Precorqtion

What did you have for breakfast?

Tank Mocha. 

How does 18 feel right now?

Fun! At the moment I go out maybe every weekend. I work, study, go out…I’m enjoying 18! 

Ok tell us your life story so far…

So I was born in Middlemore Hospital, I’m the second youngest of my Mum’s kids – and my two older sisters are my role models even though we’re always arguing! My youngest sister dances, she was in the Royal Family for a year, and my cousin and I are creating a business together. 

Do you want to run your own business as an adult?

Definitely. My cousin and I have been pursuing business since high school. Currently we’re crafting paua shells and selling them as ornaments, or ashtrays, or to tourists. We make all our packaging, we put each of them in a kete, so we’re learning how to weave. We do a karakia and pick the flax, come home and weave it. It’s awesome! It’s all around culturally sustainable ideas and revitalising our language because we’re both proud Māori. 

Is your culture a source of strength for you?

Definitely. It’s empowering. We went to Hawaii last year to represent my school doing Kapa Haka. We went to the Polynesian Cultural Center to perform there, after that I broke down and cried. I felt spiritually aligned. Anything Māori that I do I feel it. You know that feeling when you’re at a Tangi and you hear the wailing and that feeling washes over you….? That’s the feeling I get when I perform.

How would you describe how 18 feels right now?

It’s a rollercoaster. It’s really hard being an adult, I didn’t realise how easy it was being a kid. It’s expensive! Going to the doctors is like $40 now! When I was younger Mum always used to be like, ‘Just take a panadol!” Now I’m an adult she says go to the doctor and I’m like “No! Just prescribe me a panadol again! It’s too expensive!” 

What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned since turning 18? 

Balance. It’s really hard, trying to keep up with your social life, your physical well being, your spiritual well being…it’s so draining, there are times I want to see my friends but I’m just so tired…For the last 6 months I’ve been working every weekend, work, study, go out, work. At the beginning of last year I got into a head on collision. It was my fault and now I’m paying it off. Lessons learned eh? A LOT of lessons. 

And what do you think your adult life will look like in 10 years?

I can’t see myself getting married and having kids, although I don’t doubt it’ll happen eventually….I want a good job, I want our businesses to take off, I want to work in business. And I want to be happy. I don’t know what that means right now though… I’ve just started Uni and have all these paths. I’m nowhere near what I thought I’d do five years ago! 

Do you believe in falling in love and getting married?

I have never had a boyfriend. And mum always says to me, “Just because Dad and I didn’t work out, it doesn’t mean that you won’t work out with a guy!” It scares me though. I don’t know what it is, maybe deep down it’s because Mum and Dad didn’t work…But also a lot of people think that broken families are dysfunctional. But we’ve always had a strong line, we’re a strong family…music is what keeps us strong. My Mum’s Mum, her Dad, the whole family have all loved music and that’s how the family bond…If your family is strong enough you’re not broken or disfunctional. 

What’s one word to sum up how you feel about the future as an official ‘adult’?

Excited. I know that even if it doesn’t go as planned, it’ll be ok. At the beginning of last year when I got in the accident I was scared, but everything turned out ok!