Pohe Stephens


2018 Supreme Scholarship Recipient

Pohe Stephens

Born and raised in Motueka, it will always be home for Pohe.

Pohe is currently studying a Master of Business and Management at Waikato University.  He chose this qualification to broaden his knowledge base, and with the combination of his previous degree and experience, it creates the perfect formula to work for his Iwi.

The Master of Business and Management has deepened his understanding of both business and management and he is developing and expanding on his professional skill set.  Pohe is driven by the notion of working for the betterment of his people and sees NRAIT as the perfect example of a place where this is possible.

Pohe has had involvement in indigenous forums and was a key note speaker at two conferences – “Healing our Spirits” and the “World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education”.

This year Pohe was involved with establishing a support rōpū - Te Āwhina Marae - to assist kapa haka in the region.  He is also part of a group who have established a formal rōpū – Motueka Mai Tawhiti – that aim to make their Te Matatini debut in Taranaki in 2023.

He was also Kaiwhakaako for Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Tuia te Matangi Kapa Haka who competed at Te Huinga Whetu recently.  Pohe says “I love kapa haka and I am dedicated to growing the capacity of our whānau in preparation for Te Matatini 2025 to be held in Nelson.”

As well as kapa haka, Pohe has strong interests and participation in waka ama and traditional navigational practices.

Pohe has a seven year old son, Hikareia.   He wants to bring him home for his secondary school education, and start giving back and seeing his plans and ideas come to fruition with the ultimate goal of working at a tribal governance level.

Update - June 2019

 Pohe is now employed as a part time researcher at Te Rau Ora.  One of his focuses is suicide prevention by researching what other indigenous communities around the world are doing to combat suicide and how these methods can be applied here in Aotearoa.

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