Awatea Poutai

Awatea Poutai is a young man with a clear vision for his future. He credits his smarts to his mum, Joan, his work ethic to his dad, Wayne, and his ambitions to the mentors who have supported him along the way. Awatea is a “Dreamer” - a recipient of the I Have A Dream (IHAD) programme - and now a Hi-Tech scholar, with his eyes on an Otago University degree and a career in product design.

Awatea started life in Perth, where his dad worked in construction. Times were tough, and the family stayed with relatives as they looked for a place they could call home. Eventually, the extended whānau moved back to New Zealand and settled in Whangārei. Awatea enrolled at Tikipunga Primary School, where his talent and work ethic were quickly noticed.

Now at Tikipunga High, Awatea is head boy, excelling in art, writing and maths. He loves to mix his creative and analytical skills, building little cardboard models at home to sharpen his thinking around product design.

Awatea's journey toward the Hi-Tech scholarship can be traced back to the IHAD programme. After being encouraged to sign up by his parents, he entered the programme and was matched with mentors, known as navigators.

Awatea credits his current navigator, Lucia Kutze, as having made a significant impact on his life, helping him explore scholarships, life skills, and career pathways. It was Lucia who encouraged Awatea to apply for the Hi-Tech scholarship. “I am a hard worker - I try my best at all things I do.” Awatea says. “My dad was a hard worker, and any time we had free time together he would teach me to use my initiative and try and figure out a way to solve any problems.” Awatea’s dad suffered a major seizure two years ago and fell into a coma. He has been in a slow recovery since, with the whole family looking after him.

When Awatea was announced as a scholarship winner - a night he describes as like being at the Oscars - Wayne rose from his chair and delivered a powerful haka, backed by Joan. The scene was beautiful, with the footage doing the rounds on social media and ending up on the New Zealand Herald website. “I was just so proud of my dad for doing this,” Awatea says. “I was just so happy he could just be there, but even happier he was able to get up and be proud of me, and show his love for me.” Awatea and his family, including his much-loved nan Arizona Heke, are planning a South Island road trip in the final months of 2025; an adventure in which they can all be together before sending him off for his university adventures.

Awatea will be the first in his family to attend university, and he’s excited to show his siblings and family what he can achieve. “My whole family is proud of me,” he says. “Proud of the opportunities I have for my future.”