December 15, 2023
Bell adds manaaki to police tool belt
A former teacher is encouraging other wahine Māori to join the police.
Police is looking to recruit 500 new officers.
Tui Baker signed on two years ago, after two decades teaching in the far north and south Auckland.
She says her life experience and the sticky situations she’s been in helps her on the job.
“You always have to look at it as ko te tuatahi, he Māori ahau. That’s how I go into all situations, first and foremost I’m a Māori person and I’m a reflection of Ngapuhi and Te Rarawa in everwthing I do. I just put that in the forefront of my thinking and manaaki our people, awhina our people and be empathetic,” Ms Bell says.
Tui Bell says when you are dealing with people at the worst times of their lives, it helps not to judge them but to think of the wider thinks that may have happened them and their whanau to bring them to that point.