Mr Frisby said he had spent too much time in prison, but had turned his life around, through help from programmes run by A3 Kaitiaki, a subsidiary of the Otakou runanga. John Gibb reports.
The tempo of Wayne Frisby’s work schedule changed quickly earlier this week.
A cook employed in the Otakou marae kitchen, Mr Frisby (57) on Tuesday morning had been preparing about 20 meals, mainly to feed young men attending a scheduled tikanga group, focusing on Maori customs and values.
While more than 50 people were searching for his work colleague Nic Hedley,
Mr Frisby turned his attention to cooking for them. Mr Frisby had worked alongside Ms Hedley at the marae for the past six months.
He said he had spent too much time in prison, particularly for drug offending, had wanted to make a change, and regretted his mistakes.
His life had since been turned around through his involvement with the Otakou runanga (tribal council), and programmes, including a tikanga programme, offered at the Otago Corrections Facility in Milton.
He had also undertaken a wider-ranging programme through Project Kete, which was also organised through runanga subsidiary A3 Kaitiaki Ltd (A3K).
His work in the kitchen over the past three years, and his contributions to tikanga groups, were "part of a process, and what I do to give back".
"It’s helping me.
"This group has had faith in me. This is my way of showing I’m worthy to have faith in."
He focused mainly on preparing simple, tasty meals — "meat and veg".
Ms Hedley’s body was found on Goat Island on Tuesday afternoon. Mr Frisby paid tribute to Ms Hedley, who was marae administrator and kitchen co-ordinator, and what he had learnt from her.
She was a highly skilled baker, and although he was well below her level, he had learnt to bake several items.
She had always been "very organised, very happy" to work with.
After an often turbulent earlier life, he felt at peace in the marae kitchen and was happy to help others.
He spoke to younger people taking part in the tikanga groups, about the benefits of the Maori culture and values, and making a positive change.
Runanga and A3K manager Michelle Taiaroa-McDonald said Mr Frisby had made "exceptional" progress, based on his own decision to change, and support from programmes.
More than 100 people a year participated in various A3K programmes, including support for whanau, and violence reduction work.
Long-term serious reoffenders were often "pretty amazing victim-making machines" and the programmes helped reduce the number of victims.
A research paper written by Mrs Taiaroa-McDonald, police and a University of Otago economist in 2014, showed more than $190,000 had been saved since 2012 through reduced reoffending among men supported by Project Kete.
A3K worked closely with southern district police, who strongly supported the organisation’s work, she said.
