If ever there was a reluctant student trainee, it would have to be Zinzan Coxhead.
During our first get-together, Zinzan asked not to be interviewed on video. I assured him that was perfectly fine and he requested an audio interview instead. He was okay with that, and we got chatting but his answers to questions were a little stilted and he seemed as though he didn’t really want to be on site.
He thought he had made a mistake in volunteering for the work experience programme. I pressed on, and when he answered, Zinzan's intelligence beamed through his shy nature.
It didn’t take long before we found some common ground.
When I asked about his background, he told me he was part Māori and part Tahitian. That is where most conversations would end about his Tahitian heritage because not too many Kiwis know much about Tahiti. "Where in Tahiti?" I asked. He said he’s from Raiatea. I said with enthusiasm, "I know where that is! Raiatea is 10km from Bora Bora and I had flown over it on the way to Huahine and Mo’orea!"
I shared how Raiatea is very important to Samoans because that's where the missionaries came from that took the Christian gospel to Samoa in 1830 on the boat the Messenger of Peace. For that reason, the largest Christian denomination in Samoa, the Samoa Christian Congregational Church is also known as the Lotu Ta’iti, or church from Tahiti. All because of Raiatea the second largest island in the Society group of islands that includes Tahiti, Mo’orea, Huahine, and Bora Bora. Samoan church ministers over the years have been making pilgrimages to Raiatea as the origin of the church in Samoa.
Zinzan looked up with a glint of recognition in his eyes. He was right on point when he responded: "Outside of Tahiti, Mo’orea and Bora Bora there are not many travellers that know about Raiatea."
Not only did I know my history but also the geography, as I organise annual swims in Tahiti, Mo’orea and Bora Bora in my spare time, and I know that one day in the future, we could do a swim between Raiatea and Bora Bora.
The people of Bora Bora and Raiatea were the original settlers of Hawai’i and in later years the Tangata-Whenua-o-Aotearoa. And a connection with James Cook's first visit to Aotearoa New Zealand in 1769, on the Endeavour, was celebrated Polynesian explorer and historian Tupaia who was of Raiatea nobility. What's more, the island of Raiatea is found to be the Hawaiki of ancient legend, the home of the Māori. This is where the spirits of Tangata Māori make their way after death to rest in their spiritual home of Hawaiki in the sacred surrounds of Taputapuatea marae. Today, we say 'Tahiti' to describe every island in the Society group. It became so with the onset of European discovery and trade. Raiatea, of ancient days, was the sacred centre of eastern Polynesia.
Zinzan is a true blue Polynesian with links to Māori history - and there aren't many people who can speak English, Tahitian and French!
Zinzan was beaming because someone knew of his immense wealth of heritage. The answers came easily now.
“My goal is to have more experience that can help with my future, my CV, and to learn new skills that can help me in the future.”
Zinzan is enjoying being part of the Onehunga High School's construction course where they're building a house. He was expecting his work experience to be similar to this, at a construction site building houses, not in large spaces of land being developed. But, during his two weeks, Zinzan saw the importance of what we do here, and the wider need of staff in the construction industry, which also align with his goals for the future:
“Construction is really important, and a great way to learn useful skills and experience There seems to be a demand for construction workers. My number one goal is to get an apprenticeship and hope to qualify as a carpenter. It’s important for a young person to get out there, have a go, and learn a trade in a place like this.” He added.
Fast forward to graduation day at the end of his work experience and Zinzan is truly going to miss working at Piritahi, Ōwairaka.
“I just want to say thank you. I really enjoyed the last two weeks of work experience. I would consider a job in this workspace.”
Katie Dobson (from Kāinga Ora - Homes and Communities) and I were taken aback at his words - we couldn't believe that that they were coming from the same student who seemed so reluctant with his answers one day one of the programme!
We love that the Mahi Ora work experience programme opens students up to possibilities for their futures that they might have previously not considered. It just goes to show that there is always something to be said for real world learning.
