"I guess teaching is my way of supporting and promoting the revitalisation of our language."
Wright grew up as an army child and moved all over New Zealand. Māori culture and language played a prominent role in his family's life, his great-grandmother was a fluent te reo speaker and Pairama went to Māori immersion schools.
At age 13, when his parents separated, he moved with his mother to Napier and became steadily more alienated from his Māori roots.
"It was as if I was scared and ashamed of this part of me, and I had no desire to speak te reo or engage with the Māori part of my family."
It was only when his dad moved back from Australia with Pairama's half-sister, who was brought up very traditionally, that he rekindled his interest in reconnecting with Māoridom.
He said he feels honoured to be a valedictorian.
"I actually thought I was in trouble when Puti, the head of Te Ūranga Waka, said she needs to talk to me about something."
His speech will be in English as he wants everyone to understand. And yet it will be Māori-centred with a focus on manaakitanga (hospitality, support) and kotahitanga (togetherness) and the various strengths that draw people together.
Singh, (Bachelor of Business Studies), who was "over the moon" to be selected as a valedictorian, will address multiculturalism, diversity, and the value of scholarships that allowed him to travel overseas.
He will also talk about the importance of building self-worth, seizing opportunities and changing one's mindset from "I should do" to "I do". He says it won't be a "goodbye" but a "see you again" speech.
He was always very interested in new cultures and diverse thinking. Growing up in a Sikh family in Auckland, he was immersed in the culture, language and religion that his parents brought from Punjab to New Zealand while also embracing the Kiwi lifestyle.
Ten years ago, the family moved to Hawke's Bay and his parents took over the dairy next to Napier Boys' High School.
In November, he did an internship at ANZ and promptly secured a fulltime job as a service consultant.
"This new role and a two-week-trip in the South Island, were a really positive end to a tough year where everything had seemed to go sideways."
Jarnet, (Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing), is based in Tauranga and studied by distance.
