Rudolph Tuhura is framed by the entrance to Te Ūranga Waka

Double degree EIT graduate Rudolph Tuhura has always felt comfortable in his own skin.

Of Ngāti Kahungunu descent from Te Wairoa, Rudolph remembers asking his mother what he was when Pākēha classmates informed him – not unkindly – that he was different. The five-year-old was happy to be told he was Māori. Being different is fine by Rudolph.

Attending Reignier and St Patrick’s schools in Napier and Hato Paora College in the Manawatu, he grew up steeped in his family’s Māori values.

Rudolph progressed to university to study for a degree in social sciences. During this time he became a father. He raised his daughter and was well-supported by whānau.

He worked in manual labouring jobs until he was persuaded to return to study. Enrolling at EIT, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Māori) in 2001. Then, after gaining a certificate in business computing, he went on to complete EIT’s Bachelor of Computing Systems.

He has continued to work in the IT industry and for the last five years has been employed as a systems administrator at EIT. Last year he took up kapa haka again and is also involved in waka ama.

Rudolph credits his mother for getting him to where he is now.

“I feel lucky to have been raised in a family that instilled in me a sense of values and respect for the pecking order.”

Rudolph says the generational hierarchy remains strong in Māori families.

“My grandparents were hardworking and saw the value of getting an education. My parents were unusual in that they were both professionals. Now,” he says, “I am passing that ethic on to the next generation, that it’s normal for Māori to achieve.”