Community Champion Spotlight: Coby Te Pairi
Every two months, Healthy Families East Cape like to put the spotlight on a community champion, someone working within our Tairāwhiti community who is supporting, creating positive and transformational change towards the wellbeing of all people in our rohe.
This bimonthly spotlight features Coby Te Pairi
Ko wai koe, nō hea koe?
I te taha o tōku pāpā
Ko Maunga Pohatu te maunga
Ko Tauranga te awa
Ko Te Rangi Ma Toru te waka
Ko Omuriwaka te pā
Ko Ngai Tamatuhirae te hapū
Ko Te Hapu Oneone te iwi
Ko Hector Te Pairi rāua ko Merepāka Moeau ōku mātua tīpuna
Ko Benjamin Te Pairi tōku pāpā
I te taha o tōku māmā
Ko Operu te maunga
Ko Reporua te whenua
Ko Reporua te awa
Ko Ngati Rangi te hapū
Ko Ngati Uepohatu te iwi
Ko Tumehe Houia rāua ko Phoebe Honatana/Kingi ōku mātua tīpuna
Ko Tui Houia tōku kuini
Nō reira ko Coby Te Pairi ahau
Kei te aha?
Kei te ora! I’m great!
One fun fact about you?
Born and bred in Kaiti, lived in Highbury for 15 years, now I’m back home and absolutely love it. I’m also the CEO of the guitar!
Favourite kai or coffee order?
My favourite kai is hāngi.
Favourite whakataukī or saying?
Go hard or go home which means everything you do give it 100%, and my next favourite saying is Rītana toa!
How did you get your name and what does it mean?
I got my name from my mums friend in Auckland. I also have two nicknames the first one is the Cobstar that was given from an old friend, and the next one is the Cobinator.
What was your favourite story, book or movie growing up?
I got two the first one is Grease, and the second one is the Titanic.
What's one of the most special or memorable moments in your mahi, and why does it stand out to you?
There’s been lots of special memories, but I’d say ones that stand out to me is here in Treble Court doing karakia and waiata on Fridays. From this kaupapa we formed a kapa haka team for our community not only here in Tūranga but also in Palmerston North.
What is something everyone should know about your community?
Wherever you are there are champions and you can become a champion. Te Tairāwhiti is filled with amazing spaces and places, we’ve got amazing people as well and that’s why we are magic.
What legacy do you want to leave behind?
The legacy I want to leave behind is aroha and manaaki.
What is a good piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Don’t lie or your tongue will turn blue and your mum will know.
Is there a song, haka, prayer or quote that makes you feel connected to your people or your home? What does it mean to you?
There are many waiata but one that is dear to me is Whakaaria mai, it reminds me of my nephew Bradley, and it is the only waiata that has brought me to tears.
If we visited your community, where would you take us and what would you want us to see, taste or experience there?
Again, we got some meke spaces and places here in Te Tairāwhiti but in our own backyard we have Titirangi maunga and our moana Kaiti Beach say no more!
What is one small, everyday thing that brings you joy – like a food, a place, or a fun activity?
One small everyday thing that brings me joy is waiata. I love a waiata, a karaoke and a line dance, it helps with my mental health and with everything. My favourite karaoke song at the moment is Pretty Little Baby by Connie Francis.
If you could share a message with young people in Tairāwhiti who want to support their communities, what would you say to them?
If you want to support your communities, it starts at home. The next message that I’d like to share is be a koha not a hōhā.
Who is a community champion you know that is awesome for their community?
A community champion I know would be my mum and dad. I’ve watched them and witnessed the manaaki, and the aroha they provide in all the spaces they are in it is very inspiring.