Hastings man Allan Brown walks the talk of the Fire Service’s vision- 'To work with communities to protect what they value'.

The te reo Māori champion and senior firefighter was instrumental in Hastings Fire Brigade winning this year’s Ngā Tohu Reo Māori Award: Government category. Sponsored by Te Puni Kōkiri, the award recognised the Brigade’s leadership in promoting te reo Māori literacy amongst Hawke's Bay Regional Prison inmates. It also celebrated Allan’s voluntary mahi at the Flaxmere Boxing Academy promoting te reo amongst rangatahi.

Community education programmes enabling members to keep themselves safe from fires and other dangers are a key part of the fire brigade’s mandate. So when Allan moved from Gisborne to Hastings he saw an opportunity to make a difference by delivering a te reo Māori literacy programme for prison inmates that would include some aspects of fire safety. With the support of Mangaroa Prison management and Allan’s manager, Darren Clarke, the first class started in April and finished on 13 June with a graduation ceremony. The programme is continuing with Allan travelling to Mangaroa once a week to tutor ngā mauhere (the prisoners). He says it’s clear the effects of the programme extend beyond the prison walls and into the community.

“Because of its distance from us, our (Fire Service) response times to fires and other emergencies in the Flaxmere area is not the best and so we need to be more proactive in delivering fire safety messages in this community. We are also aware that many of the inmates families relocate themselves around Mangaroa Prison to be closer to their husbands or sons. The two ways [for our messages] to reach these families are through the contact that their fathers have with them and through our fire wise school programmes,” explains Allan.

“Our involvement in Mangaroa with these mauhere recognises the vulnerability and pressure that these families are under and we do as much as we can to keep them safe.

The children of ngā mauhere get books and toys sent out to them so that they and their dads can have a conversation in te reo Māori about keeping themselves safe from fires and other dangers.”

Allan’s inspiring voluntary work in his community was recognised in June when he was awarded the 2013 Minister of Health Volunteer Award by Health Minister Tony Ryall. However, Allan says he’s the one who’s reaping the benefits of volunteering. “Personally, this te reo Māori literacy programme has been the most rewarding project that I have been involved in. The Hastings Fire Brigade is also pleased with this award as it shows our ongoing commitment to work with our communities to protect what they value.”

Caption: Michelle Hippolite with Allan Brown and members of the Hastings Fire Brigade Credit: Photo courtesy of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori