Ben Te Kahika

Hi my name is Ben Te Kahika I am 16 years old  and come from Puketitiri, an hour North/West of Napier in the Hawke’s Bay. My parents do not farm my dad works for the Department of Conservation and my mum works for Toops. I spent my primary school days at Puketitiri School and my last two years at Patoka School. I went to college at Napier Boy’s High School and passed NCEA level one in my fifth form year. I was a five day boarder in the hostel and left mid way through sixth form having being accepted into Waipaoa and spent the last four months of the year working on Hukanui Station working for Greg Percy. My passion for farming started when I was young doing docking and casual work for Paul Nation and that slowly gave me more experience which I really enjoyed. From there I new I wanted to have a carrier in agriculture. As the years went on I wanted to make a career out of farming and now that I have the opportunity I love every moment of it. I am a keen pig hunter an enjoy deer hunting, diving and fishing in the summer time. I heard about Waipaoa through careers expo at school.

When I leave Waipaoa I want to work on a big hill country station either at Taihape or stay up in the Gisborne area. This year I am working towards a National Certificate in Agriculture at level three and a Certificate in Rural Safety.