledge I had obtained for something other than making a dollar.

And so, I made a conscious decision to ‘give back’ to the three loves in my life: my children; the Bream Head Scenic Reserve; and my Northland’s communities. Before long, I signed up as a nippers coach, I enrolled as a trapper for the Bream Head Conservation Trust (BCHT), and I accepted a position on Northland Community Foundation’s board of trustees. The last three years for me, like so many others, have been extremely busy, and hard. As a dispute resolution / civil litigation lawyer, my job was to resolve problems using the arm of the law, which I found a difficult and flawed system. Although I had growth and success in my career, the pandemic, a marriage separation and parenting two energetic boys led me to seek a new line of work. Around the same time, I spoke with Adam, the incredibly fantastic project manager/ranger at BCHT, about possibly taking up more volunteer work for the BCHT. I had worked in the legal profession in some shape or form since I was 19 years old and I knew nothing else so changing careers was a big decision. I struggled with misplaced feelings of failure, until I could finally say to myself two things: being a lawyer does not define who I am; and, my skills and contributions are just as valuable, whether used in legal battle or not.

And so, in December 2021 I took up employment with the Northland Regional Council. I forgot that there were just as many jokes about council workers as there are lawyers, but regardless of mindset having a positive impact on my children
and my trustee duties for NCF and BCHT. I am currently assisting the BCHT establish an endowment fund with NCF which will provide ongoing and sustainable income, allowing BCHT’s mahi to continue for years to come. I am also now finally able to invest some time in becoming acquainted with te ao Māori and te reo. I spent a number of my childhood years growing up in a community with a high Māori population. After law school gave me a more accurate version
of Aotearoa’s history that I had never been taught before, making me feel somewhat ashamed of my lineage (and by proxy myself), I was imprinted with a greater respect and understanding of my Māori friends, colleagues, and communities.

I hope to bring greater value to Northland and the organisations I am affiliated with by nurturing relationships with iwi and hapu, which I see as key to the success and wellbeing of Northland’s communities going forward. During these times, there is a lot to question. A karakia I have recently come across has stayed with me, which I have also been using as my personal guide for successful relationships.

I thank te ao Maori for this simple guidance:

Mā te titiro
Mā te whakarongo
Mā te mahi tahi
Mā te whakamomori
Mā te aroha
Ka taea e mātou

By believing and trusting
By having faith and hope
By looking and searching
By listening and hearing
By working and striving together
By sheer desire and determination
By all being done with compassion
We will succeed

For the last four years, I spent my professional days dealing with broken relationships in their rawest form. Being the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff was tough, and I learned a lot about the actions, inactions, and personality types which are harmful to relationships of any kind. On the other hand, I also learned the critical importance of trust, respect, honesty
and effective communication in successful relationships.

Article written by Nicola Hartwell (Trustee of Northland Community Foundation).

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Trustee Voice: A Change in Direction

Posted on: 28/02/22

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