"I always remember missing my parents," he says in the show. "When I was 5, they came here for my birthday, and on the first day of school they left me again for the islands. I never saw them again.
"When I was 10, my mum died. I didn't know how to feel about it."
His life turned up when he left Tangaroa. Otara's other high school, Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate, refused to take him and referred him to an alternative education course run by Sully Paea's visionary Crosspower Ministries.
"I just changed from there, because my tutor always taught us respect," he said. "Every day there was a lesson - just taught us to respect everyone."
Former tutor Sarah Longbottom, who now runs the Nga Rangatahi Toa arts programme which initiated Manawa Ora, came to his class seeking volunteers for an early project two years ago.
"I said I'm interested because that's what I like doing - art," he said.
Ms Longbottom said Sipa was "a very gifted visual artist".
Sipa has enrolled in a visual arts course at Manukau Institute of Technology this year and aims to become a tattooist.
"I draw on all my friends," he said. "I draw it with a Vivid (felt pen) or something - patterns, dragons. I want to have my own shop in Otara."
• Manawa Ora, Herald Theatre, Thur and Fri Jan 23-24, 7pm, entry by koha. Tickets: Conch Records, 115 Ponsonby Rd, or email manawaora2014@gmail.com and collect tickets at door.