Pull of whanau trumps big-city life

HOMETOWN ROOTS: Kitea Tipuna returned to Wairoa after 20 years so he could give back to the community that raised him. Photo / Lindy Laird

From small-town Wairoa to the bright lights of Auckland city and beyond - over the past 20 years Kitea Tipuna has lived a big, satisfying life.

He still lives large but instead of working with prime ministers in central government and climbing Machu Picchu, he is now with his immediate and extended whanau, the people who brought him home.

It was a lifestyle choice, and an easy one as he "just wanted to be closer to family".

He said his mother often says: "I sent him away to learn all the gifts of the world, now he's able to bring those gifts back to us."

After making the move back home just over a year ago, Mr Tipuna took up work with Wairoa District Council (WDC) as a communications strategist.

And he finds life is just as busy as it was in Auckland.

With his family roots firmly planted in Wairoa - the place of his ancestors - he not only does 9 to 5 at the WDC, he also supports the marae, is a minister at his church and babysits his grand-nephews and nieces.

Mr Tipuna thinks people like Wairoa Mayor Craig Little are trying to re-energise and rejuvenate the town.

"So there is employment for people like me who have skills, because there is a skills deficit in Wairoa," he said. "And we can come home and contribute, we can give back."

And he's doing just that, making the decision to return while sitting atop the Machu Picchu citadel in Peru.

"I was looking at this awesome sight and I realised I miss Wairoa," he said.

"I've done some awesome things in my life and I've made good money doing it. Now I have a grand-niece and I babysit her every now and then.

"Being a part of their life is a tremendously rewarding and rich lifestyle choice."