If ever there was a reluctant student trainee, it would have to be Zinzan Coxhead.
During our first get-together, Zinzan asked not to be interviewed on video. I assured him that was perfectly fine and he requested an audio interview instead. He was okay with that, and we got chatting but his answers to questions were a little stilted and he seemed as though he didn’t really want to be on site.
He thought he had made a mistake in volunteering for the work experience programme. I pressed on, and when he answered, Zinzan's intelligence beamed through his shy nature.
It didn’t take long before we found some common ground.
When I asked about his background, he told me he was part Māori and part Tahitian. That is where most conversations would end about his Tahitian heritage because not too many Kiwis know much about Tahiti. "Where in Tahiti?" I asked. He said he’s from Raiatea. I said with enthusiasm, "I know where that is! Raiatea is 10km from Bora Bora and I had flown over it on the way to Huahine and Mo’orea!"
I shared how Raiatea is very important to Samoans because that's where the missionaries came from that took the Christian gospel to Samoa in 1830 on the boat the Messenger of Peace. For that reason, the largest Christian denomination in Samoa, the Samoa Christian Congregational Church is also known as the Lotu Ta’iti, or church from Tahiti. All because of Raiatea the second largest island in the Society group of islands that includes Tahiti, Mo’orea, Huahine, and Bora Bora. Samoan church ministers over the years have been making pilgrimages to Raiatea as the origin of the church in Samoa.
Zinzan looked up with a glint of recognition in his eyes. He was right on point when he responded: "Outside of Tahiti, Mo’orea and Bora Bora there are not many travellers that know about Raiatea."
Not only did I know my history but also the geography, as I organise annual swims in Tahiti, Mo’orea and Bora Bora in my spare time, and I know that one day in the future, we could do a swim between Raiatea and Bora Bora.
The people of Bora Bora and Raiatea were the original settlers of Hawai’i and in later years the Tangata-Whenua-o-Aotearoa. And a connection with James Cook's first visit to Aotearoa New Zealand in 1769, on the Endeavour, was celebrated Polynesian explorer and historian Tupaia who was of Raiatea nobility. What's more, the island of Raiatea is found to be the Hawaiki of ancient legend, the home of the Māori. This is where the spirits of Tangata Māori make their way after death to rest in their spiritual home of Hawaiki in the sacred surrounds of Taputapuatea marae. Today, we say 'Tahiti' to describe every island in the Society group. It became so with the onset of European discovery and trade. Raiatea, of ancient days, was the sacred centre of eastern Polynesia.
Zinzan is a true blue Polynesian with links to Māori history - and there aren't many people who can speak English, Tahitian and French!
Zinzan was beaming because someone knew of his immense wealth of heritage. The answers came easily now.
“My goal is to have more experience that can help with my future, my CV, and to learn new skills that can help me in the future.”
Zinzan is enjoying being part of the Onehunga High School's construction course where they're building a house. He was expecting his work experience to be similar to this, at a construction site building houses, not in large spaces of land being developed. But, during his two weeks, Zinzan saw the importance of what we do here, and the wider need of staff in the construction industry, which also align with his goals for the future:
“Construction is really important, and a great way to learn useful skills and experience There seems to be a demand for construction workers. My number one goal is to get an apprenticeship and hope to qualify as a carpenter. It’s important for a young person to get out there, have a go, and learn a trade in a place like this.” He added.
Fast forward to graduation day at the end of his work experience and Zinzan is truly going to miss working at Piritahi, Ōwairaka.
“I just want to say thank you. I really enjoyed the last two weeks of work experience. I would consider a job in this workspace.”
Katie Dobson (from Kāinga Ora - Homes and Communities) and I were taken aback at his words - we couldn't believe that that they were coming from the same student who seemed so reluctant with his answers one day one of the programme!
We love that the Mahi Ora work experience programme opens students up to possibilities for their futures that they might have previously not considered. It just goes to show that there is always something to be said for real world learning.
