Watch NZH Local Focus: How Te Matatini can count towards your future

Mahaki Whauwhau knows what he wants to do when he leaves school - and he knows how to get there.

Mahaki Whauwhau says he wants to get an Arts degree and do tattooing, "just because it's my passion".

His education provider is Te Aho o te Kura Pounamu - a correspondence school which uses tikanga to encourage students like Mahaki to follow their dreams.

"Te Kura kinda helps our Māori side they just give us a lot of support," Mahaki says.

Used to watching from the stands it's the 15-year-old's first taste of stepping onto the stage - and he could even get some NCEA credits for it.

Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu CEO Mike Hollings says an aspect of gaining performing arts credits is doing kapa haka, and having "evidence" that students have performed and they've learnt the moves as well as the quality of the performance.

But, with kapa haka there's far more than what meets the eye.

Te Whare Wānanga of Awanuiārangi Deputy CEO Evie O'Brien says: "People who participate in performing arts are so dedicated, or have a resilience because they make sacrifices, those are all transferable skills into the workforce."

At Te Whare Wānanga of Awanuiārangi kapa haka can count towards a Bachelor degree.

"Te Matatini is just one step along the way," Ms O'Brien says.

And it's a step Mahaki is taking with pride, knowing he's moving in the direction of his dreams

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