Tutu Taonga Wirepa

Tu Tangata, Issue 5, 1 April 1982, Page 9

Tutu Taonga Wirepa

HE KUPU WHAKAMIHI/Profile

Like many others before him, Tutu Taonga Wirepa formerly a seventh former at Te Aute College left college with no real aims wanting to take a years break before settling down to books again.

He found a roosting place with Fords motor company and it was there that he abandoned future plans of a Commerce degree in favour of a business studies course.

Tutu has always aimed high. He opted for a career in the business world because it was good field to get into and so naturally jumped at the chance to take a business studies course under the Tu Tangata programme. And he has never, after his first year of study regretted his decision. Thanks aunty ‘‘An aunt put me onto the business course,” says Tutu. “She encouraged me to go in for an interview, and was just as pleased as I was to get accepted.” Tutu is from the Mangahanea marae on the East Coast and is the son of Rongo and Parae Wirepa. Of his family, Tutu says they didn’t know too much about what was hap-

pening but they had always been pleased with whatever he has done so far. Meanwhile Tutu is spending his summer vacation in the various departments at Fords getting both work experience and putting what he has learned into practice. As he will be majoring in market sales at the university this year Tutu has been placed where he will best get his experience. ‘‘l enjoy it here at Fords, a friendly staff, good working atmosphere and with sports just around the corner, well everything’s allright.” Hard work It’s back to studies shortly for Tutu where he describes the work as being ‘‘hard yes and no.” Well what more

can one say. His final year will be 1983 and Tutu hopes to graduate with a Bachelor of Business Studies degree, then he is going to go job hunting. “I’ve been lucky in the sense that I’ve had both theory and practical experience,” said Tutu. ‘‘Thanks to Fords sponsorship I’ll be able to get a good job.”