I am privileged to have grown up in the lands of my tiipuna (ancestors). I am blessed to have learned the puuraakau (stories) of my tīpuna, which continues to guide me today. I am surrounded by my large extended whaanau (family). I grew up with strong values based in tikanga Maaori (traditional customs).
My schooling wasn't fantastic. I never capitalised on my potential. My yearbook reads "Terence has no problem making his presence felt, just has a problem being present".
I left school in 1997 to serve in the New Zealand Army. Which gave me focus, drive and adaptability. I became a Youth Instructor and gained an interest in helping others like me.
I left the army in 2006, and travelled around Ireland, the UK and Europe. I worked in several different jobs and I was eager to learn as much as I could about the area I was living and working in.
I returned to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2009, working in various youth programmes. I worked with schools to support rangatahi (young people) and their whaanau.
I moved to Wellington in 2015 to study at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington. I studied Teaching, History, Social Science, Mathematics and Statistics, Education Psychology, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and Te Reo Maaori. I also gained an interest in Business, Digital Technology, and Social Enterprise. I graduated in 2018. I met my partner Laura Goodall during my studies, and we are now blessed with our daughter Te Aho.
I started working for the Ministry of Education (Wellington) in 2018. I supported whaanau and schools to engage rangatahi in their learning, whatever that may look like. I created strategies, programmes, and a best practice framework. During this time I founded Puutahi Innovations Limited.
I left the Ministry of Education to work for ServiceIQ in 2020. ServiceIQ delivers industry training and qualifications in Tourism, Hospitality, Retail and Travel. I created a Maaori strategy and worked to embed Te Tiriti principles across the organisation. I also supported a working group to embed a Te Tiriti Excellence Framework across Industry Training and Education.
The impact of COVID-19, and the various lockdowns, affected Tourism and Travel. Unsure of my future, I left ServiceIQ and started working at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University in 2021.
I work in the Research Office, supporting researchers to authentically engage in te ao Maaori. I develop strategies to help researchers embed Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles in their research.