Maori man Rah Tamati draws crowd outside Southport court

Smiles are often in short supply outside Southport Courthouse, but a Gold Coast Maori man is doing his part to change that.

SMILES are often in short supply outside Southport Courthouse, but a Gold Coast Maori man hopes to turn the tide.

Rah Tamati was spotted across the road from the courts on Wednesday, jiving along to tribal tunes belting from a portable speaker strapped to his body.

The self-described native healer and cleanser said he wanted to bring “a little light” into the lives of people facing court, particularly those accused or convicted of cannabis possession.

Gold Coast Maori man Rah Tamati is a self-described “native healer”.

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“Too many people are getting charged with small offences,” he said.

“It’s a waste of court time catching people for joints, or small amounts of marijuana.”

One observant fellow watching on as the Gold Coast Bulletin spoke to Mr Tamati chimed in: “It (cannabis) kills the same number of people as unicorns each year”.

Hard to miss, Mr Tamati mostly drew smiles and encouraging comments from curious pedestrians passing by on Hinze Street.

However, Mr Tamati may already be a familiar face to many Gold Coasters.

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Mr Tamati has drawn smiles from curious pedestrians outside court. Photos Scott Fletcher

He was photographed front and centre at a Haka performed on the beach at Surfers Paradise on Sunday as a tribute to victims of last week’s Christchurch massacre.

“I’m vibrating. I’m dancing and spreading the love,” Mr Tamati said. “Sending the message among our people that we don’t always have to be at a lower vibration of sadness and sorrow.

“We can lift our vibrations through happiness and love, spread that light in the courthouse. I’m sharing the love.”

Mr Tamati said he hoped to show those walking by a “different way of life”.