MEDIA RELEASE
THURSDAY 18 MAY 2017
KINGS returns to school for Oompher Web Series Two launch
Oompher’s latest web series was launched to 1,000 students at Northcote College in Auckland today with an exclusive
screening, Q & A session and guest appearance by local musician and alumni, KINGS.
The winner of the 2016 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards Breakthrough Artist of the Year is the star of the first
webisode in the eight-part web series available on Oompher’s Facebook channel from 4pmtoday.
Oompher’s vision is to encourage young Kiwis to open their minds to opportunities, act on their dreams and achieve their
own extraordinary.
“Over the coming weeks viewers will be inspired by the stories, successes, challenges, goals and dreams of eight
extraordinary young Kiwis who have reached great heights in sporting, business, music, arts and professional
endeavours,” says Careers New Zealand Acting Chief Executive, Hugh Kettlewell.
“Beginning with the story of KINGS, the Oompher web series highlights that hard work, commitment, determination and the
right attitude are important ingredients for achieving personal success, and that not everyone follows the same path,”
says Hugh.
KINGS exploded on to the New Zealand music scene in early 2016 with his feel-good hit ‘Don’t Worry Bout It’. His story
takes viewers on a journey back to his former high school, Northcote College, where he was passionately drawn to arts
subjects, before facing the challenge of leaving school early to focus on his creative pursuits.
“During the route of dropping out and pursuing music, times get tough and you need to fully own your choices over and
over again. I was extremely lucky to have my family support me throughout. And I believed in myself enough to know that
I would eventually be here,” says KINGS.
Now this challenge is a driver for KINGS to inspire and motivate youth to wholeheartedly pursue their dreams.
“Building a school for youth like me that leave school early to pursue a career in the creative arts is my ultimate
goal,” says KINGS.
“While I continue to chip away at this goal, it is important for me to share what I have learned on my journey so far.”
Another web series star with a passion to give back to others is young Auckland Council engineer, Tamoko Ormsby.
“The thing that sparks joy with me for engineering is how can I have my own water, power, internet, housing that’s warm
and those things, and how can I roll that out to marae, hapū and iwi,” says Tamoko.
Tamoko also shares his advice for those wanting to follow his pathway into engineering.
“Engineer is another word for problem solver. If you want to be an engineer first ask yourself – what is an engineer?
What do I like about it? What do I want to do that I think an engineer does? And why? Would you do it if money were no
object?”
Other extraordinary stories in store for views in Oompher’s Web Series Two include:
• ReQuest Dance Crew member and star of Justin Bieber’s ‘Sorry’ music video ¬– Kaea Pearce
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• BMX World Junior Elite champion – Maynard Peel
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• Staavias shoes founder – Gustavia Lui
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• Women’s Rugby Sevens Olympic silver medallist – Niall Williams
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• Māori entrepreneur & educationalist entrepreneur – Ash Patea
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• My Kitchen Rules season one finalists and passionate cooks – Heather and Aaron Freeman.
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Stay tuned for each new episode of Web Series Two on Oompher’s Facebook page and YouTube channel, launching from 4pm
Thursday 18 May.
Oompher is an inspirational video platform acquired by Careers New Zealand in 2015 and is now one of the organisation’s
most popular digital tools for young people.
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