TRUSTEE CANDIDATE PROFILE 2020
Cleveland Kupa
I Cleveland Kupa has abilities and experience in the following.
• Leadership.
• Farming.
• Skills in business
Leadership began in the years of 2006 when I attended Hastings Intermediate School becoming house leader in my first year and became council team member in my second year. My second year I was asked by the teacher's principal and many students to pursue the role of becoming head boy which I did but missed out with a split decision with the whole school voting but missing out by two votes. I had the pleasure to be left with the food tech room every friday to clean everything with the reward of making anything that was available.
Going to Hastings Boys High School I got the opportunity to become a prefect in 7th form but finished on my 4th year going to Hastings Boys High School with my last year 6th form and attending EIT for my 7th form doing automotive Engineering graduating the following year.
Farming
Growing up I always went to Torere where my uncle Tomaipatai Kupa,who has a farm of many animals from chickens,lambs,cows,horses,rabbits,dogs, we would always get up early to feed them all. Putting fences up planting plants,trees,fruits,veggies.
I helped start a pig farm making a barn/bar with a family friend but it got shut down by all the trustees because of lack of vision from the trustees i believe. But we planted 20 native pohutukawa trees a variety of 10 native plants, 10 different fruits from,5 Orange trees,10 Feijoa trees,5 Lemons tree,5 Mandarins trees,Grapes,green grapes,5 Watermelon.3 Pear trees,5 Apples trees, Raspberry. We also did landscaping for the driveway making gardens putting fences up. I have no dairy farming or sheep farming experience.
Skills in business.
Last year me and a business partner started a 5 year business plan to do with customizing stereo systems installing stereo systems into cars. We put three different business plans into one that helps each other out to get to the end goal of retirement by the time i'm 33 but with the covid hitting we barely got off the ground so we sold our stock so we can live without working during covid which was the best thing we could of done as business partners and family men.
I'm still pursuing that business plan so I can bring not only good intentions but putia to my home land and to build an oasis for our next generation so we can learn about our whakapapa on our own whenua so we know who we are as people.