This article by Kristie Boland was originally published in Bay Harbour News.

Jordan Paulsen is a Lyttelton man through and through.

A hard worker, volunteer and coach, Paulsen has a connection that runs deep with the port-side town and its community.

Born and bred in Lyttelton, with both Ngai Tahu whakapapa and Norwegian ancestry, the 32-year-old is committed to contributing where he can.

“My commitment and my love for this community is unmatched, I wear that with pride,” said Paulsen.

“For me, growing up in Lyttelton, it’s always been a hardworking blue-collar town, everyone looks out for one another.”

Paulsen had leadership instilled into him from a young age, being the eldest of five siblings.

When he was old enough, he caught the bus to Linwood High School. At 15, he left school for his first job at Stark Brothers on the dry dock.

“I didn’t really have a choice when I was younger, I had to start working . . . I wasn’t cut out for the classroom. I had the education of life,” he said.

Growing up, Paulsen would spend every Friday night at the Lyttelton Youth programme.

“As a kid that was always so exciting for us, that we could go there on a Friday night and be safe.”

“There was a lot of guys going down different paths where I guess having sports and having good leaders kept us together, on the right track,” he said.

Paulsen sees his time with the Lyttelton Youth programme as instrumental in shaping who is now.

“I would speak on behalf of a lot of boys from my generation, we were fortunate that we had good role models that kept us in line.”

One of those role models and youth leaders was his cousin, Joseph Tyro, now director for Māori Health at the South Canterbury District Health Board.

“When Joey talks you listen, when he walks you follow, I’ve always admired that and wanted to be like that,” said Paulsen.

“If I can be half that man, I’d be pretty happy.”

Tyro has been Paulen’s biggest advocate, describing him as a natural leader.

“Jordan has a genuine love and commitment to the people and community he was raised in. He has a great relationship and connection with the young and older generations,” Tyro said.

At 18, Paulsen decided it was time to leave his beloved town and go and see the world.

“It becomes quite a cycle in a small town, you’re very sheltered and a lot of it becomes head noise, you start making bad decisions. I was at that point at 18 that I knew I had to leave.”

Paulsen lived in Sydney for 10 years where he started his own carpet and flooring business before returning home to Lyttelton in 2019.

“To see the world through different lenses is invaluable [but] I think I had a calling to come home.

When Paulsen returned, he continued his carpeting business until an opportunity to work at the Lyttelton Port Company arose.

“To be fair, it was probably inevitable. I’m a generational wharfie, my father, my grandfather, my great-grandfather they’ve all been there.”

Growing up with a community of volunteers, coaches and leaders, Paulsen felt it was his duty to do the same.

“I always wanted to fulfil the duty of what I had in front of me as a kid – good people, volunteers, rugby coaches, youth workers – and I’m in a position now where I feel I can give back.”

Paulsen believes that is what the foundation of Lyttelton is all about.

“Volunteering and helping the community, that’s been the pillars of this town, which has been installed in me to continue,” he said.

Paulsen volunteered for the Lyttelton Youth programme and still helps out there when he can. He also volunteered at the local fire brigade and now does a weekly round of Meals on Wheels for the elderly.

“That’s something that my nan and grandad did. I promised my nan when she passed away that I would continue doing it.”

Paulsen is also part of Rāpaki tangata tiatki, a group that looks after the preservation and conservation of the ocean for Lyttelton.

But his biggest passion is coaching the under-15 Lyttelton rugby team.

He is there for the team both on and off the field, just as his coaches were for him.

“I understand boys of that age, there’s no point shouting at them, you have to get down on their level and get involved.”

“That’s the beauty of sport, I want these boys to continue playing for Lyttelton and I want to be with them on that journey.”

Paulsen has settled in Lyttelton now and has no plans to leave. He has been encouraged by both Tyro and his uncle, former National MP Nuk Korako, to consider working towards a future in local council or the community board.

“In the two years that I’ve been able to do all these things it’s made me think maybe I could push for a position in that environment. It’s just an interest at the moment,” said Paulsen.

Tyro said that more Māori needed to be supported and encouraged into leadership and local government positions.

“I don’t think we have any Māori on the local community board. If this is something Jordan would like to pursue – I would support him 100 per cent.”

Korako said: “Jordan works hard to understand the Māori world and is on a journey to understand his heritage.

“This manifests itself within his life through the community service that he performs for his rūnanga at Rāpaki, Lyttelton and the surrounding areas.”