The suicide prevention work of two Gisborne residents has been recognised by a national suicide prevention training programme Lifekeepers.

Each year the programme announces their Lifekeepers C.A.R.E. Heroes Awards, acknowledging the often-heroic commitment of ordinary people doing extraordinary things in suicide prevention.

Mates of Tairāwhiti trainer Matt Oakley and facilitator Ivan Maurirere have been recognised as Lifekeepers C.A.R.E. Heroes for 2023.

They were nominated by Hineiti Monika (Nate), a suicide prevention coordinator in Tairāwhiti.

“Matt and Ivan support people who are based in the Tairāwhiti workforce. Their roles vary from facilitators to web page  creators, to supporters of other people’s kaupapa, to sharing life experience, to being forward thinkers, to just having decent and sometimes difficult conversations with whānau about life,” Nate said in her nomination.

Announcing the award, Lifekeepers commended Matt and Ivan’s “incredible mahi that they do in the suicide prevention space”.

“These men go far beyond the norms of a 9-5 work day, to support those who need it.

“The devastating effects of Cyclone Gabrielle motivated Matt and Ivan to extend a support network designed to help tāne look after the whānau, and their wellbeing, in the wake of a natural disaster.”

Mates of Tairāwhiti is a  not-for-profit programme specialising in suicide prevention training in the workplace.

Over the past months, multiple severe weather events have caused significant impacts and pressure for communities, families and individuals. In response to this, Matt and Ivan have been delivering a new Mates Mana workshop at businesses across the region. This one-hour workshop focuses on self-care, stress management and resilience. It’s supported with funding from Eastland Group.

Matt Oakley has been a trainer for Mates of Tairāwhiti since 2019.

“It’s an honour to receive this award from Lifekeepers, and will hopefully help to highlight the vital, ongoing importance of checking in with mates and supporting them to find help if they need it.

“I love meeting people in new workplaces and having the chance to empower people with new levels of awareness and skills that I know will make a difference on a day-to-day basis, because I have seen it first-hand.”

Mates of Tairāwhiti facilitator Ivan Maurirere said he was humbled by the recognition.

“Being a former educator and truck driver, I entered this role primarily to help whānau who have been confronted with suicide. Through my own lived experience of loss through suicide, this was about trying to stop it happening again.

“I now find myself educating whānau on the importance of knowing simple things that can help our people look out for each other when suicide or suicidal thoughts are involved.

“We use the most common tools of korero (talk) whakarongo (listening) and whatumanawa (heart-felt) when confronted with anybody in this space or the mindset of suicide. To keep it simple, so another life can live for tomorrow.”

Businesses can find out about Mates of Tairāwhiti, and holding a Mates Mana workshop for their staff, at matesoftairawhiti.nz

• For more information on Lifekeepers go to www.lifekeepers.nz