Fanatic keen to splash around world
For Hads Te Huia, jumping off cliffs and bridges is more than just a summer activity.
Bombing and sharing videos of the huge splash online has become a way to build a community of like-minded people - and a way for them to connect.
Te Huia started the Bomblife New Zealand Facebook page a year ago.
Since then, the page has since gained 25,000 likes and a community of like-minded bombing fans.
Te Huia was a judge at the NZ Bomb Comp in Taupo over Waitangi Weekend, putting his bombing experience to use.
The Te Awamutu resident said he dreamed of making a living from the page and its accompanying Youtube channel.
‘‘I want to turn it into a career where I can travel the world and show off our Kiwi pastime,’’ he said.
Te Huia was named one of seven winners of the ‘‘DreamBig Maori’’ social media competition.
Te Huia won the chance to spend a day with snowboarderturned-media company founder Robett Hollis.
‘‘He’s the perfect mentor for me,’’ Te Huia said.
‘‘I know my dream is pretty out there – it’s not a common one, so I don’t really want to speak to just anyone,’’ he said.
‘‘What I want to take from him is how can I make this a career – does Bomblife have a market that can that be turned into a business?’’
In addition to posting videos from New Zealand’s best diving spots, Te Huia offers encouragement and advice on goal-setting to young people.
‘‘I’ve been speaking to a lot of my followers through Snapchat,’’ Te Huia said.
‘‘From Monday to Friday, I post about a goal I’d like to achieve. It’s like a step-by-step guide.’’
Te Huia said he soon realised he was making a difference with the mobile phone app conversations.
‘‘They’re snapping videos back to me of what they want to achieve. A lot of them are training up to the gym now. They’re sending snaps of the food they’re eating too.’’
Te Huia said he recently learned one of his Snapchat friends had gone to jail.
‘‘It was pretty hard to take. With Bomblife NZ though, I’m reaching these guys and connecting,’’ he said.
‘‘I’ve got the power to make a difference – the power to help the youth and voice something, which keeps them going.’’
The DreamBig Ma¯ori Facebook page competition received 68 entries and more than
‘‘I want to turn it into a career where I can travel the world and show off our Kiwi pastime.’’
3000 votes were cast to determine the winners.
Winners get to spend a day with either Outrageous Fortune actor Tammy Davis, Northland doctor Lance O’Sullivan, television presenter Stacey Morrison, reporter James McOnie, Olympic canoer Lisa Carrington or businessman Robett Hollis.