This article responds to the paucity of literature on Māori success and presents data from follow-up interviews with eight Māori young adults (pakeke), 6 years after they participated as secondary students (rangatahi) in an initial study titled Ka Awatea: An Iwi Case Study of Māori Students’ Success in 2014. Emerging outcomes reveal the central role of Māori culture and identity in their transition to adulthood. Secondary schooling nurtured their inner confidence and capacity to achieve, but did not play a significant role in development of positive Māori identity and cultural efficacy. However, as school-leavers approaching adulthood, they drew on their cultural efficacy and cultural assets, predominantly acquired from whānau, to navigate dominant culture environments. In doing so, they demonstrate that traditional Māori developmental paths have contemporary relevance, and that their roles—as cultural bearers, passing on the gifts of their ancestors—are fundamental to their aspirations and achievements.

本文回应了关于毛利人成功的文献匮乏的问题，并提供了对八名毛利人年轻人（pakeke）进行后续访谈的数据，这些人是中学生（rangatahi）参加名为Ka Awatea：I Iwi Case的初步研究后的六年。毛利学生的成功研究在2014年。新兴的结果揭示了毛利文化和身份认同在向成年​​过渡过程中的核心作用。中学教育培养了他们的内在信心和取得成就的能力，但在发展积极的毛利人身份和文化功效方面没有发挥重要作用。然而，随着即将毕业的学生接近成年，他们利用自己的文化功效和文化资产（主要是从whānau获得）来在主导的文化环境中游刃有余。通过这样做，他们证明了传统的毛利人发展道路具有当代意义，并且他们的角色（作为文化载体，继承了祖先的天赋）对于他们的理想和成就至关重要。