Puhiwaiora Ngawaka

Hapu/Iwi: Ngaati Maniapoto, Ngai Tamanuhiri , Ngati Rehua

TAaR Value that Interests me :
Rangatahi Ki Rangatahi – Growing up my experiences with teachers and adults weren’t as effective as my interaction with siblings and whanau closer to my age. Some of my best learning and experiences have come from my older brothers and cousins.
Both in school and out of school I didnt really listen or respect many adults because I felt slow or stupid, with my brothers and cousins, they would do things like, tell me I’m stupid, as they do, but they wouldn’t leave me until they knew I understood. I have experienced first hand positive differences rangatahi can make on other rangatahi.

Somethings about myself:
I’m the living version of the word ‘Tutu’. I like to do anything and everything that looks fun or exciting.

Play pretty much any sport but love contact sports.

The saying, “ It takes a village to raise a child. “ is probably the most realist thing I’ve experienced in my growing up back home in the King Country.

Experience at TAaR
I first joined TAaR in 2018, my last year of high school, as a volunteer tuakana for a SYNERGY Wananga, held during the school holidays.

Following that I slowly took on more and more leadership roles for the next 3 years including Lead / Support Lead roles in Synergy and Sisters In Arms Support Groups, done 1 on 1 mentoring with young wahine in kura, become Lead for Tu Maia wananga, and went on to facilitating Peer Education classes in kura. I am now a full time employee of TAaR as a Peer Educator / Sexual Health Promoter.