Marayke Bouma

My name is Marayke Bouma. I grew up rurally in the Waikato, then moved to Auckland to study. I'm passionate about the environment and local grassroots solutions. In 2018 I graduated from AUT with a BSc in Environmental Science and Applied Conservation.

Since then I've run my own small floristry business providing locally grown, plastic-free flowers for weddings and events. Currently, I'm studying for a certificate of horticulture, and a postgraduate certificate in Leading Change for Good with The Mind Lab. I'm passionate about regenerative gardening, and I believe local food growing is a powerful method of community resilience against climate change. I'm also currently building myself a tiny house, to live with a lighter impact on the earth (and avoid a huge mortgage).

I applied for Pinnacle after hearing about Spirit of Adventure and Outward Bound - jumping at the chance for adventure and self-development. Pinnacle has been a catalyst for growth and confidence for me, learning leadership skills and building trust in myself. It's not often that teenagers are asked to write down a five-year plan, or sleep alone in a forest for a few nights. Another huge part of Pinnacle for me was having a team of adults, who aren’t parents or teachers, who believed in me one hundred percent. Joining Pinnacle means becoming part of the Pinnacle family with incredible contacts all over the country, and I am so grateful to be a part of it.