HE TAKATA

RĪPEKA PŌTIKI

Tēnā koutou katoa,

Ko Rīpeka-Umurau Corinne Pōtiki tōku ikoa, ko Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, me Te Ātiawa ōku iwi.
I whānau mai au ki Ōtautahi, ekari, I tipu ake au ki Ōtākou. Ko Tahu Pōtiki tōku pāpā, ko Megan
Ellison tōku māmā, tokorua ōku tukāne. Ko Tīmoti rāua ko Tūkitaharaki ōku tukāne. Kei Te Wānaka o
Raukawa a Timoti e ako ana i tēnei tau. Kātahi anō a Tūkitaharaki ka haere ki Hato Pāora.
Kei te ako au ki Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka. Ka whai tohu au i te reo Māori, me te reo waiata.
Ko Edward Ellison tōku pōua, ko Alison Ellison tōku taua. Kei te noho au ki tō rāua taha i tēnei tau.

Above: Rīpeka (centre) with brothers Tīmoti (left) and Tūkitaharaki (right).

WHAT CONSTITUTESA GOOD DAY?
Probably sleeping in and going out
to lunch or dinner with whānau.

ONE THING YOU COULD NOT LIVE WITHOUT?
Definitely could not live without
my mother… and Aunty Mere,
which is my car.

WHO OR WHAT INSPIRES YOU AND WHY?
I have too many people to list them
but they all inspire me because of
their determination and dedication
they put in to everything and
everyone.

HIGHLIGHT IN THE LAST YEAR AND WHY?
My highlights would definitely be
finishing my first year of university
and travelling to Waitangi with my
hapū, Ōtākou, it was incredible!

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST EXTRAVAGANCE?
Taco Bell…

OUT? FAVOURITE PLACE?
Being with my best friend, and my
favourite place would definitely
be Ōtākou, or Nanna’s whare.

DANCE OR WALLFLOWER?
Wallflower.

WHAT FOOD COULD YOU NOT LIVE WITHOUT?
Māmā’s cooking definitely.

WHAT MEAL DO YOU COOK THE MOST?
A pretty good butter chicken.

GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?
Honestly getting all my licences
on the first go ;)

DO YOU HAVE AN ASPIRATION FOR KAI TAHU TO ACHIEVE BY 2050?
My aspirations for Kāi Tahu would
be for all hapū to come together
more and continue making
strategies together regarding reo,
tikaka and whakapapa.