Mariam Arif
Auckland, June 19, 2021
My whakapapa is from the Middle East, but I grew up in the North Shore in Auckland.
The North Shore however is not my Turangawaewae; Hamilton is. I found myself there in my mid-20s, and it grounded me; Hamilton opened my eyes and my heart to Te Ao Maori.
It connected me to this whenua, taught me my reo, and challenged my mindset.
My Haerenga (journey) in New Zealand Police began in 2017 at the Auckland-based North Comms, where I spent three years.
Reflections and Responsibility
I was the only one in hijab (the veil) in the entire organisation during that time, nationwide. It made me reflect on why I was there, and the responsibility I held.
How am I privileged; you may ask? I hold a Bachelor of Communications and a postgraduate in Interpreting and come from a long line of highly educated forefathers, where not going to University was never an option.
I was blessed with a sharp mind and an equally expressive tongue, and an undeniable confidence in who I was for which I stood.
My English was proficient enough not to make me feel alienated in society; I even published a novel at 18, and never struggled to achieve success due to lack of resources.
Enhanced family values
My five siblings and I were raised in a stable home, with two parents. We were never at risk of being homeless or left to wonder where our next meal would come from. Because of our tertiary degrees, we certainly were not left jobless or financially dependent.
We learnt and spoke our mother tongue, Arabic, without being whipped for speaking it. We kept our culture and faith alive at home without being penalised for it.
I have never been in a war zone or forced to leave my land against my will.
In the 1990s, New Zealand called for skilled immigrants to come to New Zealand, and my parents answered that call voluntarily.
Joining the New Zealand Police made me realise that all the unearned benefits into which I was born. I had a moral duty to contribute for changing any injustices in our current system.
There will be lonely times in your Haerenga, and you will encounter turbulence that makes you question why you were even on that journey; but it is crucial to harness the things that set you apart and embrace the wave of opportunities that inevitably present to you.
Role of influence in MPES
One such opportunity for me was to join the Police MPES team, as an Ethnic Liaison.
In this space, I am an influencer; I advocate for and support tangible outcomes for ethnic communities in Auckland.
I am also able to stay connected to Te Ao Maori, which is my happy place.
Naku Te Raurau, Nau Te Raurau, Ka Ora Ai Te Iwi: With my basket and your basket the People will be well (The best outcomes for people is when we join our efforts).
Constable Mariam Arif is Ethnic Liaison Officer at the MPES Team of New Zealand Police based in Auckland. The above article appeared in ‘Ten One Magazine.’
