What gives you hope?

Pipiri | Whāingaroa

The moana (ocean) has shaped Pipiri into who he is today, teaching him lessons of strength, belonging, and the power of nature.

“Ko Pipiri au. Ko Karioi te maunga. Ko Whāingaroa te moana. Ko Ngāti Māhanga te iwi.

It’s like my second home in the moana. Whether it’s fishing or surfing these waves. It’s my favourite thing to do in the world. It feels like I belong, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

Surfing, I feel, is a part of who I am. The ocean, especially, as well as the maunga here. The whenua, the marae — just the combination has really made me who I am today.

This moana has kind of… it’s bashed me, it’s rolled me around, it’s disciplined me, it’s taught me the true power of nature. We are something, but the moana is a completely different aspect to what this world has to offer. And it’s really put into perspective other forms of strength and power that we have on this earth. I’ve definitely had my fair share of bashings out there.”