Past winner reflects on his year
Before the annual Taranaki Daily News Person of the Year kicks off on Monday, Tara Shaskey sits down with 2019 winner Dinnie Moeahu.
‘‘One day your children will stop following your advice and start following your example.’’
Like a true leader, Dinnie Moeahu doesn’t shy away from a challenge. In fact, he welcomes them. Which is fortunate as 2020 has been full of challenges for the New Plymouth district councillor.
Last year, Moeahu was named 2019 Taranaki Daily News Person of the Year for his mammoth campaign which raised more than $100,000 for the Little Fighters Trust to buy a room at Ronald McDonald House.
His target was $80,000 which meant there was money left over to help Taranaki families.
But as the two-year journey wrapped up, Moeahu was left with a huge void.
The man who has always found joy from being in service began looking at how else he could advocate for his community. Cue local body politics.
It’s not something Moeahu ever saw himself pursuing, but nonetheless, he did, and he ran a successful campaign in 2019 for a spot on the New Plymouth District Council, becoming one of six fresh faces at the council table.
A little more than a year into the role, and he’s ‘‘absolutely loving it’’. But it hasn’t been without its challenges (there’s that word again).
Moeahu lists the undertaking of developing the district’s LongTerm Plan, educating the community around the Ma¯ori ward, and dealing with Covid-19 as a council as genuine tests of leadership.
Still, the elected leaders have proven themselves up for the job, he reckons, praising the group and its diversity.
‘‘Experience combined with this new progressive energy,’’ he says.
Moeahu’s own devotion to his community absorbs any free time he has. After being elected, he was working between 90 and 100 hours every week in order to meet his obligations both as a councillor and in his role as business development manager at Latitude Financial Services.
But, really, there was no ‘‘balance’’ and something had to give.
So, earlier this month, he resigned from his corporate job to focus on his role as an elected official.
‘‘The choice was, do I stay with my career and resign as a councillor, or do I stay as a councillor and resign from my career?
‘‘The decision was a family decision. And it came down to how much I care about my community.’’
Despite there being a drop in his family’s income, a weight has lifted from Moeahu.
‘‘Balance is more important and working incredibly hard for my community is more important.’’
He now also has more time to spend with his wife, Sonya, and their tamariki, Christian, 13, and Kaia, 11. Moeahu and Sonya are also fulltime caregivers for Sonya’s sister, Melissa, who has Rett syndrome. Covid has been an anxious time for the wha¯nau who have had to take extra precautions to keep Melissa, who has a weakened immune system, safe. Moeahu is also grappling with the ill health of his mother.
‘‘There’re personal struggles that we’re working through as a family. ‘‘But as a family unit, it only strengthens our resolve to overcome our adversities.’’ Through it all, the driver for Moeahu, who has whakapapa links ¯TeA to tiawa, Taranaki, Nga¯ruahine and Nga¯ti Porou, has been to set a positive example for Christian and Kaia.
‘‘One day your children will stop following your advice and start following your example,’’ he quotes.
And Moeahu is testament of that.
Through his upbringing he was surrounded by many role models who exuded selflessness and strong work ethic. He says one of those examples was his father, Peter Moeahu.
His dad taught him the pathway to leadership is through service.
‘‘And that’s all I’ve done all my life . . . it’s so fulfilling.’’
The five finalists for the Taranaki Daily News 2020 Person of the Year will be announced each day from Monday, December 28. The winner will be announced on Saturday, January 2.