Taurus Tumoana was 11 years old when he went into care and was placed with Lucy MacLeod, a teacher at St Patrick’s College in Wellington.
Lucy had been a caregiver for several years, taking in tamariki and rangatahi needing short-term, emergency and respite care.
Taurus was only meant to stay with her for three months. That was 6 years ago.
“I just wanted to stay with Lucy; it was, like, chill there. It went pretty smooth,” Taurus explains.
Lucy says they just fit together and laughed at the same things.
“I suggested to the social worker; can he just stay here, and he separately asked her the same thing, so it just sort of naturally happened.”
A turning point
Since then, 17-year-old Taurus has grown in confidence and excelled at school.
He is a House Captain, Kapa Haka Kaitātaki and a gifted public speaker.
“He is still the same person he was at 11. He is just a much calmer and self-assured young man,” says Lucy.
Taurus believes his life is a far cry from where he thought he’d end up, as a gang prospect.
And, when asked what motivated him to turn his life around, his answer is simple – Lucy.
