Mike Tahere - Senior Constable and New Years honours recipient
IPA Region Four member Mike Tahere is a community cop who has devoted his life to policing, kapa haka, and children’s activities. This has earned him a QSM (Queens Service Medal) in the New Years honours list. Mike was “embarrassed, but pleasantly surprised” by the announcement, which honours his thirty years of policing, and volunteer work.
Mike’s family of five children and six grandchildren are proud of his achievements and he is also supported by his wife Yvonne who we featured in a previous issue of IPA (Issue One 2005). Mike is aligned with Otaki-Kapiti kapa haka schools festivals and over the years, his involvement has helped to see the event rise in popularity and bring the community closer together.
This year will bring many more challenges for Mike, as he will be busy setting up Blue Light events, more kapa haka festivals, pool parties, traffic patrols and encouraging bands in primary schools, where they are not supported at the moment. Under the scheme, musical equipment will be made available to children from less privileged backgrounds, so they can have the chances that they wouldn’t normally due to expenses.
Two years ago Mike helped to take 60 children to Surfers Paradise in Australia, as part of kapa haka. The kids are from Te Korowai Whaka-mana, Otaki’s Maori immersion unit headed by Yvonne.
The QSM has recognised the work he has done on educating parents and other members of the community on the dangers of the drug “P” (methamphetamine). “P certainly destroys families”, says Mike. Mike has had his “fair share of negative experiences” over the years dealing with the everyday aspects of policing, so it he is thrilled to be experiencing such a positive outcome from his policing.
IPA Region Four member Mike Tahere