Nearly ten years old, Te Mihi  became one of Rotorua’s first matches with Big Brothers Big Sisters. His excitement was clear, captured in a local newspaper photo alongside his new mentor, David . Their connection started with curiosity—Te Mihi’s memorable request was to zoom into a computer so closely he could see individual pixels, setting the tone for their relationship built on creativity and exploration.

Growing up without a father figure, adopted at birth and raised by two loving mothers, Te Mihi felt a gap he didn't fully understand until he met David. Their bond was steady and genuine, growing through shared experiences like rainy-day mountain biking, geocaching, and Saturday markets enjoying island-style fried bread donuts. Their comfort around each other developed naturally, anchored in trust and mutual respect. For Te Mihi, these simple moments provided a consistent male presence, supporting his growth during crucial formative years.