The talented Otago midfield back has had a busy and enjoyable few months — and perhaps the best is yet to come.
He was in the Highlanders team that impressed at the Super Rugby under-20 tournament, and he started all three games for the New Zealand Colts at the Oceania under-20 championship in Australia.
Now Te Hiwi is braced for his first appearance at NPC level, having been named last week as one of five newcomers in the Otago squad.
"It’s all kind of popped up out of nowhere," he said yesterday.
"Highlanders 20s then New Zealand 20s and now Otago in the NPC — it’s all come up really fast.
"I’m loving it. I just want to keep learning, keep developing, and try to get better every day.
"Hopefully I can get some minutes in the NPC and just give it a good crack."
Te Hiwi (20) was one of seven Highlanders players in the New Zealand under-20 team.
He is part of something of a youthful revolution in Otago rugby — the NPC squad features 15 players who were schooled in Otago, and 18 who have progressed through the Otago Academy.
The former Otago Boys’ High School First XV star said he was eager to get a taste of the national provincial competition, and to learn from the likes of Thomas Umaga-Jensen and Josh Timu.
"It will be good to learn from the other boys in the team. We’ve got a good team, and a lot of boys have played Super Rugby."
Te Hiwi has been relishing the guidance from Tom Donnelly, the Otago coach who doubled as New Zealand under-20 coach.
"He’s been really good. He has a great relationship with everyone and I’m really enjoying playing for him."
While he started an applied science course at Otago Polytechnic, Te Hiwi had to put studies on hold this year as rugby commitments took over.
He had "one of the best moments of my life" when he pulled on the New Zealand under-20 black jersey for the first time.
He started at centre against Fiji and wing against Argentina and Australia as the Baby Blacks won all three games.
"It was good fun. A bit of a different experience — pretty much just being in a professional environment was really good. And to be around the coaches we had — I learned heaps.
"Everyone gelled pretty quickly."
Te Hiwi is a natural midfielder but said he would wear whatever jersey he was given.
He grew up in Wanaka but came to Dunedin relatively young to attend Kavanagh College then Otago Boys’.
He got to play some first XV rugby with older brother Isaak, and has also appeared in the same Green Island backline.
