Sam Ruha

Board Position: Chief Financial Officer

House: Bennet House

Years attended Tīpene: 1979 -1983

Sam Ruha is a founding member and the Treasurer of the Tīpene Old Boys’ Association. Born and raised in Te Kaha in the Eastern Bay of Plenty (Te Whānau a Apanui, Whakatōhea, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungungu), he knows that the education and life skills he received at Tipene made a significant contribution to his future success. After leaving Tipene in 1983, Sam studied at Auckland University for a Bachelor of Commerce degree graduating in 1986 with distinction. He has almost 40 years experience in accounting, finance, financial investment, business management and ownership.

I am forever grateful for the education and life skills that I received during my five years at Tipene. Resilience, interpersonal skills, striving to do better, goal setting and hard work to achieve them, are all skills learned from life at home, and built upon during those formative years at Tipene. Without Tipene I would not have gone to university and had the beneficial career that I have been fortunate to enjoy. I want to help Māori rangatahi to have the same opportunities that I was given as a result of attending Tipene.

We, the Tipene alumni are here to support the school, and the next generation of leaders that we know will be given a first class educational experience at Tipene, allowing those boys to reach for and achieve their highest potential. I strongly encourage Māori boys to take the opportunity and the challenge to attend Tipene.

Whāia te iti Kahurangi!

We are honoured that our beloved kura is once again giving rangatahi the education, life skills, and brotherhood connections that many of us alumni are grateful to have received during our time at Tipene.