Turoa Stephens
Read about one of our most talented young owners. Turoa is an expert kapahaka performer and passionate rugby player. We are proud to say we supported his participation in the recent National Kapahaka secondary schools competition.
Horoirangi te Maunga
Wakapuaka te Whenua
Wakapuaka anō te Awa
Ngāti Tama te Iwi
Te Puoho te Tangata
Ko wai au i mua o to koutou aroaro, ko Turoa Stephens tōku nei ingoa.
What most motivates you to do what you do?
Ko ngā mea pai ki ahau, tūatahi te kemu takāro whitupaoro, tūarua ko ngā mahi a Rehia me Tāne Rore. 
What are the goals you most want to accomplish in life?
Kia eke ki te tima o pango!
Where did you grow up?
I whanau mai au i te whenua o tō tātou tūpuna i Delaware Bay. I tupu ake au i te tāone o Whakatū
Where did you go to secondary school?
I te tau 2008 e haere ana a māua ki Te Wharekura o Rakaumangamanga e noho ana māua ki waenganui i ta mātou whanau ki Rahuipōkeka. He tino kaha rawa ki te whakāko i ō tātou Reo Rangatira i reira. Aua atu mahi - i tākaro rīki, mahi kapa haka, mahi waka ama, mahi Poukai, mahi Koroneihana me era atu mahi ki reira. I te tau 2012 e hoki māua ki Whakatū mō ngā mahi NCEA ki te Kura Tamatāne o Whakatū.
Where are you currently studying?
He tauira i te Kura Tamatāne o Whakatu
Do you have any key mentors or people who influence you?
Te mihi tūatahi ki te Matua nui i Te Rangi ko ia te tīmatanga me te whakamutunga ō ngā mea katoa. Tūarua ki tōku whaea he tino kaha ia kia ū ki ngā mahi katoa e pa ana ki Te Ao Māori.
Tell us about kapahaka
I te tau 2000 i tīmata ai māua ki te mahi kapa haka o te karapu Te Whatukura, Ko Whaea Tania Alesana tētehi Kaiako i whakāko i a mātou i taua wā.
Ā tōna wā Ko Matua Wayne Hippolite
rāua ko Tom Alesana e whakāko ki a mātou.
I te wā e haere ana māua ki Rahuipōkeka
ngā whakāko kapa haka ki reira, Ko Whaea Matehaere me
Whaea Tarms, Matua Ora Kihi rāua Ko Whaea Leilani mō te
Kapa haka o Te Wharekura o Rakaumangamanga.
I te tau 2011, i eke māua ki te kapa haka o Te Ao,
Te Matatini ki Tūranga-nui-a-kiwa, he tino hīkaka ahau i taua wā!
I te tau 2013 e eke anō ki te Ao kapa haka o Te Matatini ki Rotorua.
Do you have a favourite whakatauki?
Whāia te iti kahurangi ki te tūohu koe me he maunga teitei
What are the special skills you have used to succeed?
Taku mōhiotanga me ngā māramatanga o Te Reo Māori.
What has your journey taught you about being Maori?
Kia mau ki ngā taonga i tuku iho ō okū tūpuna. A tōnā wā , kia whakāko Te Reo Māori me ngā mahi a Rehia me Tāne Rore ki ōku Iwi.
What are the benefits and challenges for NRAIT and its owners?
Ngā hua uaua – Me whakāko tō tātou Reo Rangatira.
What’s next for you in your life? What are you looking forward to?
A tērā tau e heke mai, I hainatia ahau te kirimana whutuporo o Waikato, kātahi ka haere au ki te Whare Wānanga o Waikato, kia eke ki te matauranga Māori ki reira.