Spending his childhood in rural Te Araroa, Reihana has spent most of his life pursuing activities in the great outdoors and developing an interest in the land.
"The outdoors soon became a passion of mine and with the promising career opportunities that the Forestry degree posed, it was obvious that forestry was a suitable career option," he says. "Previous graduates of the School of Forestry had suggested that the degree at UC was not only enjoyable but also a worthwhile degree to pursue."
Enrolling with an Emerging Leaders Scholarship, Reihana found UC to be the ideal place to develop towards a career in forest resource management.
"Coming from the North Island, UC has been a refreshing change. It has a positive atmosphere and has been an awesome environment to have been a part of.
"I have been involved in FORSOC since I began at UC. It’s been an awesome way of networking with others in the Forestry degree, but also a great way of meeting others from outside the degree. FORSOC provides fun events throughout the year which are a great way to let off some study stress."
A bonus to being at UC is being able to keep up his hobbies with the range of outdoor locations close by.
"Outside of study I spend most of my time either hunting, fishing, diving, or exploring what the South Island has to offer," he says.
Reihana’s studies also involve multiple field trips to see real-world examples of the theory taught in lectures, which he says is an important part of building enthusiasm for Forestry Science. He received a UC School of Forestry High Achievers Award for his results in the first year.
"I enjoy its ability to cover a range of topics, giving students a broad understanding of what 'Forestry' is all about, and the opportunity to get outside and see real life operations as well as providing summer work opportunities. It also attracts likeminded people with similar interests.
"Come to UC with an open mind and be willing to take any opportunity that comes your way," he says. "Balance your time in the books with your social life and your time at UC will be more enjoyable."
