Christchurch barber Mataio (Matt) Brown wrote She is Not Your Rehab with his wife Sarah. They discuss the book and the global anti-violence movement it has spawned at 2021 WORD Christchurch.

Christchurch barber Mataio (Matt) Brown wrote the best-selling book She is Not Your Rehab with his wife Sarah.

The couple spoke to Phil Borell about the book and the global anti-violence movement it has spawned at 2021 WORD Christchurch.

Listen to the conversation

Find She Is Not Your Rehab on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

Matt Brown is famous not only for the local barber's shop he runs in Christchurch but for the quality of the conversations he has with his clients.

Matt and his wife Sarah are both deeply involved in a range of programmes dealing with those in prison and on the margins of society. Together they wrote the book She Is Not Your Rehab to help break generational cycles of abuse.

During this conversation, Matt reads from a letter, included in the book, that outlines the kaupapa for his work with men whose troubled behaviour reflects their troubled upbringings.

Read / Listen: The barber helping break cycles of violence (Nine to Noon, July 2021)

Matt Brown:

A letter to my brother.

When you told me that you wished you could tell me everything, but you couldn't possibly because it would test even the limits of my love, my heart was still, my brother. So still, so quiet.

You said bro if I told you you'd walk like everyone else.

But if only you knew that when I think of why I even barber at all I think of men like you. If only you knew that it's the shame you push down that whispers in your ear telling you I'd leave if I knew. Because if the truth whispered, it would tell you nothing you could ever tell me would change my mind about you, because I see you. And when I see you, I don't see the gangster, I see a little boy sleeping on the bedsprings because your father deemed you unworthy to sleep on a mattress. I've always seen him.

So, when I cut your hair, I'm cutting that little boy's hair and with every snip, I'm telling him he's worthy.

You are worthy little one. Snip snip

You are worthy of healing. Snip snip

You are worthy of belonging. Snip snip.

You are worthy to be known. Snip snip.

You are worthy to exist. Snip snip.

You are worthy to be loved.

You epitomise the reason I do this at all when you come into the barbershop and sit in my chair, I feel you exhale.

I exhale too, and suddenly you aren't in my chair in the barbershop, you are lying on those bedsprings in a dark room and I'm sitting on the end of your bed with you.

I see your tears, but I don't hear them…

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details