Maihi Barbarich is one of two young sportsmen to be awarded a Māori Sports Awards Scholarship for his efforts in league, basketball, waka ama and ki-o-rahi.
The Ngā Tapuwae student spoke to Te Kāea today about this honour and how much his scholarship will help further his studies at Manukau Institute of Technology next year.
Barbarich has worked hard in league, basketball, ki-o-rahi and waka ama, and this month all his hard work will be recognised.
“I’m happy because I really enjoy sport and secondly, I enjoy playing these kind of sports,” says Barbarich.
It was announced he will be a recipient of a Māori Sports Award scholarship which will help towards his studies at Manukau Institute of Technology next year.
Maihi's main sport is league and this year he helped his school Ngā Tapuwae win Māhepohepohetanga, which is the Auckland Māori schools league title.
“Our team was so happy to win the league title. It was our first time to win it, we were happy not only for our team but also our league coach,” Barbarich explains.
There's no stopping this Māori athlete who has many goals for the near future. “I still want to be playing sport in the future. I want to make the Counties-Manukau team,” says Barbarich.
Maihi will receive $5000 to help with his upcoming tertiary studies in sport and recreation.