I Am Rotorua – Chevez Makan

“I used to play hockey, and yeah, it’s big here, especially with Māori boys. You wouldn’t think it, but our teams are some of the best in the country. Basketball too. If you take a few kids out, it’s a big hit for the school. We’ve got eight boys in one team, and if you lose half of them, that’s a big deal.

I came back to teach here because I wanted to give these boys the same experience I had. I’m an old boy myself—one of 30 on staff right now. It’s kind of funny when you think about it, how many of us came back to give back in some way. Some are teachers, others drive the buses or run meetings. But we all came back. There’s something special about this place, and it’s hard to walk away from that.”

– Chevez Makan