KOE KOE Ā
Portia Barcello
Wakatū scholar & intern
Portia Barcello is one of our Te Hunga Panuku. She is a Wakatū scholarship recipient and was the 2018/2019 summer intern at Wakatū. She tells us more about herself, and what the support she's received from Wakatū has meant to her. I’m of Māori and Italian heritage – both cultures that share a love of whānau and food. My connec tion into Wakatū is via my dad, and my Ngāti Rārua whānau. I’m the only girl and the youngest in my family – my two brothers are a bit older than me. My mum, dad and brothers are all outdoorsy and sporty – so it was natural that I was too! I grew up around Blenheim and the Marlborough Sounds and spent a lot of time in the bush and in the sea. My mum and dad are in the commercial fishing industry, and I’ve worked for them as a deckhand and a commercial pāua diver. Our idea of a good
PHOTOS: KATE MACPHERSON
time together as a family is to go spear-fishing, or diving for kōura or pāua together. I love eating
University studying for a Bachelor of Commerce
kaimoana fresh from the sea – there’s nothing like
majoring in commercial law and minoring in
thinly sliced pāua quickly cooked over a beach fire.
Māori resource management. I found myself really
At school I was really into sports, including netball and kempo. I also rowed in eights and fours crews at a competitive level. It was great for my
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enjoying my commercial law papers, so decided to go for a law degree as well. At the end of my degree I’m planning on
fitness and learning how to work as part of a team,
specialising in Māori resource management.
but the rowing training was intense and demanding,
My family’s livelihood is reliant on the health
and sometimes I would fall asleep at school, so
and wellbeing of the land and sea, so I know how
not ideal for study. I think some of my teachers
important it is to look after what we have for
were surprised when I chose an academic path. I’m
future generations. My connection to the natural
the first in my family to go to university, and the
environment played an important part in my
academic side of things hasn’t always been easy.
upbringing, and has helped define who I am and
But I’ve managed to bring the discipline I learnt
what my values are. I love that one of the values
from competitive sport into my study, so that has
for Wakatū is kaitiakitanga, and taking care of
definitely helped. I’ve also set myself a big challenge
resources and sustainability is at the heart of what
by doing a double degree. I started at Victoria
they do.