If ever there was a reluctant student trainee, it would have to be Zinzan Coxhead.
During our first get-together, Zinzan asked not to be interviewed on video. I assured him that was perfectly fine and he requested an audio interview instead. He was okay with that, and we got chatting but his answers to questions were a little stilted and he seemed as though he didn’t really want to be on site.
He thought he had made a mistake in volunteering for the work experience programme. I pressed on, and when he answered, Zinzan's intelligence beamed through his shy nature.
It didn’t take long before we found some common ground.
When I asked about his background, he told me he was part Māori and part Tahitian. That is where most conversations would end about his Tahitian heritage because not too many Kiwis know much about Tahiti. "Where in Tahiti?" I asked. He said he’s from Raiatea. I said with enthusiasm, "I know where that is! Raiatea is 10km from Bora Bora and I had flown over it on the way to Huahine and Mo’orea!"
I shared how Raiatea is very important to Samoans because that's where the missionaries came from that took the Christian gospel to Samoa in 1830 on the boat the Messenger of Peace. For that reason, the largest Christian denomination in Samoa, the Samoa Christian Congregational Church is also known as the Lotu Ta’iti, or church from Tahiti. All because of Raiatea the second largest island in the Society group of islands that includes Tahiti, Mo’orea, Huahine, and Bora Bora. Samoan church ministers over the years have been making pilgrimages to Raiatea as the origin of the church in Samoa.
Zinzan looked up with a glint of recognition in his eyes. He was right on point when he responded: "Outside of Tahiti, Mo’orea and Bora Bora there are not many travellers that know about Raiatea."
Not only did I know my history but also the geography, as I organise annual swims in Tahiti, Mo’orea and Bora Bora in my spare time, and I know that one day in the future, we could do a swim between Raiatea and Bora Bora.
The people of Bora Bora and Raiatea were the original settlers of Hawai’i and in later years the Tangata-Whenua-o-Aotearoa. And a connection with James Cook's first visit to Aotearoa New Zealand in 1769, on the Endeavour, was celebrated Polynesian explorer and historian Tupaia who was of Raiatea nobility. What's more, the island of Raiatea is found to be the Hawaiki of ancient legend, the home of the Māori. This is where the spirits of Tangata Māori make their way after death to rest in their spiritual home of Hawaiki in the sacred surrounds of Taputapuatea marae. Today, we say 'Tahiti' to describe every island in the Society group. It became so with the onset of European discovery and trade. Raiatea, of ancient days, was the sacred centre of eastern Polynesia.
Zinzan is a true blue Polynesian with links to Māori history - and there aren't many people who can speak English, Tahitian and French!
Zinzan was beaming because someone knew of his immense wealth of heritage. The answers came easily now.
“My goal is to have more experience that can help with my future, my CV, and to learn new skills that can help me in the future.”
Zinzan is enjoying being part of the Onehunga High School's construction course where they're building a house. He was expecting his work experience to be similar to this, at a construction site building houses, not in large spaces of land being developed. But, during his two weeks, Zinzan saw the importance of what we do here, and the wider need of staff in the construction industry, which also align with his goals for the future:
“Construction is really important, and a great way to learn useful skills and experience There seems to be a demand for construction workers. My number one goal is to get an apprenticeship and hope to qualify as a carpenter. It’s important for a young person to get out there, have a go, and learn a trade in a place like this.” He added.
Fast forward to graduation day at the end of his work experience and Zinzan is truly going to miss working at Piritahi, Ōwairaka.
“I just want to say thank you. I really enjoyed the last two weeks of work experience. I would consider a job in this workspace.”
Katie Dobson (from Kāinga Ora - Homes and Communities) and I were taken aback at his words - we couldn't believe that that they were coming from the same student who seemed so reluctant with his answers one day one of the programme!
We love that the Mahi Ora work experience programme opens students up to possibilities for their futures that they might have previously not considered. It just goes to show that there is always something to be said for real world learning.