To nominate an Unsung Hero for their community service and for terms and conditions go to: www.unsungheroes.org.nz
His job is to enforce sentences handed down by judges, but Adrian Butler's philosophy is to see people "for who they are, not what they have done".
The New Lynn Corrections Department community work supervisor says that although those under his charge have no choice in the matter, his aim is to nurture self-respect and teach them life skills to make them less likely to re-offend.
"They have got to be here but that doesn't mean we have to make it hard on them," he said yesterday while supervising five young offenders preparing to re-paint a Henderson Scout hall.
Mr Butler has been nominated for the Herald's Unsung Heroes series for inspiring his teams to high standards of work for non-profit establishments, including the Motu Moana Scout Camp in Green Bay, where he spends two days each week.
The series recognises the contributions of nominees to their communities, and five will be chosen to go on a P&O winter cruise. Scout camp activities director Tony Waring said in nominating Mr Butler that he went above and beyond the call of duty with his commitment to improving the camp and in the degree of effort he put into positively influencing those working under him.
"Under the excellent direction of Adrian, we have been able to undertake several construction projects that have made the camp a better place for the many different kinds of groups that use it."
These included the renovation of an outdoor chapel and the construction of a barbecue area, garden and flying fox.
"Without the construction expertise of Adrian, we could not have taken on such projects ourselves and the offenders would have missed out on some valuable practical experience," Mr Waring said.
"He gets the most out of the guys with his straight talking and humorous approach and it is a pleasure to work alongside him."
Mr Butler, a grandfather of four, protested he wanted to remain "unsung" and played down earlier careers in the Army and the police.
He said he loved his job, in which his strategy was to lead by example.
"I don't teach them, I show them," he said.
That means he is often first up a ladder to clean a roof, or showing his workers how to mix cement, and he enjoys allowing them well-earned treats such as rides on the new flying fox.
He said that once he broke through negative attitudes, which he blames partly on American "gangsta" culture, young offenders were usually quick to respond to his low-key approach to enforcing their sentences.
"Every day when we come to work in the morning, there are new people and they are not talking, but on our way back in the van it's so noisy with all the guys talking."
Mr Butler, who said he learned strong family values during his childhood in rural Waikato, is an active figure at Hoani Waititi Marae in Oratia and gives his community workers impromptu lessons in te reo Maori as they go about their tasks.
The Unsung Community Heroes series is run annually in the The Herald and on nzherald.co.nz in partnership with P&O Cruises. We invited nominations from readers to recognise people who selflessly work to make a difference in their local communities.
Some will be selected to feature in the paper and on nzherald.co.nz. Five will be chosen to join a P&O winter cruise.
